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TREKCORE >
SPECIALS >
Ten Forward: Where No Manga Has
Gone Before
Date Published: March 4,
2007
Author:
John Tenuto Star Trek comics
represent some of the earliest and most enduring collectibles. The
tradition continued with 2006’s Star Trek manga Shinsei Shinsei and
2007’s newest continuing comics from IDW Publishing.
Star Trek Comics
Gold Key comics (see
Trek
Artifacts) were the presenters of the first Star Trek comics.
Issue #1 of the comic with a 12 cent price often sells for a few hundred
dollars, with most other issues costing about $20. Gold Key comics were
published from 1967 until before the premiere of the first Star Trek
feature film of 1979 with a total of 61 issues. The kitsch of the
comics, and the often incorrect imagery, including the Enterprise with
rocket fumes, adds to the nostalgic value of the comics. Checker is now
publishing reprints of the comics, with volume six for 2007.
Marvel Comics 18 issue Star Trek comics were written from 1979 to 1982,
starting with the adaptation of Star Trek The Motion Picture. Marvel
could not utilize characters from the television show, limited to
characters from the feature film.
Considered the best Star Trek published regularly are those from DC
Comics. DC Comics utilized writers and artists such as Mike W. Barr,
Marv Wolfman, Peter David, Gordon Purcell, and Jerome Moore. DC Comics
were also allowed to feature characters from all Star Trek versions,
seen with the appearance from early issues of the Organians or
Excalbians. From 1984 to 1988, 56 issues of James Kirk era Trek comics
were written. From 1988 to 1996, 80 issues of both Star Trek and Star
Trek The Next Generation comics were written. The publisher Titan is
reprinting these comics from DC Comics.
Most thought DC would write the Deep Space Nine comics. However, Malibu
Comics wrote about Benjamin Sisko and the DS9 crew starting August 1993.
It was not unusual that Malibu Comics often utilized writers or artists
from the DC Comics version of Star Trek, or writers like Star Trek’s
Sarek, Mark Lenard, or Mark A. Altman. Malibu started the trend of
variant covers for Star Trek comics.
Star Trek comics by Marvel Paramount Comics featured the most variety of
titles from 1996 to 1998. Star Trek Unlimited, Star Trek Deep Space
Nine, Star Trek Voyager, Starfleet Academy which has the distinction of
publishing a Klingon Language issue, Early Voyages featuring Captain
Pike, whose last issue number 17 is ironically titled Nemesis are a few
of the comics presented. Ironically, these comics, under Paramount’s
tutelage, only resulted with about 20 issues for most comics.
Wildstorm also published a variety of Star Trek versions from 2000 to
2001. Wildstorm wrote the first Star Trek comic based from a video game
of Star Trek Voyager Elite Force. Wildstorm utilized authors from
previous comics or the novels from Star Trek. While not the most
popular, these comics feature quality narratives and art.
Where No Manga Has Gone Before
 "Where
No Manga Has Gone Before" could have been the title of the next
Star Trek comic. One of the challenges for writers of Star Trek comics
is to keep fans happy, while finding ways to gain a larger audience. The
feature films often need that wider audience to be considered
successful. Often, the effort fails. Tokyopop’s 2006 Star Trek The Manga
Shinsei Shinsei represents one of the positive efforts for comic books.
The comic presents a variety of styles of manga art with five comic
narratives meant to be like episodes of the Kirk era show. Chris Dows
and Makoto Nakatsuka’s “Side Effects” is the most controversial Star
Trek comic written. Considering the Star Trek Legacy video game, 2006 is
the year of trying to explain how the Borg started. “Side Effects”
offers a complex narrative, placing Kirk, Spock, and McCoy at the start
of the Borg. This should be heresy. This should not work. Yet, it does
work. The style and pacing of the art and writing of “Side Effects” is
kinetic. There are panels where it feels as if the action has become
three dimensional. There is a concept from sociology called “The
Sociological Imagination.” You may know it by the term “Butterfly
Effect.” Regardless of the name, it is the discussion that all people
and events are connected. “Side Effects” discusses this concept
allegorically. This is Star Trek comics at its best.
