Synopsis: In this year’s Star Trek annual The Theseus crew finally get a chance to relax. But just as everyone settles down, a strange signal comes in with a message that reads, MR. SCOTT. WE HAVE A PROBLEM. BRING HELP. —JIM. Upon finding the source of the signal, the Theseus bridge crew step into a fully activated holodeck recreating the bridge of the original U.S.S. Enterprise—complete with a “discovery” of some “strange new” guest stars! Join the writers behind the critically acclaimed Star Trek series, Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly (Batman Beyond, Captain America), for an exciting romp through the history of Trek with art by Rachael Stott (Fantastic Four; Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures).
The Story
When engineer Montgomery Scott receives an unusual message from Theseus’s computers he finds himself and the crew trying to figure out an engineering puzzle, which turns out to be a first-contact situation. Suddenly finding themselves on many of Starfleets most famous ships. Most of them with the name Enterprise, but one with the name of Discovery. The Theseus Crew find themselves meeting iconic characters from many of Starfleet’s finest command crews but in holographic form. The only clue to what is going on is a book titled ‘Photons Be Free’ by a Star Trek: Voyagers Emergency Medical Hologram. However, the closer the crew and Scotty get to solving this puzzle. The more resistant the Hologram of Captain Kirk is to listening to the other holographic photons.
Artwork
Rachael Stott does a solid job throughout the artwork and provides a fun interpretation of Captain James T. Kirk’s smug grin when his holographic avatar reconnects with Scotty. Much attention is paid to the surroundings. Specifically the different surroundings of several ships named Enterprise as well as the HMS Enterprise. Of course, the classic Enterprise Bridge set is drawn beautifully. But seeing the deck of the HMS Enterprise again was a real treat. We also get a nice drawing of Sato’s workstation on the Enterprise NX -01 in a nice panel where we learn that Theseus’s Andorian Crew member Sat0 is the great, great, great-granddaughter of Ensign Hoshi Sato.
Overall
Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly give us a cracking story for this year’s Star Trek Anuall. It ticks pretty much every box you can ask for in a Star Trek story. And the plot is very much up there with your best Original Series and TNG episodes. I loved the nods to all the great shows that have come and gone. I also liked the various nods to key episodes from Star Trek’s past. But what I loved most of all was how well the writing team managed to capture the voice and intonation of Scotty.
If you are a fan of Star Trek. Even only a casual fan. I highly recommend that you read this Annual.
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- Covers10
- Story9.8
- Artwork10
- Lettering9.5
- Colours10
