Our Trek Comics editor Patrick Hayes is back with a review of this month’s issue of IDW Publishing’s Star Trek comic series: the fourth chapter of “The Q Gambit,” an ongoing six-part saga.

A solid pair of covers is introduced by Tony Shasteen on the regular version, featuring Odo in the foreground wearing a blue jacket. Behind him is the Zoe Saldana version of Lt. Uhura, and to her left, wearing command gold, is Q, looking as if he’s about to start laughing.

The background of clouds reveals an immense Gul Dukat, holding something Bajoran that doesn’t look like an orb. Tearing across the sky is a Klingon Bird of Prey flanked by two Jem’Hadar fighters. This is a good mash-up of images that will have the most casual viewer stop in their tracks, realizing something is not quite right.  Grade: A.

The photo cover features a Season One photo of Rene Auberjonois as Odo. It’s a great picture and illustrates how important he is to this installment of “The Q Gambit.”  Grade: A+.

This was an outstanding chapter from writer Mike Johnson. On Bajor, 100 years in the recent films’ future, Kira Nerys reveals a Bajoran tablet to Quark, McCoy, and Spock. It contains the spirits of a Pah-Wraith and a Prophet, which is the last of its kind. By freeing the Prophet, the Free Federation believes it can use it to turn the tide against the Dominion forces trying to take over the galaxy.

Ben Sisko was supposed to help deliver it to a hidden planet to safely open it, but he’s in San Francisco with Odo, Kirk, Uhura, and Scotty, looking down the barrels of several changelings’ guns after witnessing the death of Worf. The Dominion forces want to kill Odo first for betraying his own species when a sudden hum begins to sound.

This was a lot of fun. The pacing is extremely quick, going back and forth between both groups, including a great intrusion by Q into the story to remind Kirk that his choices will have massive repercussions. In addition to seeing all the classic Trek characters intermingle is Johnson’s ability to have every page end on a little cliffhanger to compel the reader to quickly get to the next page to see how the problem is addressed.

For example, Page 1 ends with Kira revealing the end game in getting the tablet, Page 2 has her inviting McCoy and Spock to join the rebellion, Page 3 has the San Francisco setting introduced with our heroes under the gun, and 4 has a changeling about to shoot Odo. This is the mark of a good comic book writer that can weave his story in this fashion, and it’s consistent on every page.

Dialogue also comes so smoothly out of each character; it’s impossible not to read this book without hearing it spoken by the actors who portrayed the characters. The most impressive was Gul Dukat. I am a fan of the relish with which Marc Alaimo has his character speak on Deep Space 9. Pages 19 – 22 were my favorites because I could hear his feigned sincerity dripping off every panel. Also a highlight was Quark’s dialogue, ’cause a Ferengi’s got to do what a Ferengi’s got to do.

There are also some outstanding lines in this book. They included Page 7, panels three and four; the top of 12, the bottom of 17; and Page 22. I was also very pleased to see that there are some humorous lines in this book without coming off as forced: Page 2, panel three; Page 9, panel four; and Page 16, panel three.  Grade: A+.

Illustrations and colors are gorgeously created by Tony Shasteen. Some are photo references and other are new.

For the later, take a gander at that beautiful Bajoran tablet on Page 1. It looks photorealistic, but I don’t recall seeing one like this before. Another nice original is the setting of San Francisco, where the action takes place within a Klingon temple. This setting owes a lot to Mayan design, but looks great. I loved seeing this structure against the skyline of the city of the future. It looked really cool as our heroes left it.

Looking tremendous are the likenesses of the characters. The emotion that Shasteen can bring to his artwork is fantastic. Particular highlights include Kira (Pages 1, 2, 11, 13, 20, and 21), Odo (3, 5, and 8), Scotty (5, 6, 9, and 15), Quark (11 and 12), and the spoiler-free woman at the bottom of 14. However, being an absolute fan of Dukat, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the joy that the bottom of Page 20 gave me. That look and pose is iconic Dukat, as is his closing appearance on the final page.

The coloring is also extremely well done with original crew’s colors glaringly standing out against the colors of this dark future. It’s impossible not to fixate on Kirk, Scotty, or Uhura’s bright, optimistic uniforms. The book’s final page features beautifully contrasting colors that will have a definite effect on next month’s penultimate chapter.  Grade: A+.

Once again at the helm is Neil Uyetake creating scene setting and dialogue (the same font), sound effects, and yells. The sound that begins on Page 4 and culminates on 6 was great. It’s given the size and shape it deserves. Grade: A+.

Bottom line:
Every element of The Q Gambit: Part 4 is fantastic. This is a must own story that has series colliding in every possible way to create an original, action packed tale while remaining true to what’s gone before on earlier shows.

It doesn’t get better than this. Grade: A+.

– Reviewed by Comics Editor Patrick Hayes

Order Star Trek #38: The Q Gambit, Part 4