Joshua Ortega and Gregory Giovanni Johnson present
“Anything, But Alone.” Of all the comics presented with Shinsei Shinsei,
this is the most like a Kirk era television episode. The character
Prekraft reminds of Garth of Izar as he might be written today.
Prekraft’s obsession with correcting past mistakes and his inability to
accept change is a theme found in contemporary studies of villains from
Wicked or the Star Wars prequel’s Anakin Skywalker. It is good to see
the crew of the Enterprise exploring strange new worlds.
 The
narrative of “Orphans” by Rob Tokar and EJ Su is the oddity of the five
comics. It is the least like a episode. Yet, this is not a
disparagement. It is often humorous with a great deal of character
focus, with some serious themes discussed about conflict resolution.
Especially good is the relationship between Kirk and his ship. The
narrative and art of the comic is most designed for fans of comic books.
The comic is Voltron meets Star Trek.
The one complaint is that Shinsei Shinsei needs to be presented with all
the vibrant colors of the Kirk era Star Trek. Manga by tradition is
presented with none of the color which U.S. audiences are accustomed. It
is good that Tokyopop respects that tradition. Yet, Star Trek works best
with vibrant designs. This is no mere affectation. The vibrant
colorization of Star Trek is a shorthand for audiences, who utilize the
imagery to know character Starfleet roles without the need for
exposition. The art is excellent, yet the constant lack of vibrant
colors is the only monotonous feature of the comic. The three variant
covers of the comic show what could have been done to enhance the
comics. This is a excellent comic, with a variety of styles and
narratives. It would be interesting to see what Tokyopop could write
with other Star Trek versions.
Fans of Transformers comics are familiar with IDW, a comic book company
which features original comic books and comics based on television shows
and feature films. IDW is now the inheritor of the Star Trek comics.
2007 is the 20th Anniversary of Star Trek The Next Generation, and IDW
is planning to celebrate with their first Star Trek comic from Jean Luc
Picard’s era. Considering that IDW has experience with comics based on
media items, and that the comics are being edited by Dan Taylor, it is
no surprise that fans should be happy with the newest Star Trek comics.
Issues 1 and the advance copy of 2 of “The Space Between” Next
Generation comic are written by David Tischman with art by Casey
Maloney. The six issues of Star Trek comics span the timeline of the
Next Generation era. The first issue occurs during the first season of
Next Generation, with Season 5 the setting of issue 2.
The
art is very stylized, a benefit to IDW because it is something new with
Star Trek comics. Issue 1 focuses on Data, Riker, and Yar’s adventure on
the planet Tigan, juxtaposed with Picard’s adventure from outer space.
Much of the art focuses on these characters. All the characters look
great with this stylized art, especially Data. The exception is Will
Riker. While Riker’s look is improved for Issue 2, Riker’s likeness is
distractingly lacking for the first issue. This minor complaint is
exactly that, minor, because issue 2 has almost none of these problems.
IDW’s comic presents the kind of vibrancy that other Star Trek comic
books needed. In fact, the coloring of the comic book amazingly adds to
the narratives. A good feature of the art is that the Tigans are drawn
with careful detail, representing a coherent civilization. They look
like they could have been aliens featured on the show if CGI effects
were more readily available during the TNG era. The use of Tigan rings
to show status is a good example of the care taken with the art and the
look of the comics. Without spoiling the effect, each of the two issues
includes at least one “wow” art special effect. That such emotion could
be culled from a comic book shows that IDW is off to a very good start
with the Star Trek art.
Keeping with the tradition of Star Trek commenting on humanity, IDW’s
narratives are both good storytelling and subtle social commentary.
