By GustavoLeao / 16:38, 29 February 2008 / Trek Books

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Star Trek: Alien Spotlight: Romulans  

Review by Patrick Hayes aka PatBorg  

The cover(s): There are four different covers again, and you couldn't go wrong with any.  Surprisingly, "A" is not a Byrne cover, but Zach Howard.  If you knew nothing of Trek, this sums up the typical look of the race--stoic, powerful, and with one big gun to back them up.  I bought this version of the cover since my comic store had lots of the "B" covers.  Another word that would sum up this cover is "pastels."  It works.  "B" is for Byrne.  This cover has made the rounds on the net, so you should have a good idea of what it looks like.  If you don't, it's fantastic.  Every major character from this issue is shown.  Cover "C" is the one to go looking for--a photo cover from "Balance of Terror."  Man, do I love these photo covers!  Cover "RI-B" is the "B" in black and white.  You couldn't go wrong with any of these covers.  Overall grade: A+  

The story: No spoilers, sorry.  You wouldn't want any.  Really!  Avoid anyone telling you anything beyond this: it's a prequel to "Balance of Terror."  Go, now, and purchase a copy.  Why?  Pages 2 & 3, the "BOOM" and reactions on page 6, pages 13 & 14, and page 22.  If you were told what happens, it would be ruined.  Byrne has given us the old school Trek story you've been looking for.  Honor, intrigue, pathos, and an ending that leaves you cursing because it's only a one-shot.  I had very mixed reactions to the ending: a sigh of "that's the way it's supposed to be done" and a snort of "Damn, there ain't no more."  Strong words from an English teacher, but, hey, that's the way I felt.  I'm a TOS fan, first and foremost, and this the kind of Trek comic I want to read, and am thankful it was done.  Overall grade: A+  

The art: Uh...hello?  John Byrne.  B-y-r-n-e.  It shouldn't have to be spelled out to you.  Never heard of him?  Welcome to the fold.  Google his name, you'll read the credits.  The man deserves to be linked to the likes of Jack Kirby, in continuing and creating the big comics characters (...and if you don't know Kirby, ya' got some reading to do for homework this week!).  John is doing all that you would want him to do--emotions, spaceshots, alien vistas, and he can still draw your eye to look for the tiniest character reaction among the epic-ness of space.  I also enjoyed that this comic didn't seem to follow the horizontal layout that a lot of IDW's Trek comics have been doing.  It was laid out like the comics I grew up reading.  And a splash page is worthy of being a splash page.  It's taken a while for Byrne to return to Trek, his last, I believe, being the Horta entry in DC's Who's Who in Star Trek, and it was worth the wait.  Overall grade: A+  

The colors: Leonard O'Grady deserves an award for completing TOS look of this comic--it's all the neon pastels that you remember seeing--and it works!  If I'm reading a story set in TOS I expect to see all those "groovy" colors in the backgrounds and on the characters.  It could look so cheesy, but not this time.  They are all here, and they made me goosepimply: inside the ship on pages 4 & 5, inside the residence on 10 & 11, and every exterior on Romulus.  It's beautiful.  These colors make me want to go watch the first season of Trek again just for lighting.  It's been a long time since a comic has made me want to go watch the series it originates from.  Thank you, Mr. O'Grady.  Overall grade: A+++++++++  

The lettering: Neil Uyetake has done Trek before, and he does a good job here.  He's not given any sound effects to do, because they aren't really needed for the story, but there's dialogue aplenty.  Overall grade: A  

The final line: Oh, baby!  Are you a Trek fan?  This is a must own comic.  You will be treated to a Trek story that seamlessly adds scope to one of TOS' best episodes.  Do you learn something(s) about the Romulans you didn't know before?  Oh, baby!  That, and a great tidbit about...I can't say.  Know nothing of Trek?  Welcome to the light.  This is a great introduction, or renewal, to the fold.  This is what you give someone if they don't read comics, or don't know/care for Trek.  If this doesn't seduce you to becoming a fan, it ain't ever gonna happen.  Overall grade: A+  

...and coming soon: Gary Seven, Gary Seven, Gary Seven!...and I promise not to use the word "baby" in a review again.