Brandon Easton (Author) Martin Coccolo (Artist) Stephen Thompson (Cover Artist) Fran Gamboa (Colorist) Neil Uyetake (Letterer)
Thanks to IDW Publishing for the review copy!
This series chronicles the last year of the Enterprise’s five year mission that was never filmed because the show was cancelled. Issue 3 is a departure from the series so far in two major respects. First, while the first two installments focused on one plot (which is consistent with the show), this issue has a main plot line and a subplot. Interestingly, the overarching plot that was established in issue one (with the rescued Tholian child and the fallout from that) is relegated to the subplot, while a new story takes center stage.
Fans of the original series will get a kick out of this issue, which has the Enterprise return to the Sigma Iota System. If you are like me and that doesn’t ring a bell, that is the location of the episode where the crew landed on a planet where everyone modeled themselves after Chicago style gangsters. The plot lacks some of the high stakes danger of prior issues. In may ways, the danger is replaced by humor. But, like many a Star Trek episode, the adventure provides a vehicle for some interesting social commentary. There are also some easter eggs references that were fun to see. If this series is going to revisit some of the classic episodes, I humbly request a return of the Tribbles.
Like the show, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are given the most to do, followed by Scotty and Uhura (who is awesome in this issue). Also of note, this series mines more of Kirk’s emotions than the film and TV incarnations. Specifically, the brief interlude involving Carol and David Marcus fills in some of the blanks between the show and The Wrath of Khan.
If you remember the mobster episode, this episode is a great way to revisit it. If you haven’t seen it, there is enough explanation to appreciate the story, making this a good issue to read if you are unable to get the first two. The series appears to be pairing mini stories that span a two issues with a long term story linking them together. This issue ends on a cliffhanger on both story lines, so be prepared to read issue 4 as well.
STAR TREK: YEAR FIVE #3 is available now.
Check back soon for my thoughts on issue 4 of this series.
Have you read the issue? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter.
