Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 – 3
Written by: Ryan North
Art by: Chris Fenoglio
Letters & Design by: Johanna Nattalie (#1 – 3) and Jake Wood (#3)
Published by: IDW
All three problems with the very extremely anticipated comic guide adaptation of Star Trek: Lower Decks are actually obtainable, and the miniseries doesn’t disappoint (besides, maybe, in not being an ongoing collection). Featuring loads of beta shift and a holographic Dracula, this story combines the aesthetics and sensibility of the present with the particular skills of the creators to copy a worthy tie-in comic to the ongoing animated Trek collection.
First and foremost, followers of the present will probably be extraordinarily happy with these three points. In addition to nailing the voice of each acquainted Cerritos crewmember that seems, this challenge tells an unique story with two dovetailing subplots that every really feel very a lot in the vein of Star Trek: The Next Generation (by the use of the California class).
This is bolstered by Fenoglio’s artwork. As far as the scenes that includes the characters and interiors of the Cerritos go, you’d assume you have been taking a look at screenshots from the present. When it involves the exterior photographs of the ships, that are rendered through laptop generated photos onscreen, there’s some distinction – however since Fenoglio is human slightly than laptop (so far as I do know), this distinction is smart. Plus, the extra “illustrated style” photos of the Cerritos (and the mini-Enterprises that make a cameo in #1) serve the comic completely nicely, particularly on the double splash pages.
That isn’t the solely place the place the Lower Decks comic’s aesthetic soars, both. Flipping open the cowl of any of the three points instantly treats the reader to a well-rendered “LCARS” introduction/recap web page, a design factor that can also be utilized for the again matter in every challenge. By adopting the composition of the Starfleet OS for these pages, the comic ensures that any post-TOS Trekkie will really feel instantly at residence upon opening the guide.
Programming by North Central Positronics
We’ve already established that the collection works nicely inside the context of Lower Decks: it’s even set on a selected stardate (58120.6), putting the storyline in the again half of season 2, between “The Spy Humongous” (58105.1) and “First First Contact” (58130.6). According to an interview with StarTrek.com, that is because of the proven fact that North labored carefully with collection creator Mike McMahan on the growing of the miniseries.
In addition to the eye in the direction of continuity, there are many references to most of the remainder of the Trek canon, together with The Animated Series and Enterprise. Plus, improbably sufficient, there are even a number of allusions to the Kelvin timeline trilogy.
But on prime of being an awesome Lower Decks and Star Trek comic, every of the creators brings their very own particular addition to the combine. For North, this implies an emphasis on a storyline that predominantly options laptop programming, with loads of precise “science” blended into the “science fiction.” This latter philosophy is even emphasised by considered one of the bottom-of-the-page notes unfold all through the three points, a trademark that will probably be acquainted to any readers of North’s work on The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.
I skant consider they let me get away with this…#StarTrekLowerDecks pic.twitter.com/cfPDeMyYBR
— Chris Fenoglio – Mastodon @[email protected] (@ChrisFenoglio) December 1, 2022
Likewise, Fenoglio leaves his mark, even managing to sneak in a personality carrying a scant. Trekkies have actually been demanding this for years, and Lower Decks has delivered. Qapla’!
Hologram Fans Rejoice
Maybe it’s no shock that North penned a “holodeck gone wrong” story: for one factor, they’re thought-about considered one of the most memorable episode archetypes from TNG, which takes place simply earlier than Lower Decks (and is of course contemporary in beta shift’s thoughts). Plus, with the holographic developments which have taken place since The Doctor returned from the Delta Quadrant at the conclusion of Star Trek: Voyager, the matter is ripe to be revisited – particularly with somebody as well-versed on the materials as North.
But this story subverts the typical “evil Moriarty” storyline by giving holographic Dracula the alternative to turn into a hero by the conclusion. As identified by the beta shifters, that is Federation philosophy at its finest: serving to sentient life obtain their full potential. Plus, it additionally means we get to learn entire paragraph written by Dracula and speaking up Bram Stoker over Leo Tolstoy. No arguments right here, Drac!
Badgey’s Back Matter
Finally, the again matter – the “lower decks” of any comic – is stupendous. Each challenge not solely contains a full variant cowl gallery (an important inclusion, contemplating how good this batch of variant covers are) however extra materials. While my private favorites have been the full-page commercials for meals objects from the Cerritos replicators (elote FTW), there’s loads extra, comparable to pages revealing Trek references and a two-page unfold with {a photograph} of the large Lower Decks mural Fenoglio painted at New York Comic Con 2022. As talked about above, all of that is offered through an excellent design, making you are feeling as if you’re shopping via commercials on a PADD in the Cerritos bar.
And after all, all of that is hosted by Badgey, the homicidal program who murdered Shax and attacked Douglas Station in the season 3 finale. This is an efficient method to embody the series-level antagonist with out making him oversaturated, a smart selection for the comic.
Hope for Second Contact?
The Trade Paper Back is scheduled for launch in May 2023. Alternatively, in case you aren’t the commerce ready sort, all three problems with the Lower Decks comic can be found now, presumably at your Local Comic Shop.
But I do have some questions: why solely three points? Where the jug is the Erica Henderson variant cowl to go along with my prized Derek Charm variant cowl? What different comic has a “Chekov’s Blood” joke? Why not make this your ongoing flagship Trek comic?
To paraphrase Captain Carol Freeman’s voice actor Dawnn Lewis, put some respect on the Cali class! The Lower Decks comic has earned it.
Verdict: REPLICATE A COPY FOR EVERYONE YOU KNOW (AND YOUR PETS).
This piece is the inaugural entry in a brand new collection known as TRADE RATING, in which The Beat’s contributors evaluation latest and forthcoming collections of comics materials, from single points to webcomics and extra. Check again every Thursday for a brand new commerce evaluation!
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