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Star Trek #35 Review

7/26/2014

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Star Trek and comic books are an obvious match made in heaven. In the “Letters to the editor” section, writer  Mike Johnson points out the benefits of flexing the imagination without worrying about the creative limitations caused by budget constraints...but there’s more to it than that.

In Star Trek #35 (Part 1 of The Q Gambit), we once again get to see a much younger John De Lancie (Q), vibrant and mischievous as the day he entered the Star Trek universe nearly 30 years ago, interacting with the up-and-coming action star Chris Pine.

In comic books, we don’t have to worry about our favorite characters graying at the temples and thickening at the waist. They’re perfectly preserved at their most vigorous on the comic book page. Star Trek comics do what they can to capture the likeness of the actors who originally portrayed the characters and this comic has succeeded admirably.

This new story begins with Q intruding on Captain Picard’s hospitality. For all intents and purposes, Q is a god who can bend space-time and alter reality to create fanciful exercises in futility as easily as Data can program the holodeck. Q explains that Spock’s little stunt from the first J.J. Abrams Star Trek film has endangered the existence of an entire timeline. Q’s motives are suspect, but he tells Picard that he intends to save the endangered timeline.

The scene serves no other purpose than to remind us of the playful banter exchanged between two of our favorite characters in The Next Generation. The rest of the comic book takes place aboard the first Starship Enterprise, helmed by James T. Kirk.

Star Trek #35 sets up a vague story that ties the new film universe to the tried and true worlds of The Next Generation. It may be interesting in the next few issues. It may not. The important thing is that we get to Q again, meddling away in the affairs of men. And that’s good fun.
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Death Vigil #1 Review

7/19/2014

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Originally posted to Geekin.Me.

The first thing everyone notices about a Stjepan Sejic comic is the visual feast he lays before us on every page. He is a master of knowing when to blow a reader away and, perhaps even more importantly, when to pull back on the reins. What some readers may not know, unless they follow him on DeviantArt.com, is that he’s an efficient storyteller with good comedic timing.

Sejic’s latest comic book, Death Vigil, is a reminder of the early Top Cow inventions like The Darkness and Witchblade, both of which Sejic has worked on. It has equal parts edge and humor, drama and whimsy.

Issue #1 follows the story of Samuel Lewis, who is recruited onto the front lines of a supernatural war of good vs. evil. After some time passes, Samuel Lewis has created quite a name for himself and he has no trouble reminding everyone what a badass he is.

Sejic crams an impressive amount of information into this 40-page issue without letting the story lag. It keeps moving forward, adding subtle sub plots and supporting characters without making the reader feel bogged down in the worldly details that only the creator usually cares about. In Death Vigil, we can soak them up and appreciate the innovation that Sejic has brought to his new world. There is a charming scene where Samuel calls in the cavalry and we meet an unexpectedly charismatic crew of dead guys.

The art is exactly what one would expect from Sejic. It’s balanced and advanced, drawing inspiration from art in all corners of the world. He takes a step back from the mesmerizing detail he put into Ravine, and instead gives the comic a more traditional look. It’s still awesome. Sejic knows when detail is needed and when sketchier lines are just as effective.

Death Vigil is one of the more exciting new comic books out right now. With 40 full pages of story and art, this comic should be in everyone’s pull bin this year.

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    Author

    I work in Kansas City.  I like writing and illustrating things that either make people think or laugh.  If I can make people do both at the same time, I've achieved a continuing lifelong goal.

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