In September IDW wrapped up Captain Kirk’s five-year mission in the 24th issue of Star Trek: Year Five. This week they release a bonus-sized epilogue issue featuring writers and artists from across the series which began in April 2019.
Star Trek: Year Five #25
Synopsis:
The five-year mission may be over, but now it’s time for the next adventure to begin. Join the crew of the Enterprise for the end of an old chapter and the beginning of a new. This special, oversized epilogue from the entire Year Five writing team bridges the gap between the end of the five-year mission and the beginning of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Cover:
A Cover by Charlie Kirchoff
Retail incentive cover by J.J. Lendl
Five-page preview:
Issue 25 Available Wednesday
Star Trek: Year Five #25 is available on October 6th. You can order individual copies at TFAW. Or pick up individual digital editions at Amazon/comiXology.
Mirror War starts next week, NYCC Exclusive available Thursday
As one series ends, another begins with Star Trek: The Mirror War. Issue #1 arrives on October 12th.
Mirror War Issue #1 cover
IDW is releasing a special NYCC exclusive cover version of issue 1, which can only be purchased online starting on Thursday.
Convention exclusive cover
Keep up with all the Star Trek comics news, previews and reviews in TrekMovie’s comics category.
Hmm.. I don’t get why no one has capitalized on a series featuring James T Kirk as head of Starfleet Operations. Seems like that is the chance to do some Tom Clancy style Op Centre novels in Star Trek during a time of crisis (the Organians disappear, the Klingons and Romulans in an alliance, high losses of ships on the frontier, etc). Diplomacy, politics, etc. A lot of books had Nogura force Kirk in the Admiralty to help build public trust in the Starfleet during a time of high losses and danger. Have Nogura, Lori Cinai (Kirk’s wife/diplomat who was assigned to talk Kirk into the Admiralty). Intelligence gathering, fleets, etc. You could have a lot of casualties, etc. Post TMP was the Enterprise the flagship with Kirk as Head of Starfleet? A big outstanding question to is how Kirk in Star Trek TMP goes from Head of Starfleet Operations / Captain of the Enterprise to Academy training. Sounds like some major incident there.
I feel like Mirror War is a significant step down from Mirror Broken. One need only look at the characterisation of Picard to see it.
In the first volume, Terran Picard is a cold, calculating tactician who’s intellect is matched only by his physical prowess. He manoeuvres both himself and his compatriots into position so that they can acquire what is – quite possibly – the most powerful warship created by Terran Starfleet. While no masterpiece, the story arc is paced well and the narrative is filled with just enough back stabbing, tactical assassinations and deceit in order to keep things tense. One is never quite sure if Picard, despite his best efforts, will succeed or – if he does – if his ‘crew’ of associated misfits, sociopaths and psychopaths will allow him to live long enough to enjoy his victory. I must also point out that J.K. Woodward’s dark, brooding visuals really helped elevate this story.
While the cracks started to form as soon as Through The Mirror was released, with the characterisations of the previous volumes main cast slowly slipping into Saturday morning cartoon villainy, Mirror War has jumped the shark. Picard has gone from a measured, menacing Machiavellian arch villain to a pantomime clown prone to temper tantrums and frothing at the mouth. It is simply not the same character.