1. Escape from the planet of Mudd (Story by David Gerrold, Art by JP Buzio, Colors by Christine Franzen)
For the first story we are treated to a sequel of classic Star Trek: The Original Series episode I, Mudd, wherein we pick up after the enterprise had left Harry on a planet of about 500 Stellas constantly nagging. Harry Mudd devises a way to distract the Stellas and get off planet.
This wasn’t too bad of a story in its own right. You almost feel bad for Harry, and they got his character down well enough you can hear Roger C. Carmel’s (Cyclonus from Transformers season 3!) voice as Harry whines and plans his way out.
It’s not that it’s a necessary sequel, but it’s still a welcome short story if you’re a fan of Harry Mudd episodes.
2. The Engineer's Dilemma (Story by Dana Gould, Art by Megan Levens, Colors by Charlie Kirchoff)
After the events of TOS episode The Lights of Zetar Scotty stands in his quarters going over the decision to let Mira go as she moved on to her new post at Memory Alpha.
Second short, a self contained story in which Scotty calmly makes a successful transport that no else can do because he’s the miracle worker. And it’s... Lights of Zetar? That’s an episode to continue off of?
3. Sulu (Story by Brian Michael Bendis, Art & Colors by Michael Gaydos)
Klingons invaded the ship! Sulu fights his way through Klingons to the bridge in what I’m assuming is Day of the Dove, the episode that gave us more of a window into Klingon culture and the character of Kang.
There is almost no English in this whole story, it’s all visual until the end, well there’s Klingon language so unless the reader can read Klingon. Either way it’s an interesting art style to convey Sulu hacking his way through the corridors to the bridge.
4. The Sesquipedalian Gambit (Story by Ryan North, Art & Colors by Derek Charm)
Pakleds attempt to kidnap the three main characters of Star Trek the animated series and then trade their patched together ship for the enterprise.
This was a fun short, first contact with the Pakleds that I guess everyone in TNG forgot about, plus an annoyed Riker who we find out was dealing with them after they kidnapped Geordi La Forge.
5. A Bright New Future (tory by Dave Baker, Art & Colors by Nicole Goux)
Picard and Beverly Crusher dance at Riker and Deanna Troi's wedding and discuss a future of them together.
And I’m not into it, honestly I’m probably biased because I have never been a Picard/Crusher shipper and saw that and their son as the weak point of Picard season 3.
But otherwise it’s an artfully done short even if I’m not a fan.
6. The Peaceful Klingon (Story by David Walker, Art & Colors by Escorza Brothers)
Worf tells the story of his adoptive parents trying to read Klingon story but in the end it is Worf who tells them the stories of Kahless and Olowo and the like and thus he teaches himself what it means to be Klingon.
One cannot fight an enemy when one is at war with one’s self.
This is the best story in this whole issue, anything else is second. Worf, after Starfleet, Worf after being ambassador, Worf who currently works for Starfleet intelligence tells us this story and the truths he learned that makes him the warrior he has become.
7. The Search for Season Six (Story by Mike McMahan, Art by Michael Allred, Colors by Laura Allred)
Give us the continued adventures of the Cerritos you cowards!
That’s it. That’s the review.
Oh fine. This story gives us what is basically the first episode of a sixth season of Lower Decks that we should have been given but were denied.
Jack Ransom is super energized and dragging everyone along with him on crazy decisions and adventures, plus he shows how good a captain he is by peacefully talking down a hostile alien ship.
This almost ties with the Worf one. Almost.
8. When the Map Runs Out (Story by Meghan Camarena, Art by Mari Rolin, Colors by JP Jordan)
In the 32nd century cadet Torek and cadet Genesis Lythe discuss a story about a resurrection.
And this is what academy should have done more of but didn’t. This is very much a Star Trek story set during Starfleet Academy and continues to prove paramount’s bad decision to cancel the show.
9. The Search for Archer (Story, Art, & Colors by Chris Fenoglio)
On The Enterprise (NX-01) an ensign needs to bring a report to Archer and can’t find him, so she ends up searching the ship.
In this gloriously one page story we get a quick glimpse at Enterprise in a humorous way from the Lower Decks comic team, it was short, entertaining, and to the point.
10. Manifest Destiny (Story by Christopher Cantwell, Art by Isaac Sánchez González, Colors by Igor Monti)
Lieutenant Eldros saw something. Something so terrifying, so horrible after he telepathically linked with Picard who also saw something in an ancient probe that he murdered three crewmen and spaced himself.
This one links to the new Star Trek comic (Star Trek #1, on sale September 23) focusing on Captain seven of the Enterprise, and this is a great way to gain interest in the new upcoming comic. Something is coming, something is out there.
This might be the best thing we are getting for Star Trek’s 60th. It is a good comic that creatively moves forward through trek’s history to a prequel for the next adventure. There’s a couple that aren’t great, but most of the stories are good to great. 9.5/10
