By
GustavoLeao /
11:53, 6 September 2012 /
Trek Books
Star Trek Ongoing #12
Reviewed by Patrick Hayes
The covers: Color by Grant Goleash and art by Tim
Bradstreet on the Regular Cover has Kirk up to his pits in Tribbles
within the delta shield. Below is an intense Scotty, the right the Enterprise,
to the left trasporter coordinates, and above...I don't know what that
is. What is that? This continues my monthly Bradstree/Goleash love
affair. The RI A Cover is art without the colors. It's interesting, but
kind of creepy without Goleash's efforts. Cover RI B the Photo Cover is a
nice Quinto shot of Spock. Overall grades: Regular A+, RI A B, and RI B A-
The story: "The Truth About Tribbles" Part 2 is by Mike
Johnson, inspired by the original teleplay of "The Trouble With
Tribbles" by David Gerrold, who even has a nice quote on the inside
cover about the retelling in this issue. When last we say Kirk, Spock,
Scotty, and Sulu they were on the Tribble homeworld, up to their knees
in the critters while being attacked by several of the Tribbles'
elephantine predators. Oh, and a Klingon bomb is about to go off. The
issue opens with Scotty telling Sulu it's been a pleasure serving with
him, since they're about to die. Suddenly the bomb begins to speak,
asking for the command to stop its countdown. Uhura is quickly contacted
aboard the Enterprise and a solution is found. However, back
on Earth it's gotten really bad. Scotty's in the hot seat and a solution
to Earth's problems is needed fast! Someone does something and the
solution is new to Trek history. It's a great solution and one that
should make fans happy. Scotty's got the majority of the spotlight this
issue, and the final page will make the most grouchy Trek fan smile.
Now, if the next issue begins with the pair leaving this setting and a
"similar" character appearing soon after, it would nicely slide into
another "retelling." And for the record, this last page demands a cameo
in a future issue. Overall grade: A+
The art: I hope IDW adds Claudia Balboni to the list of artists that should be in permanent rotation to draw Star Trek.
Her characters are close enough to the actors, yet original enough to
look her own. I love the emotion on Scotty throughout the book, and her
Pike is awesome! Her backgrounds are also good, especially when drowning
in Tribbles. Claudia, please return soon! Overall grade: A
The colors: I love that the Tribble world is colored
like a 1960's Trek episode, yet looks modern: pink skies and green
mountains? Loving it! Back on the Enterprise Arianna Florean is
wise enough to keep it crisp and white, but without the lens flares.
The ship's interiors with the cast of furry millions look shockingly
brown and dark, making things suspenseful and funny. Can Arianna please
come back, too? Overall grade: A
The letters: A roar, phaser shots, dialogue, and a nice sound effect on the last page show Neil Uyetake to have game, and he brought it. Overall grade: A
The final line: This is the episode from the original
series that gets non-Trek fans into Trek. This comic should do the same.
Action, drama, and plenty of laughs that would make anyone happy. Overall grade: A
