I never like finishing reading a Star Trek comic series and that’s how I felt after finishing Star Trek: The Q-Conflict #6.
Okay – don’t get me wrong; it’s not like I’m attaching the welfare of my emotional well-being to this story, but comics are such a flexible and fluid medium for storytelling that it’s like the story shouldn’t have to end. But, all good things… am I right?
That’s the power of comics. This six-issue mini-series was a lot of fun. Scott and David Tipton really don’t disappoint when it comes to adding to the Star Trek continuity of stories. What was enjoyable about this one was that we had a chance to see the crews from four iterations of Trek work together.
Remember how much fun it was to see Kirk and Picard together in Generations? You get the same type of vibe in this comic, but owing to the extended cast, you get a lot more bang for your buck. There’s no way this could have even been done on television, but that’s comics for you.
The story has come to a head now with the different crews in open conflict with Q and to a lesser extent, Trelane, who has proved to be more of an ally than an adversary to Q in this story. The other immortals are clearly bored with this game despite Q’s insistence that it should continue. The crews have received help from the Traveler and Wesley Crusher and the former human-turned-Q, Amanda Rogers. With their assistance, they are ready to challenge Q and end the conflict.
What’s really challenging about doing a story like this is to properly balance the involvement of all the characters. You need to be able to enjoy the characters for who they were in the television shows in order to provide that degree of Trek authenticity. Throughout the series, I think both Scott and David have managed that quite effectively.
For instance, the focus for each of these series has been traditionally the captain of each ship; in other words, their decisions, their plans, and the way the crew supports them has always made up the bulk of the storylines. In this story, the Tiptons have Kirk, Picard, Sisko and Janeway to all manage. Each of them needs their own time in the spotlight in order for them to have the same sort of bearing as they do in their respective shows or else the characterizations in the comic fail to ring true.
In an earlier issue, we saw Kirk literally ram a shuttlecraft through a Borg bulkhead to accomplish the task that Q set out for them. Completely Kirk, and thoroughly what we would expect from this maverick captain. In this issue, we see Sisko’s personality manifest itself in the tactical way he manages the ground battle against Q’s minions.
It’s very reminiscent of the DS9 episode “Rocks and Shoals,” in which we see Sisko’s tactical prowess pitted against the Jem’Hadar. Janeway shows her calming, supportive nature during the planning session and obviously Picard’s own personal involvement with Q is a fundamental part of this story, the other two captains’ encounters with him notwithstanding.
But the understanding of the supportive characters’ natures is also well-portrayed. When Tom Paris manifests his ideal version of a Q weapon, he rationalizes it to be an epitomal 20th century weapon, an AK-47, to be precise. Constable Odo refuses to leave Quark behind because if he does, “he’ll steal the ship blind.” Using Dr. Bashir’s genetically-enhanced abilities in combat is another nod of authenticity the Tiptons add to the story, which adds to its enjoyment.
Comics are the perfect, cost-effective and flexible medium for this sort of premise. First of all, it’s an immense cast. The entire crews of four shows are employed in various facets of the story. Secondly, to depict the unpredictably omnipotent antics of Q and to a lesser extent, the other immortals. But this is when a reader appreciates the visual storytelling of artists like David Messina.
Messina acquits himself well in replicating the Napoleonic guards Q has employed before in TNG episodes for the battle sequences in this story. But he also faithfully recreates classic creatures like the Mugato from the Original Series, the Jem’hHadar from Deep Space Nine, and the Borg as other soldier minions in the battle sequences. Then, with a FWASH!, he easily transforms a battlefield to a court-room. There are a lot scene changes in this book and Messina works hard to make them happen.
Speaking of art, the covers are limited in number but excellent. Messina provides the art for the two-part spanning covers ‘A’ and ‘B.’ Q is in the middle of the image with the other immortals surrounding him. They are flanked by the different captains, with Kirk and Janeway on the left-hand side of Cover A and Sisko and Picard on the right in Cover B.
The retailer-incentive cover is provided by George Caltsoudas. I think this is my most favorite of all his works. it’s a wonderfully styled series of side profiles of the four captains with miniature silhouettes of their starships streaking across the page. It’s dynamic and less abstract than he’s done in the past and I have to say, I love it without pause.
Still, with this issue, another one of the Tiptons’ stories has come to an end. They have all the luck: being comic writers and Trek fans, they manage to pitch the most amazingly wild Trek stories that only the comics medium can deliver.
Combining the crews of four iterations of Trek is definitely an exotic premise, but it’s one they know they can deliver owing to the flexibility of the medium and the excitement of the fans who want to see this premise happen.
Of course, the obvious question to ask is: what do they have up their sleeves for the next time? We’ll just have to wait and see!