By GustavoLeao / 19:37, 22 October 2009 / Trek Books

Star Trek: Nero #3  

Reviewed by Patrick Hayes aka PatBorg  

The covers: David Messina, I love you.  Describing the cover doesn't give it justice.  Nero in a bust shot, but only the right side of his body.  Behind him is the Narada, with one pipe/tube/extension (?) coming to or leaving his back.  All of which colored in gorgeous blues.  Does it spoil any of the story?  Not at all.  Is it a good representation of what happens inside?  More than you can know!  "Retailer Incentive Photo Cover" is another from the second set of movie teaser posters, this time with Chekov.  Is he anywhere in this story?  Nope.  Who cares?!  It's a great photo.  Though, I'm still waiting on a photo cover of Eric Bana for this series.  Perhaps on the collected version?  Overall grades: Regular cover A, "RIPC" A.  

The story:  You have no idea how much I want to talk about what happens starting on Page 7, but I don't want to spoil anything for you!  It involves a character from past Trek, but now this is the New Trek Universe, and this character is different.  So, what's happening before Page 7?  The Narada is going like a bat out of hell to something the size of a small nebula.  The ship has locked the crew out of any control, so they have no choice but to go along.  As they are zipping along, Nero ponders the mindmeld he had with Spock and how such a union has left a residue on him, so he is now in possession of "a remnant of the psychic abilities our Vulcan ancestors enjoyed."  (Do the bottom two panels of Page 8 show that Nero has become an addict, and that this contributes to why he has become suicidal with revenge?)  These abilities are what keeps Nero and his crew safe for their issue long encounter with this character.  And what an encounter it is!  You will either be in love or complete disappointment.  Me, I was completely in!  Here are some teases: Page 10, you know damn well what's about to happen, so this makes the experience even creepier.  Page 13, a nice variation to what this character showed another character in its appearance in the Original Trek Universe.  Pages 18 and 19 give the reader a good reason why this character appeared, and how Nero uses this character to help him get to Spock.  This character opens a huge floodgate of possibilities for future Trek comics.  I can't say more than that.  I didn't see this character appearing at all in the previous issues, but (his/her/its) inclusion really was damn cool.  I really FREAKIN' REALLY want to know who came up with this!  The story is by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman, and written by Mike Johnson & Tim Jones.  One, two, or all four deserve some major kudos for coming up with this character as the solution to find Spock.  Overall grade: A+  

The art: Space looks so cool.  The interiors of the Narada look so cool.  And the "character" that I've been speaking of in the story?  It makes me want to watch the DVD that it appears on.  You know you're having a good experience when you're inspired to grab the DVD and relive an old adventure.  Page 10 is a good page to look at for how stories in comics should be told.  There are eleven panels on that page and each is necessary to move the story forward, plot-wise and emotionally.  Page 13 is beautiful and sad.  Beginning on Page 17, I had shivers.  I loved the slow close-up on Nero on Page 19, it's cinematic and shows Nero's soul.  The final page has the characters and the reader locked into destiny at warp speed, and I can't wait to read it.  Overall grade: A  

The colors: Giovanna Nero has made blue become one of the coolest/creepiest/cloudiest colors ever.  The Narada is a dark ship, but I could tell all times, thanks to the colored highlights, what was going on.  The oranges and whites only enhanced the art.  Page 13 works not only from the art, but the coloring.  I knew looking at the page when this story was set, seconds before I read the dialogue.  It's a dark book, but never dim.  Overall grade: A+  

The letters: Neil Uyetake does all the dialogue, some screams, an alarm, some static discharges, and a dropped item.  This is a book that relies on the image, more so than the dialogue, so it's nice that a cavalcade of noises and speeches don't distract from it.  Overall grade: A  

The final line: You have no idea how much I want to discuss Page 7 and beyond.  I can't without spoiling the experience!  The most comparable surprise and joy I can equate to this issue is having Captain Data appear at the end of Star Trek: Countdown #1.  Many possibilities exist in the new Trek Universe.  One of them, a hell of a big one, appears here.  If you haven't done a Trek comic, peek through this one.  I'll bet you buy it!  Overall grade: A+

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