Canon is important when creating new fiction in an established franchise. Is it the most important criteria? No, but I do believe it is critical.

However, when it comes to preserving the spirit of a franchise, I think it’s the attention to detail that matters more. Canon rests on attention to detail and that permits good storytelling within an established universe.

That’s what I want to focus on in looking at Star Trek: TNG — Terra Incognita #6 as we end the Mirror Universe infiltration with the final chapter of this long-running tale.

The Mirror Universe’s Data has come to retrieve Barclay and take him back. The alternate Picard believes that Barclay has absconded his mission and seems to clearly enjoy his new position with the prime Enterprise. Of course, this alerts the crew and there is an epic showdown.

If there’s a word that I can associate with the work of Scott and David Tipton, it would have to be detail. It’s present in their dialogue, characterizations, and those lend themselves to authenticity. You can see it in the careful attention to detail in dialogue, character motivation and Trek history while at the same time, not sacrificing their own creativity. They take their craft very seriously and it’s a joy to read one of their stories.

For instance, turns of phrase like “Go ahead, Number One” – a typical response from Captain Picard to his first officer is such a small detail, but it’s one that lends itself to the authenticity of this story to contribute to the establishment of a legitimate background.

The characters are presented in that fans remember them as well. Ensign Wesley Crusher engages (pardon the pun) in a moment of reflection as the crew realizes their deception in a completely television moment.

We see Worf’s boldness in the conflict as he unhesitatingly throws himself at the alternate Data in a thoroughly Worf manner, regardless of the disparity between them. The old Barclay, restored to his station, drops an uncomfortable joke in an awkward moment lending the usual Barclay comic-relief that is a staple of his character. This is all fully Next Generation Trek.

The Tiptons are definitely aware of their responsibility to maintain the Star Trek continuum in their storytelling. But their own creative contributions come through strong as well. It’s not only the attention to the details that actually were, but it’s also the attention to details that could be.

The plotline rests on the personality of this alternate Barclay. Of course, he is self-centered and opportunistic; this is a usual feature of the characters form the alternate universe. But the Tiptons take the kernel of that nuance of original Trek and extrapolate it to an authentically believable dimension.

Mirror Barclay has a secondary agenda, after all. He actually enjoys living in the regular universe. He certainly resists going back when the opposite Data and Picard come looking for him, but fate works against him and he is no match for the devious Captain and his android enforcer.

Let’s take a look at the art in this book.

Carlos Nieto does a great job in supplying the art for this issue. I know he’s an artist well-respected by Scott Tipton and it’s reassuring to see that degree of respect amongst creators. But it’s the detail apparent in the clear likenesses that Nieto manages to achieve.

There is no mistaking who these characters are and that is essential for franchise storytelling.

• Cover A is by long-time favourite penciller Tony Shasteen, the master of likenesses. His degree of accuracy is unparalleled and this action sequence of the two Barclays fighting on the bridge lends itself well to the story.
   
• Cover B is a photo cover. Lately, IDW has been enhancing their photo covers. While it’s still a photographic cover, which I’m not a fan of, the image has been artistically modified for the better. I like the improvements but I’d be very interested in the technique and the identity of the artist who enhanced the picture.  Hopefully, IDW will start to give credit to him or her.
   
• Elizabeth Beals provides the art for the retailer-incentive cover ‘A.’ It’s a very pastoral portrait of the crew, posed and poised. It’s the type of cover that gives the reader a sense of positivism and reminds her or him of the idealism behind this show.
   
• Retailer-incentive cover ‘B’ features art by painter J.K. Woodward. In this image we have a hunted Picard stalked by the Mirror Barclay form the shadows. It’s an extremely dramatic piece and definitely gives the sense of animosity between the two dimensions. It’s my favourite out of the collection, for sure.

I enjoy this look at the Mirror Universe. The absence of a Mirror Universe story in the Next Gen era has been something that’s been overlooked. But with their fine-honed knowledge, the Tiptons can extrapolate and build upon this established franchise and provide their own spin on it. Of course, that can only be done once the details have been taken care of.

Like I said, the Tiptons take their responsibilities very seriously and I have to recognize that sense of responsibility. I’m not just a fan of their work, but a fan of their dedication. Pursuing the presentation of this property in all its intricacies to such a fine degree is something that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Once you take care of details, then canon is properly preserved — that’s how you tell a Trek story.