Bottalk Reviews

Troi realizes that Armus is just another of Redjac's tricks. Also, the captives that were rescued turn out to be Holograms, the real crewmen are still being held hostage. Later, Redjac and Armus attempt to storm the bridge while Data, once again, tries to rescue the hostages. Using a map of Redjac created from when he possessed Scotty, Troi is able to dispel him. The hostages are freed and the crew celebrates Halloween in peace. I would have liked more involvement from Armus. Even though it isn't real, Armus has little impact after his shock appearance at the end of the previous issue. The battle between Redjac, Armus and the bridge crew feels much too short. I am happy that Scotty is able to be helpful, as he seemed to have little impact last issue. seven out of ten.

The fallout from Day of Blood... Sisko attends a mandatory celebration and speaks with Admiral Janeway briefly, and then Admiral Sato. T'Lir is being reassigned and Sisko is ordered to investigate a Tzenkethi build up along the Cardassian border. Sisko, Paris and Ensign Sato beam down to meet a Starfleet Intelligence operative... who turns out to be Harry Kim. The reunion is short as a group of dinosaurs attack the away team. Nice reference to Admiral Dougherty and 'Insurrection'. T'Lir, I suspect, will be back as their involvement in this book has been mysterious to say the least. Nice to see the crew get a bit of downtime and reflection after Day of Blood. The Tzenkethi have always been an interest of mine. They have been explored in a few novels but, I think, this is the first time a comic will tackle them. seven out of ten.

The monster crew must leave the Holodeck in seven minutes or face severe brain injury. Data battles the Redjac Moriarty/Borg and the monster crew manage to escape. Geordi runs to the transporter room to check on a power fault when who beams in but... Montgomery Scott! Later, the senior staff go back into the Holodeck under their monster guises. They emerge in a graveyard and battle Redjac while Data attempts to rescue the crewmen still held captive. At the battle's end, it appears Redjac is defeated but power is still being fed to the Holodeck from elsewhere. Redjac emerges... with Armus! This issue pulls out all the stops. Scotty returns to aid the TNG crew. The one TOS character who suffered the most under Redjac. We also have the unexpected return of Armus. Given how Redjac feeds off fear and terror, it will be interesting to see how the senior staff react to the being who killed one of their own. This mini continues to a fun ride. seven out of ten.

Riker and Worf struggle to hold off the Holodeck creations but Picard raises a force field, keeping them in check. Later, the senior staff watch Scotty's Redjac testimony. They are unable to release a gas that would effect the crew like what Dr. McCoy used. Dr Crusher suggests a form of role play, putting members of the crew under and assuming the role of a monster to battle the Holo monsters. Troi becomes a Mummy, Riker a Werewolf, Worf a Fishman and Picard a Vampire. The Monster Squad make their way to and engage the modified Data. Troi allows the captives Redjac took to escape. Using the old movie trope, the freed crew grab pitchforks and torches and turn on the Monster Squad. This is so much fun. Seeing the senior staff done up as monsters feels like some kind of odd TMNT toy mash-up. If you enjoy that sort of thing or dig Universal Monsters and/or Monster Squad check this out. eight out of ten.

I'm not sure why this book needed a director's cut edition. It doesn't. I imagine this is the sort of thing that will be added to the eventual trade collection of Day of Blood. So if you are interested in seeing pencils, colourless pages and the pitch proposal, maybe wait for the trade.

Worf and Spock arrive in the transporter room to see Sela off when Worf begins coughing up blood.  Before she departs, Sela tells Spock about three Romulan scientists that were imprisoned because of something they learned.  Worf has a brief vision of his son before waking up in Sickbay.  Later, standing before a Starfleet review board consisting of Admirals Jelico and Nechayev, the crew must explain their actions during the Day of Blood incident. Instead of being cleared and reinstated, Worf, B'elanna and Ro are disavowed and given new, off the book, assignments. later, on DS9, they 'buy' the decommissioned Defiant and set out on their new mission. Some references of note.  I assume Sela's line about Romulan scientists learning something so terrible they were locked up without trial is in reference to the supernova that will eventually destroy Romulas.  The targets given to Worf and crew are Hugh, Rasmussen, and a gangster from Sigma Iotia III (aka TOS episode 'A P

The race begins.  La'an wants to rescue the crew that were scattered across the various ships in the race but her request is denied by Pike.  Una is given little to do on her ship while Spock mentally interfaces with his.  Enterprise is attacked by what was believed to be an asteroid but in turn, is a life-form.  Pike wants to take down the person behind the entire race, who ends up destroying a ship to prove a point.   I wish I had more to say about this.  I find the premise thin and uninspired.  Una and Spock have little to do on their ships.  The one good thing about this comic is the art by Angel Hernandez. five out of ten.

