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By GustavoLeao / 10:51, 6 September 2010 / Star Trek: Nemesis
Star Trek Movie Adaptation #6
Reviewed by Patrick Hayes aka PatBorg
The covers: The Regular Cover is by David Messina & Giovanna Niro and has Kirk and Spock looking at the readers, possibly saying, "This is it until the next film." It's nice, but the top third of the art is dead space. I know it's them considering Nero's final words, but I would have been happier with a conceptual cover with head or full body shots of the crew. Still, it's okay. The Retailer Incentive Photo Cover has Kirk and Spock making a quick decision while under fire on the Narada. It's nice, but no vertical photos available? Not one of Pine in his official uniform, since he gets it in this issue? Overall grades: Both B
The story: "Based on the screenplay by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman, Adaptation by Mike Johnson & Tim Jones." This issue begins with the dropping of the drill above Earth and closes out the film. All involved have a lot to cover and the pace of the book is solid. On my second reading I deliberately went through thinking I knew nothing of or never saw the film: it captures all the major plot points and the emotional highs. The only somewhat confusing point is Spock's Jellyfish ship's destruction and the red matter's explosion: it's not there, so the Narada is sucked into a cosmic hole for no reason. Other than that, the book's on target. Pages 17 and 19 are may favorites. Overall grade: A-
The art: David Messina with Claudia Balboni show some nice work. The best being close-ups of people's faces: Nero is great (especially his final image), Pine is a real stand out (Page 13), "Old" Spock (Page 19), "New" Spock (Page 6), and Kirk and Scotty (Page 17 -- my absolute favorite this issue). However, it is noticeable when the artists trade off panel or pages: witness Old Spock on Page 19, panel four, versus every other image of him on the page. Characters' faces go from photo realistic to elongated "comic book" style. Page 18 is also a problem: what's going on? So the transitions between some pages and panels isn't so smooth, but the majority of the book is good. And that final page is a Valentine's Day gift come early to try and get us fans through the next year and a half. Overall grade: B+
The inks: Gaetano Carlucci does a good job keeping the lines thick on objects close-up and thin on those in the background. And there's a ton of details for Carlucci to deal with in the background, which are handled expertly. Overall grade: A
The colors: Ilaria Traversi is the superstar this issue. The use of colors to provide depth in characters' faces is jaw dropping gorgeous. Pages 2, 6, 8, 12, 13...the list goes on. They are all "WOWs!" Overall grade: A+
The letters: Neil Uyetake in charge and there's lots to like. I like how characters had forceful delivery but weren't yelling: Nero on Page 1, Spock to Kirk on Page 3, etc. And there's more than enough sound effects to keep me happy, and any book that goes "SHKOW SHKOW SHKOW" or "PEW PEW PEW" is a winner. Overall grade: A+
The final line: A good year after the movie hit the screens, the adaptation finishes up. This is probably the last we'll see of this Trek incarnation until the next film. It's bittersweet thinking that, and bittersweet as it's also David Messina's final Trek (for the foreseeable future). I wish the art had been wholly his, but what you get is still good. A good ending. Overall grade: A-
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