By GustavoLeao / 05:06, 19 September 2008 / Trek Books

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Star Trek: Assignment Earth #5  

Review by Patrick Hayes aka PatBorg  

The cover: I could go with a really inappropriate comment about the cover, but I'll take the high road.  It's a nice gimmicky cover that sums up the entire issue.  Besides being an extremely well drawn cover, the coloring by Tom Smith accentuates it even more.  In fact, I didn't even notice Gary, Roberta, and Isis on the cover until after I had finished the comic.  Too blended into the background?  Maybe.  Though the focus is on the Nixons, I'd think our heroes should at least stand out a bit more.  Overall grade: A  

The story: "Too Many Presidents" is the correct title for this story.  February, 1972.  China, using the best in plastic surgery, has created a Nixon lookalike, which they will attempt to swap for the real president when he tours the country.  Gary, Roberta, and Isis slip into the story to make sure this exchange never occurs.  Either you're going to enjoy this historical foray, or you're going to moan and groan.  I did a little of both.  Without spoiling past page 4, I liked going into Airforce One, though I though Nixon a little too terse, though his moment with Roberta in the middle panel of 4 was funny.  I wanted to see/hear/read more about the character introduced at the top of page 6: I don't recall this type of character popping up before in any Gary Seven lore so it was a unique opportunity that was just hinted at.  I'd love to see more of this character, or her ilk, if John Byrne or others return to Gary Seven.  I was very happy to see Isis actually involved in moving the plot forward.  It's got to be tough to weave the kitty into the story.  I liked the argument at the top of page 13: nice way to stall the antagonists so that the protagonists can arrive on the scene.  The destruction of the "device" on page 14 seemed a little unbelievable.  I can't believe that it would break that easily when shown in previous comics brandished in an open palm.  That comes off as pretty haphazard for a fragile device.  But it has to be taken out of commission for what is to follow.  What comes, beginning in the center of page 15, is Rich Little run amok.  There's a nice little (possible) twist in the battling Nixons, but the resolution seemed rushed.  Either you'll buy, or not.  I liked Roberta's comments about where she's returning from in 1974 than the final line.  I thought the idea behind this story was good, but it got too silly for me.  Humor in Trek is hard to pull off.  Peter David is more consistent in pulling it off in the novels than Byrne does here.  Just a mixed bag.  Overall grade: B  

The art: Byrne looks like he had a field day in this comic.  It reminds me of the type of story you could expect from a classic Carl Barks' duck story in the detail given to many locales.  Byrne shines from Airforce One to the glamor of China, as well as its hidden basements.  Gary Seven still looks fantastic as Robert Lansing, but that's no Teri Garr, that's a Byrne girl.  And Nixon does look like Nixon.  My favorite bits were Isis keeping watch on the president.  The nail bite on page 18 was good, and the schtick with Roberta's gross coverings were also cleverly done.  It's John Byrne.  He's a great artist.  Overall grade: A+  

The colors: Continuing from previous issues is Tom Smith, who does an expert job.  Most images associated with this time period are browns and blacks, and Smith captures that well.  I really really liked the double splash page of the plane, with the story's title highlighted.  My favorite colored panel was Gary's arrival on the plane, with the blue smoke wisping up.  Nice alien look to it.  Also liked how Gary's instrument was highlighted yellow because it became comical when it wasn't seen in the panel, such as on page 5.  The hotel's colors were great, as was the nocturnal travel done on 12.  I also liked how backgrounds didn't need coloring, because if they had been they would have detracted from the emotion of the panel/page, such as found at the bottom of 18.  Smith is a pro.  Overall grade: A+  

The letters: Robbie Robbins finishes out the list of credits, and outside of dialogue, he gets to do a huge title (though I wouldn't be surprised if Byrne did that himself), some yellow "toing"s mentioned earlier, and some gunfire.  A competent job.  Overall grade: A  

But wait!  There's more!   There's a final three page short story, by the same creative team, that closes out this series.  These three pages captured more of these characters than the Nixon story.  It could be written off as fluff, but I thought that it showed the three core characters better than the previous 19 pages.  It was funny without being forced, and it makes the reader want to see more of the characters interact in this fashion.  I'd give "AH-HA!"  An Overall grade of A+  

The final line: The story was really a letdown for me.  I wanted to like it more than I did.  Everything about the issue is top notch.  The primary story was just lacking.  Even with this review, I hope it won't be "The end...for now" for too long.  Overall grade: B+