A new era of “Star Trek” comics gets started with the relaunch of the core title. Read on for our review of “Star Trek: Boldly Go” #1 but be warned, there are some very small spoilers for the end of the latest film.
Written by Mike Johnson
Illustrated by Tony Shasteen and David Mastrolonardo
STAR TREK’s 50th Anniversary Celebration continues with this all-new series following the adventures of Captain Kirk and the iconic crew! New worlds! New species! New ships! And a new danger unlike anything the Federation has encountered before! Boldly go into a new era of STAR TREK!
• Following the events of Star Trek Beyond!
• The debut of brand-new uniforms for the crew!
This year, IDW decided to relaunch the core of their Star Trek line with a new ongoing series and a new ongoing anthology. “Waypoint” #1 proved to be a fun look at stories that can’t fit in the main book but it’s “Boldly Go” that has a lot to prove. It’s the core title`that carries the brand and it’s the core series that most fans will more than likely buy. Thankfully, even for this relatively new reader, “Star Trek: Boldly Go” #1 is a lot of fun and is the start of a major new story arc featuring one of my personal favorite villains.
“Star Trek: Boldly Go” #1 is a new series but it bounces off the events of the current movie timeline. If you haven’t seen Star Trek: Beyond and worry about even the smallest of spoilers, this isn’t for you just yet. After the events of Beyond, the Enterprise crew has ended their 5 year mission and they’ve all pretty much gone their separate ways. Spock and Uhura are living on New Vulcan, Kirk, Chekov and McCoy are working on a new ship together, Sulu is now a first officer on another ship and Scotty is lecturing at Starfleet Academy. Their paths are separate but each is in a good place but nothing in space ever stays peaceful forever a major new threat, one that is so exciting, makes itself known.
One of the best things about the new timeline is that it allows for the unexpected. What’s remained the same are the general characterizations and the bond this crew shares but the plot and the history has changed radically and it’s really been for the best. “Star Trek: Boldly Go” #1 is a perfect starting point for a post movie series storyline that isn’t afraid to really go there. Johnson separating the crew this way allows for dramatic effect in their eventual reunion and the inclusion of this villain (which I won’t spoil but has been spoiled by solicits) is going to test these characters in a huge way.
The dialogue given to each of the established characters is so tight. Johnson (who wrote the previous series) really understands these characters in a non caricature sense. I’m coming into this not knowing anything about the previous ongoing and I found it to be an extremely approachable first issue. Johnson writes the issue like the first segment of an episode of the show. This is a great set up issue that gives away just enough and will easily pull back any Trekkie for more.
Tony Shasteen’s art is really, really clean. It’s a beautifully done issue that avoids the exact thing I hate from licensed comics – full photorealism. Shasteen’s character work is crisp and captures the spirit of these characters. Kirk has a great charm to him with a cool command, McCoy has a sort of playfulness mixed with exasperation and that’s just a taste of what he can do. New Vulcan is only shown briefly but those pages are gorgeous with a sense of scope and a sort of sci fi wonder that only “Star Trek” can really capture. Shasteen’s work with the ships is also really strong but this is also a big credit to the colorist David Mastrolonardo. Shasteen’s art is strong throughout but there are a couple of spots where the characters can come across just a tiny bit cold. It’s something that’s easily fixable as the series goes on and it doesn’t do enough harm to make the issue any less enjoyable.
David Mastrolonardo’s colors are a big part of why the art succeeds. This is a vibrant book that really plays up the utopia within the story. Mastrolonardo does a really fine job at at creating the technology on the ship. It doesn’t become a hindrance to everything else happening but it’s something you notice thanks to the beautiful mixes of whites and blues. The book itself has a sleek, almost glossy feel which really works for this kind of futuristic science fiction.
Final Verdict: 8.0 – A really enjoyable first issue with high quality work from everyone involved.