Hit by the energy beam and slowly beginning to unravel, Sisko hears the Prophets tell him over and over he has failed. The two starship crews work together to sever the energy beam and save Sisko. Alexander wakes up and speaks to his father. The wounds received in our last issue not fatal afterall. Kahless flees from battle. Martok also wakes up, his life saved by Dr Crusher. Sela enters the scene soon after, informing him of the toxin she used and how helpful he can be to her. Later, at a victory celebration, Sisko and Worf make amends. Finally, Kahless troops receive a message from their hijacked systems... from Lore. Day of Blood is over. the finale was... one that feels at home with DS9. Sisko is saved by teamwork and the great battle with Kahless is, in the end, no real battle at all. I still feel that certain aspects of this event don't quite work. That certain characters, namely Kahless and Alexander, have been written in a way simply to get from point a to b. b

The events of Day of Blood are told from Shaxs' point of view. mainly the surface battle against the forces of Kahless, done in the art style of Lower Decks. I'm not the biggest fan of Lower Decks. As pointed out in the Strange New Worlds crossover episode, the references are very specific. The sense of humour is a bit much IMO. Despite these feelings, this was an enjoyable comic. And, in parts, more epic and fun than most of the Day of Blood crossover event. If you enjoy Lower Decks and simply want to pick up this issue and nothing else from Day of Blood, I believe you would find it an enjoyable issue that provides some backstory with Shaxs. eight out of ten.

After a fight, alternate Uhura kills alternate Chekov, despite Kirk and Uhura's best efforts to talk her out of this action. Dr McCoy gets the blood he needs from alternate Chekov to save Chekov while on the planet surface, Sulu manages to destroy the Nightbringer. Uhura allows her counterpart to escape. Overall this entire mini-series was a disappointment. It did nothing original. The alternates of Chekov and Uhura were one note. The involvement of the Romulans was good, but ultimately was little more than a simple backdrop and foil for our heroes... and villains. five out of six.

Worf confronts Alexander while Sisko talks with Kahless. a Bird of Prey arrives and sends a stream of energy around Sisko, intended to kill him. but it does not. in space the crews of Defiant and Theseus deal with the ships that pursue them. meanwhile, Worf and Alexander continue their battle and when it seems Worf's words have gotten through to him, Kahless stabs Alexander in the back. Though, like Goku, one could make the argument that Worf was an absent father it seems all Alexander can do is state this fact again and again. it is his only motivation in this story and after he shouts his rage it becomes tiresome. much like this event, as this is the penultimate installment and i am ready for it to end. six out of ten.

Counselor Troi suggests the ship celebrate Halloween while a mysterious entity begins to spread through the ship, feasting on fear. crewmen begin to go missing all over the ship. soon the entity reveals itself to be Redjac. the crew begins to feel the weight of fear and anxiety, some of them come to Troi for help. Data enters the Holodeck and encounters the missing Lt Bloch, possessed by Redjac and in the garb of Professor Moriarty. Bloc injects Borg Nanites into his body and easily decapitates Data. Data is modified by Bloc into a Frankenstein's Monster type of being. Lt Bloch is a nod to writer Robert Bloch. who not only wrote Psycho but three episodes of TOS. Redjac comes from TOS episode 'Wolf in the Fold', also written by Bloch. this is not the first time the TNG crew have encountered Redjac. the Wildstorm one-shot 'Embrace The Wolf' has similar Holodeck scenes. in fact i do wonder if that story is cannon with this new one, as the TNG crew seem fam

Crusher attempts to save Martok but argues with Sela. the argument grows till Crusher compares Sela to her mother Tasha and slaps her out of frustration, prompting the Romulan to get the planetary communication override codes from the injured Klingon. Ro and Ensign Sato also argue, mostly about Starfleet and the Kobayashi Maru. meanwhile Lore and Data continue their verbal confrontation which ends with Lore beaming out with Korath. In space Spock takes command of the Theseus while B'Elanna and Tom manage to get the Defiant moving again. finally, reaching their goal, Sisko and Worf come face to face with Kahless and Alexander. The confrontation between Dr Crusher and Sela was nice, and much needed in my opinion. as i think of all the ragtag members of the Defiant she is the one least likely to work with them. there is still tension between B'Elanna and Tom, but thankfully little argument. i'm afraid this crossover has worn out its welcome. as most issues have devolve

