By GustavoLeao / 20:48, 28 August 2008 / Trek Books

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Star Trek: Year Four The Enterprise Experiment #5

Review by Patrick Hayes aka PatBorg

The cover: The Sharp Brothers finish up their fantastic run on this series. I didn't get the reference as to what episode it was from (shame on me!) until I began the issue. How can you tell the Brothers are great craftsmen? Spock has a reflection in the console! Was it needed? No. Does it make the cover that much better? Hell, yeah! And Kirk--! Is that concern on his face or a wait-and-see attitude? This does what a cover should do: peek one's interest. A great job. Overall grade: A+ --Hey, IDW! Remember how in the 90s Dark Horse put out Portfolios for Godzilla, Terminator, and Alien? I'd be more than willing to fork out some twenties for a black and white portfolio(s) of Trek covers. You've had some fantastic ones in the short time you've had the Trek license!

The story: What wasn't in this issue? Even if this is the issue you start with, you won't be left out. D.C. Fontana and Derek Chester deserve to be thanked for creating a story that any Trek fan would have wished to see on the small screen. As always, no specifics beyond the fourth page: a two page opening sequence that I adored! Perfect Trek, for me, is not the combat, monsters, or aliens: it's the dialogue. Two people just talking. To be able to hold a viewer's attention on film is tough enough, but in a comic it's the kiss of death if done incorrectly. I would have been happy if those characters spoke longer, but their scene only lead into a great transition for page three, where the story actually resumes. What Trek fan wouldn't recognize that headband? Naturally, something goes wrong with Spock tapping into the Preserver's computer, and the story takes off at full steam. Nice, logical, reason as to how Spock avoids repeating Kirk's mistake with his interface. And then, without spoiling anything, origins are given, or, at least, entertained, for a galactic landmark (page 6), a favorite villain reappears (page 8), one of my all-time favorite alien races -- Woo-Hoo! (page 13) with an incredible discussion (when was the last time you were happy to read a discussion in a comic book?), a reason for Arrex's existence (nice tease--but I want--I have to have--a payoff at some point, Fontana and Chester!), pages 20 and 21 is the Mother of All Payoffs in IDW Trek comics (so far), and a final page that actually had me smiling at the book. This storyline, this comic, is accessible for those new to Trek or new to comics. And if you're Trek Old School, it's the voyage you want to go on from someone who was there at the beginning. Fantastic. Overall grade: A+

The art: Gordon Purcell is a great Trek artist. The first two pages is nothing more than a conversation, but it's not stagnant talking heads. I especially liked that the third panel on page 2 had no background to break up the detail of the other panels. Page 3 is as close to a splash page as I'll get, so I'm happy. Also enjoyed how when the Enterprise was under fire, page 4, the panel was drawn tilted (I mentally pictured all the extras running to the right). In addition to layout, I appreciate Purcell in his ability for the characters to look like the actors: there is no denying that I'm looking at Shatner as Kirk, Nimoy as Spock, etc. I've seen a lot of Trek comics, having just rebagged my Marvel Treks from the 70s and 80s, and it is a rare treat to see the characters resemble the actors. Plus, the "guest stars" all look like their respective actors. I also loved the black borders emphasizing the secrecy of pages 20 and 21. And, building on what I said for page 22 in the story, for a comic to impart any emotional reaction on a reader is a hell of a job. A story, sure, but art? That final page is perfection in layout and execution. All I needed was music for that final panel, but my memory was good enough to fill in that blank as I smiled. Overall grade: A+

The inks: Wow! Was the book late? Bob Almond, Tom Nguyen, Gordon Purcell & Bob Smith are credited. If they were credited in the order of their work, I'm guessing Bob A. did pages 1 - 6, Tom 10 - 11, Gordon 12 - 15, and Bob S. 16 - 22. Going by this guide: Bob A's lines are the heaviest of the four, Bob S's are thinner, Tom's thinner still, and Gordon's the thinnest. Having this much of a variety does draw attention to the fact that someone new is now involved with the art, but it wasn't so huge a distraction as to detract from the story or pencils. If the work had been limited to specific sequences it might not have stood out so much: one inker for Enterprise scenes, one for inside the alien ship, one for inside the asteroid, etc. I know that under a deadline these things can't be avoided, but still, it might be something to consider in the future. Overall grade: A-

The colors: Mario Boon got a story that provides plenty of opportunities to show his skills. Nice coloring for the electricity of pages 3 and 4, great highlighting throughout for the crew and their uniforms on the Enterprise (especially on Kirk's hair--just the right mix of blonde and brown, which usually only goes to one or the other), pages 12 through 15 are picture perfect for the location, and page 22, it's cliche as all get out, but I'm glad that was the background color chosen. That's the way I picture Trek landscapes. I wasn't too happy, though, with the way the major aliens were colored--they're too dark. Still, that's not a big enough grouse for me to condemn Boon. Overall grade: A

The letters: Robbie Robbins does an ample job, but it's only dialogue. This issue was screaming for some (if you've read any of my reviews of IDW comics, you know where this is going) sound effects! There's plenty of opportunity in this issue: explosions, transports, space battles, but it's as silent as Serenity. I'm sure this is either a writing decision or an editorially one, but, c'mon IDW!, let the letterers spread their wings! This aside, Robbins does an acceptable job. Overall grade: A

The final line: This is a worthy addition to every Trek fan's collection. And if you're new to Trek, you're going to enjoy your first dip in the pool. I wish every Trek series could be like this. Overall grade: A+