Our Trek Comics editor Patrick Hayes has his review of IDW Publishing’s fourth City on the Edge of Forever comic adaptation, based on writer Harlan Ellison’s original teleplay.

Juan Ortiz again creates another beautiful regular cover. Against the silhouette of the city, Edith and Jim enjoy a moment. Making the scene ominous is a blood sky containing Spock’s face. It’s almost like a judgmental Vulcan god looks down upon them in disdain. I love this!  Grade: A.

The subscription cover is by Paul Shipper with terrific bust shots of Kirk and Spock next to an overpowering image of Beckwith, who holds a phaser. I’m so happy to see this antagonist get some cover time since he’s the inciting character of this entire saga. The emotion on Kirk’s face is awesomely angry and the subtle hints of the city behind them makes this image ethereal.  Grade: A.

In adapting Harlan Ellison’s original teleplay, Scott and David Tipton are creating a classic comic. If you thought the episode was a gut punch, this is even more emotionally wrenching.

The issue begins without any text, showing Edith and Jim becoming closer. When our captain comes to call on her his dialogue is laced with sadness and irony. Page 4 is brutal, with Kirk being absolutely riveting in the fourth and fifth panels. The reason for his emotional state is revealed in a brilliantly brutally honest dialogue on Pages 5 – 8. The final ten words on 8 will devastate readers as much as it hurts Kirk.

I was floored by Page 18. This was not in the episode and it elevates the threat level that one character creates. I found myself angry, frightened, and sad at what is shown. This scene is exacerbated by 19 and 20 — that wasn’t in the episode either. If readers though that this story couldn’t introduce any tension beyond Edith’s ultimate fate, they need to look at these pages because this is an entirely new threat level. Drama and tension that’s new to the most recent or most fervent fans.  Grade: A+.

Dynamite work from J.K. Woodward on every page. The first page is an absolute showcase for him to illustrate the love between two characters. Edith glows in the second panel as the heavens provide a beautiful sunset. Her apartment is stunning, with the wallpaper being a technical marvel. Kirk’s close-ups on 2 – 4 are perfection, with that final panel on 4 an image of him I don’t ever want to see, but I can’t look away from it.

Pages 5 – 8 remind me of the most simple, glorious episodes of classic television. They are set up like something from Playhouse 90 or The Twilight Zone. The close-ups of the characters are killers. This isn’t like looking at an artist’s representations, but stills of two actors caught in the moment. Page 8 is a gut punch of perfection.

The final two pages are also terrific for the “new” scenes they present and the emotion on the lead’s face. The layout of the first panel on 19 is flawless. I love the hunched over posture of the character in the foreground, the setting is great, and something in the background. The second panel is another that I cannot not focus on. This is J.K. Woodward’s best art ever. Grade: A+.

A nice variety of fonts from Neil Uyetake in this installment which includes sounds, dialogue, a song complete with musical notes, a scream, and a teaser for the conclusion. He’s got a lot of dialogue to place on the page and not once does it upstage the art. Terrific work.  Grade: A.

Bottom line:
City on the Edge of Forever #4 is a must own for fans of great storytelling, great art, and Star Trek. I can’t imagine any fan not wanting this — highest recommendation.  Grade: A+.

Order Harlan Ellison’s City on the Edge of Forever #4