The Enterprise picks up a distress call and moves to investigate. Onboard they find one survivor who tells them she has a debt to pay to a local crime boss. Later, the Enterprise arrives at Celius Prime in an effort to help their passenger. Pike and some of the bridge crew are beamed off. They face the crime boss who tells them the only way out of the dangerous Scorpion sector is by way of the most dangerous race in the galaxy. Pike agrees to the race but members of this crew are placed among various other ships in the race. The idea of a race in space is nothing new. It's not even new in the realms of Star Trek. You have 'The Great Starship Race' from the old Pocket Book line. And thus far, I feel the novel is superior. Though the Pike of Strange New Worlds is laid back I hardly think he would so easily agree to all the terms and obviously laid traps he faces here. six out of ten.

Second year cadet Picard interrupts a lecture on the Earth/Romulan War by Professor Galen to correct him... only to be corrected himself. after the lecture his friend Doqtis seemingly vanishes while Batanides asks if he is going to a party. Picard has no time for such things. later, Picard's rival drags him to the holodeck to replay the Battle of Cheron. the battle soon becomes a fistfight between the who but is interrupted by... Mr Spock. I appreciate the nods to Picard's past here. Galen and Batanides. Boothby. this is certainly a different Picard than the one we see in 'Tapestry'. this Picard is extremely focused and serious minded, no time at all for fun. i have a feeling Doqtis is Q, though i rather hope that isn't the case. Q need not be in every part of Picard's life. still, this is a fun little comic. six out of ten.

On Earth the Romulan Ambassador complains about the actions of Admiral Kirk. the Federation President orders Kirk and crew back to Earth ASAP. in private the President and Admiral Ubah realize they are now closer to war with the Romulans due to Kirk's actions. On the Enterprise a Romulan Bird of Prey decloaks and demands the return of their shuttle. Spock invites them to scan for it and they find nothing. later, the alternate Uhura knocks out Scotty and takes off in her shuttle. the alternate Uhura eventually locates the alternate Chekov. the Romulan ship easily destroys the ship but she is clinging to the surface of the Romulan ship in an EV suit. she fights he war through the ship. Back on the Enterprise, Spock determines that, with the weapon alternate Chekov gave the Romulans near completion, they must destroy the ship. Alternate Uhura going after alternate Chekov in order to save Chekov seems a bit out of character for what we know of her. again, i find the Romulan stuff to be

Worf and Sisko walk towards the Spire of Kahless and hash out some things. Worf admits he does not fully trust Sisko after all the time he spent with the Prophets. Worf tells him that if faced with saving existence or Sisko, he will choose existence. Meanwhile, Crusher and Sela witness Chancellor Martok in battle, taking out warriors before he finally falls himself. though hardly friends, Crusher manages to get Sela to assist her in trying to save Martok's life. Data and Lore also work together while Tom and B'Elanna continue to argue. upon completing their goal Data informs Lore he will make sure he is once again disassembled after the current conflict is over. It's nice seeing Spock and Scotty interact during this time period. the dialogue between Data and Lore flows naturally, especially on the final page. the opening pages with Sisko and Worf show us where each character is and though they share a common goal they are hardly on the same page. the Tom and B'

Captain Sisko interfaces with the Borg device in an attempt to prevent station data from reaching the Dominion. Doctor Bashir leaves Sisko to rescue Latinum. after a running fire fight Bashir convinces Latinum to jump towards him and through the flames. upon returning to the Captain they find him unconscious. he eventually wakes up and beams onboard the Defiant with the others. later, he tells Worf the device was damaged and to destroy it. no one should use it. Bashir makes a tiny change to Latinum which makes him no longer perfect, and therefore not valuable. This was the best issue of this mini. that said, it still felt a bit underwhelming. Sisko using Borg technology to save everyone and experiencing what Picard did should be more interesting than this. the whole story is basically 'What if DS9 had a dog?' i dunno. maybe because i'm a cat person. six out of seven.