By GustavoLeao / 07:29, 25 January 2008 / Trek Books

Star Trek: Alien Spotlight: Borg  

Reviewed by Patrick Hayes aka PatBorg  

I just want to say up front, this is like no other Trek comic I've read/seen before.  Never bought a Trek comic?  Think comics are for the kiddies?  You could not be so wrong.  This is what you show/get the uninitiated.  Everything works...EVERYTHING!  Assimilate yourself or someone today!  

The cover(s): Four possibilities to empty your checking account.  "A" is by Zach Howard and it's awesome.  I'm a sucker for the sideways titles on this series, and this one works great as well.  I bought this one because I really like Howard's.  "B" is by Sean Murphy and it's a gorgeous atmosphere cover that sums up this species to a "T".  "RI-A" is Alice Krige from First Contact looking as we want her to look!  "RI-B" is a black and white version of "A", which shows off Howard's drawing well, and makes me appreciate whoever colored "A".  You can't go wrong with any of these.  Overall grade: A+  

The story: Holy crud, where to begin!?  It's the most complex story I've read from IDW.  My expectations were low for a Borg centered story since I'm still suffering from Borg overload on Voyager, but--Wow!--Andrew Steven Harris turns in the best IDW Trek story yet.  A child's fateful encounter, two starships attacked, and the Enterprise drawn in due to a crewmember's sudden change.  I don't want to say much else for fear of ruining the story!  You get Borg, bad as you remember them being.  You get a returning character, who I love, but has drawn ire from other Trek fans (page 8).  You get a welcome, logical return of an alien race barely touched upon (page 17).  You get a story device that I absolutely love, especially when it's done well.  And you get the hero one-on-one with the antagonist in a do-or-die climax that was more thrilling than most Trek episodes.  Page 16: those are characters' reactions flawlessly nailed cold and hard, true to form!  Complex, logical, thrilling, and satisfying beyond belief.  I bow down to Harris for this tale.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Please ask for a pay raise based on this book, Mr. Harris.  Overall grade: A+  

The art: Holy grok, where to begin!?  Full page bleeds--wonderful!  Cosmic delight at the space scenes.  Tension in crew's faces.  Pages 11 and 12 are perfect.  And the Borg.  I feared the Borg, again.  Pages 6 and 7 were the most terrifying Borg business I've seen.  Thank you, Sean Murphy.  That last page!  That last panel!  That's how to end a story!  I actually smiled with the protagonist in the end.  I honestly don't want to say much more without giving anything away.  Sean Murphy, please get behind Harris for your bonus check.  Overall grade: A+  

The color: Holy smokes, where to--okay, it's old now.  Leonard O'Grady is outstanding.  If I were to tell you that brown is the best color for a Star Trek story involving the Borg you'd think I was nuts.  I would think I'm nuts, too.  But listen: Brown is the best color for this Star Trek story involving the Borg.  And if it's not brown, it's orange or tan.  It works fantastically.  And when it goes green, it's all just hit the fan.  And that last page.  Wow!  O'Grady, shuffle in behind the other two.  You deserve some bonus money for this.  Overall grade: A+  

The lettering: Chris Mowry is a letterer I've come to like, and he's on the ball again.   Ships, lasers, beam-ins, and that sound at the bottom of page 17--Wow!  Cripes, I'm overusing that word, but I tell you it's the best--it's the only -- thing I can say about Mowry's job.  Chris, get in there before Andrew, Sean, and Leonard get all the money.  You've earned some as well.  Overall grade: A+  

The final line: Perfect.  Wonderful.  "The best Trek comic from IDW--ever!"  Did you read that in the appropriate Simpsons' voice?  Christmas has come early for 2008: IDW made this comic.  Get one before they're all gone.  This is a Star Trek comic that EVERY fan must have.  You'll be glad you did.  Overall grade: A+  

Hey.  It's almost the end of the series.  I'm going to be sad to see this run end.  Only one more to go, right?  What's left?  Coming next month: JOHN BYRNE'S ROMULANS   

...I'm waiting in front of my comic book store now.

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