Written by Marc Guggenheim

Art by Oleg Chudakov; Colors by DC Alonso; Letters by Jeff Eckleberry

Design and Production by Neil Uyetake

Spoilers

Not long into their ‘shakedown’ cruise after the V’Ger Incident, the Enterprise encounters a strange ship with a stranger pilot…

This isn’t the first time the TMP era has been explored in comics form, the old DC title (available in Omnibus form right now) does some great work there. This is IDW’s first time in the era though and like the ship itself, it’s in very safe hands. Marc Guggenheim cleverly weaves the strands of the overall arc at this time together to explore a story that uses reflection as both inciting incident and motif.

The motifs are there in moments of surprising, and logical, exploration. Spock is a touch more violent than he would become, a little closer to Vulcan logical ruthlessness. Kirk is still looking for something to understand to death and one of the best scenes has him told flat out that this really is his last voyage. We know it won’t be but the promise of seeing that unfold is very attractive. Likewise the moment where Doctor Chapel calls Bones, still whining about being drafted, on his sexism. None of this is forced or illogical, and all of it is touchstones along the journey we know these characters have taken. Oleg Chudakov’s characterful art and Alonso’s carefully selected period colours deliver the right tone and Jeff Eckleberry’s lettering embodies the distinctive cadences of these characters.

But the script excels in the other reflection: the pilot. A Uhura from another universe she’s as driven and brutal as ‘our’ Uhura is measured and calm. The two women know each other instinctively but don’t trust each other because of that. This timeline’s Uhura explaining at one point that ‘she knows what she’s capable of’ is an especially telling phrase and one I’m looking forward to seeing explored.

Verdict: This is as confident and commanding storytelling as you get, especially given how uncertain so many of the characters are in this era. Fun, clever and just getting started it’s a welcome return to an era of the Enterprise that’s always interesting to see. 9/10

Alasdair Stuart