The Four Eyed Book Worm: Star Trek: Countdown

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Star Trek: Countdown - Johnson, Jones & Messina

Mike Johnson, Tim Jones & David Messina - Star Trek: Countdown (2009)
Graphic Novel – 110 pages – read during June 2012
#51 of 2011-12 / #172 of All Time
- 2 nods out of 5 -

In 2009 Star Trek returned to the big-time. After the ignominy of a cancelled series (the dull and insipid Enterprise) and a flop of a last movie (the much maligned – and some of it cruelly - Nemesis) it appeared Trekkies/Trekkers (delete where applicable) were to ready themselves for the fallow years ahead. However, J.J. Abrams glare covered film was a hit at the box-office, and looks set to spawn countless more adventures with a rebooted cast of the original core of Kirk, Spock and McCoy.

And what better way than to cash in (cough-cough) on the rebirth of the “franchise” with a comic book run on a prequel to the events in the film. In four issues, Countdown relates just how the likes of the dastardly Nero ended up time-travelling to the past to fight a young Kirk. Beginning as an innocent miner who is concerned about an expanding super nova that threatens to destroy his home-world, he forms an unnatural alliance with an old Spock, and the Federation star-ship Enterprise that is now captained by Data. As happens with all plans, it goes horribly wrong, with Nero seeking vengeance for his destroyed planet, wife and – yes – unborn child. Meanwhile along the way, many of the main cast of the Next Generation make an appearance: Picard, who is now an ambassador on Vulcan; Worf is now a general of a Klingon ship, whilst Geordie LaForge is a star-ship designer (remember him, right?).

The writers of the comic – Tim Jones and Mike Johnson - noted their desire to tie in the two casts of the Original Series and the Next Generation. But rather than the passing of the baton, it shows as a passing along of the same old ideas and characters. Similar to many other Star Trek tie-ins (novels, comics, fan movies) storylines appear to suffer when they do not contain familiar faces, such as Kirk, Spock, Picard and Data. This is the very reason why the “franchise” (the Worm hates using this term) has returned to Kirk & Co. in the latest movie adventure, and the reason why this prequel series relies so heavily on Spock, on Picard, on Data, on Worf, and yes, even Mr LaForge.

Ultimately, these comics inspire little interest outside of the usual die-hard Star Trek anoraks. Not enough action and not enough drama: but of course, this is all to be saved for the film itself. And this is what it all boils down to, with this collection serving as a tie-in for financial gain, rather than a key story to tell. This shouldn’t detract from the art-work of David Messina, and the Worm admits the whole premise is a much better idea than the likes of a collaboration with Doctor Who in which Picard helps out to defeat the Cybermen; but ultimately, it all fails to enliven a sceptical Trekkie.