Issue 1 deals with the Tigan people that basically have the Internet
implanted. They have become dependent on this for all their knowledge
and history. It is easy to corrupt this system and the comic deals with
the discussion of what happens to a people dependent on their
technology. This certainly applies to our “I,me,you” society (ipods,
itunes,you tube, myspace). Issue 2 is more of a mystery with a
app reciated reference to Star Trek Enterprise. Yet, this narrative is
more than mere adventure, with a discussion of human emotions and the
appropriate utilization of societal resources. Issue 1 could have
benefited more from a discussion of why the Tigan chose that moment to
stage a coup. The audience is not clear why the Tigans do not wait for
the Enterprise to leave. Also, there is a glaring problem with Riker
merely telling Data to access the Tigan’s database. First, the Tigan
should not let them. Secondly, this is not traditional Starfleet
behavior, and is out of character for Riker. Yet, most characters are
much like their television versions.
Speaking of character, this is a very good aspect of the IDW comics. The
comics do take care presenting character comics. Issue 1 presents
moments with Data that are remind the audience of why the android is a
unique character. IDW shows Data’s early literalism and enthusiasm.
There is a scene with Data that is very funny. Data questions his focus
on wishing to be human, which is something the television show did not
discuss. It was a given that Data wanted to be human. IDW challenges the
audience by having Data doubt his wish. Issue 2 shows the audience Star
Trek characters with their hobbies mostly talked about with the
television shows. IDW’s comics show a respect for Star Trek characters.
Star Trek’s success as a comic often depends as much on good editing as
good writing or art. Dan Taylor, editor of the Star Trek comics for IDW,
is a Star Trek fan. He watched the reruns of Star Trek in the 1970s, and
“completely embraced” Star Trek The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine.
“And while I'm always up for a debate of who's a better captain -- Kirk
or Picard -- I'm in the
Sisko camp. He was one bad-ass captain, and a single parent to boot.
I'm also a sucker for Klingons -- by far my favorite alien race” Taylor
tells the author.
 Taylor
is aware of the challenges of Star Trek comic books. “The most
challenging aspect of editing Star Trek comic books is making sure that
we respect and stay true to what the long-time Star Trek fans love about
the science fiction juggernaut while at the same time making the Trek
universe as accessible as possible to new and non-Trek fans. As a
long-time Trek fan myself, I try to be sure that the finish product
rings true "Star Trek."“ The care for details of Issue 1 shows this
concern for quality. The Tigan character names all end with C, whether
Kadec, Lomac, or Edic. This reminds audiences of the Klingon penchant
for utilizing names with K at the beginning. Details like this are fun.
This kind of respect for Star Trek is a important aspect of Star Trek
comic books success. The best Star Trek feature films and comics respect
characters while placing them in new situations. They keep basic designs
while showing audiences new vistas and new designs.
IDW has the ability to bring new concepts with their Star Trek comics.
IDW writes a comic for 2007 that shows historic Star Trek events from
the Klingon perspectives. Variant comics will be presented with the
Klingon language. This summer, IDW presents a Kirk era comic. While 2007
is the year of Kirk and Picard, It is possible the other Star Trek shows
could be presented. In fact, Enterprise is the only version of Star Trek
with no comic book version yet. It would be great if IDW could write the
fifth season of Enterprise with comics by Mike Sussman or Manny Coto. Be
sure to write IDW with your requests for the new Star Trek comics. If
you are a fan of the Star Trek manga comic book,, let CBS Paramount
know. Star Trek comic books may help to bring new fans to Star Trek. A
variety of comics would be good for Star Trek. The comics also celebrate
what is best about Star Trek, good narratives, fun, characters to care
about, and some new ideas to think about. IDW’s comics continue that
tradition of Star Trek.
Learn more about Star Trek comics
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Comics
www.trekcore.com
www.Idwpublishing.com
www.Tokyopop.com
www.homepage.mac.com/mmtz/stcomix/index.html
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