I’ve just finished reading another marvelously unique and authentic Star Trek: The Next Generation story from Scott and David Tipton — featuring the artwork of Angel Hernandez — in Terra Incognita #4, centering on everyone’s favorite ensign, young Wesley Crusher.

When TNG came out, my parents were endlessly entertained by watching me watch Star Trek. Mired in the throes of jealousy that a young Wil Wheaton got to sit on the bridge of that generation’s Enterprise, I was simultaneously annoyed and envious of Wheaton’s new claim to fame. I mean, I loved Stand By Me but it wasn’t enough to prevent me from criticizing Wesley Crusher’s performance as a provisional crew member.

However, as I’m now an older and arguably more mature Star Trek fan, I can now look at Crusher in a different light. In the course of the series, he grew up too and, in this issue, the spotlight’s not on the early-series ‘boy hero’ or under-confident Acting Ensign, but on the fully-commissioned, red-uniformed officer.

Ensign Crusher is on board the Enterprise in a training simulation, discovering that training decisions aren’t the same as real ones, and you can tell that this is is going to be a segue for an authentic Trek learning moment.

Scene change to the planet Faundor. What’s of note in this issue is the creation of an alien species that not only fits within the expectations of a Next Generation continuum, but also what the Tiptons have added to their own unique perceptions of the TNG universe. It’s a Trek story, but I also enjoy the Tiptons’ particular style in telling it.

This new species, known as the Administrata, not only provide the Federation with an accelerated way to manufacture new starships to buffet the diminished fleet (following the decimation at Wolf 359), but also give us a Trek story that allows for Wesley Crusher to illustrate one of the values that Roddenberry himself would have approved.

After all, it is the continuing mission to seek out new life, right? While Administrata may look like a cross between MC Hammer’s wardrobe adviser and DC Comics’ The Eradicator, their appearance contributes to the late 1980’s vibe that effectively displays that authenticity that I mentioned earlier.

The events of this story happen after the battle with the Borg in “The Best of Both Worlds,” which validates the underlying premise of the Tiptons’ universe at this time that the Federation needs to rebuild. This also made the incursive threats of the Mirror Universe a viable fear in their previous work, “Mirror Broken”. With the Mirror Barclay in the shadows, the storyline is rife with potential adventure.

Things go wrong during a diplomatic inspection of the Faundori manufacturing capabilities that cause the disappearance of one of the away team. Wesley’s challenge, while surprisingly and positively influenced by the villainous Barclay, is to learn what happened to her. During the course of the story, Wesley not only gains valuable mission experience but also manages to illustrate one of greatest values of Star Trek.

It’s more than just an entertaining story – it’s a true Star Trek story.

I like that the Tiptons think ahead and find new ways of showcasing familiar elements and motifs in Trek in their stories. There are so many possibilities that make this not just a great comic but a great promise of comics to come. I certainly hope that the good folks at IDW continue to allow them to continue their adventures in this universe.

Let’s take a look at the art for this book, where Angel Hernandez delivers another scintillating piece of work in this comic. His technique is comprised of simple, stark lines that produce accurate likenesses and a clear realization of storytelling elements that make for a fluid read. Hernandez gives us decent artwork that is easy to appreciate and enjoy.

The covers all seem to share a solid theme of character portrayals and we get a great selection of covers to enjoy. In fact, I have to say that for the first time, I’ve enjoyed all of the cover variants on this book, and that’s something that hasn’t happened in the past.

• Tony Shasteen gives us the ‘A’ cover for this comic. Shasteen’s work is something that I always look forward to seeing. In this case, he gives us two perfect poses of Crusher and Riker on the bridge. While Crusher is at the helm station, Riker is in the typical Riker stance: leaning on his leg and looking in command. If there’s anything that Shasteen does well, it’s detail and that reinforces the authenticity of this book.
   
• The ‘B’ cover is a photo cover, continuing the series of illustrated reproductions of archival Next Generation cast photography. While I typically don’t enjoy photo covers, the artistic effect seen in this line of alternate Terra Incognita covers is one I haven’t seen, and I like it — that’s a first.
   
• Elizabeth Beals does a wonderful job with the retailer-incentive ‘A’ cover. This is a playful and enjoyable rendition from one of the Dixon Hill episodes that Jean-Luc Picard enjoys re-enacting on the holodeck. I don’t get the relation to this story and I think that covers should have a connection to the interior story, but there’s no doubting the absolute enjoyability of this cover. Beals decisively captures the expressions, features of the characters and the spirit of “The Big Goodbye” and that’s a something that any TNG fan can fully appreciate.
   
• Finally, the retailer-incentive ‘B’ cover is painted by none other than J.K. Woodward, whose talent I can’t say enough of. This is a portrait cover that really portrays the essence of both of the central characters in this story. Woodward’s work has an ethereal quality to it that, despite its fantastic nature, still provides an effective and solid basis to thoroughly enjoy. The detail defies painting and while it must take longer, it’s an effect that is fully appreciated. It’s definitely my favourite of the four.

In short, all the covers are fairly basic in design, but that lends itself to reinforcing the concept of the authenticity of this book. It’s Trek and that’s what Trek fans want to enjoy. Their understanding of the characters makes this such a story, and it’s great to see Wesley Crusher grown up and in a command mode.

It’s something familiar and the Tiptons have their fingers on the pulse of this iteration of Trek and at the end of the day, that’s what fans want to read.