Star Trek: Alien Spotlight – The Borg

Written By: Andrew Steven Harris

Art by: Sean Murphy

Color by: Leonard O’Grady

Lettered by: Chris Mowry

Edited by: Chris Ryall

Covers by: Sean Murphy and Zach Howard

January 2008

SYNOPSIS:

In the vast Star Trek universe, many diverse alien races abound, and now they finally get their due! Continuing a series of one-shots, each by a different creative team and featuring a different Star Trek alien race. Now, the spotlight shines on the Borg. The Enterprise must face its most deadly confrontation with the Borg—drones from the future, when the Collective believes it has achieved perfection! Sean Murphy handles art and cover chores, while his Outer Orbit cohort Zach Howard provides a second cover for the issue.

PRO:

At first glance I was taken by the artwork. Previously I had seen the first Star Trek series produced by IDW and was taken by how horrible the likenesses were. Knowing how strict Paramount and the actors are about making sure they were “on model” so-to-speak, it really surprised me that they got away with really terrible likenesses. So going into Star Trek: Alien Spotlight – Borg, at first glance, I thought I was in for another repeat performance. Though there were some panels where it was borderline, I was extremely impressed with the almost “Mort Druker influenced” artwork by Sean Murphy. It really infused a lot of action and emotion and really helped the personalities we all know come thru. Very nice.

Regarding the story, it was extremely well written, which in someways leads to the “con.”

CON:

Having worked on other Star Trek comics I am aware of the what goes along with producing a Star Trek book in regards to maintaining the likeness’s and such. I picked up this book in the .25 cent bin at a local comic show. I go the “photo” cover of the Borg Queen that appeared in Star Trek: First Contact. Much to my surprise because she only appears in a 2 panel flashback sequence, so it’s a bit out of place – I’m sure they could have found a better picture to represent the BORG. Another note, I should add was the lack of the price. I wonder how that was handled in book stores?

Disappointing was the advertised 32page where 22 where story and 10 were ads. Of which were excellent, but too much was stuffed into 22 pages; this deserved a mini-series because it felt as there was more to do and say as it ends pretty abruptly. Another issue was the production of the book in which pages looked like the printer ran out of ink. I know it’s a new “fad” to do digital inking but it looks like only parts were DI and some inked. It looks really bad in several panels. I don’t think it’s the coloring, which though muted, works very well.

High Point:

Well drawn, intriguing Star Trek: TNG story.

Low Point:

Story is crammed into 22pages. Bad production.

Review ©) 2008 Mark Robert Bourne

Art ©) IDW Publishing.