Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current,rec.arts.startrek.reviews Subject: TNG Graphic Spoiler: "Companionship" Date: Wed, 30 Mar 1994 10:55:09 -0500 Lines: 150 Star Trek Comics Review: "Companionship" Review by Mark Martinez ============================================ =WARNING= SPOILERS for current comics ahead Publisher: DC Series: TNG Number: 56 Date: January 1994 Title: Companionship Writer: Michael Jan Friedman Penciller: Deryl Skelton Inker: Deryl Skelton Cover: na Stardate: na Grade: s/pr, a/fr, c/fr Synopsis Lwaxana Troi is travelling with the Enterprise to attend a diplomatic conference. The Eregeus are considering joining the Federation and their neighbors, the Sakerions, are hosting the conference. Lwaxana convinces Picard that Alexander and his classmates should attend the conference to get "a taste of democracy in action". Picard agrees, as long as Worf and a security team accompany the children. Also attending the conference are Deanna, Geordi, Dr. Crusher, and Dr. Selar. When the Enterprise away team arrives at the conference hall, they are attacked by unseen assailants. Worf, Alexander, Geordi, Lwaxana, Deana, and Selar are abducted, and awaken in a laboratory. Deanna finds herself sharing Alexander's body, Selar shares Geordi's body, and Worf finds himself in Lwaxana's body. When they attempt to escape from the laboratory, the Eregeus confront them. Publisher: DC Series: TNG Number: 57 Date: March 1994 Title: Of Two Minds Writer: Michael Jan Friedman Penciller: Deryl Skelton Inker: Deryl Skelton Cover: Jason Palmer Cover: Jerome Moore Stardate: na Grade: s/pr, a/fr, c/fr Synopsis Worf/Lwaxana, Deanna/Alexander, and Selar/Geordi fight their way past Eregean guards, taking advantage of skills from both minds in each body. Aboard the Enterprise, the Sakerions inform Picard of Eregean mind transfer techniques and the strong likelihood that the Enterprise crew members were kidnapped to serve as hosts for the ruling Eregean triumvirate. When Lwaxana, Alexander, and Geordi escape via transporter, Picard must find the bodies belonging to Worf, Deanna, and Selar before it is too late to transfer their minds back. Publisher: DC Series: TNG Number: 58 Date: April 1994 Title: Bodies of Evidence Writer: Michael Jan Friedman Penciller: Deryl Skelton Inker: Deryl Skelton Cover: Jason Palmer Cover: Jerome Moore Stardate: na Grade: s/fr, a/fr, c/fr Synopsis Using their telepathic abilities, Deanna/Alexander, Worf/Lwaxana, and Selar/Geordi attempt to locate the bodies of Deanna, Worf, and Selar on Eregeus. While Barclay tries to trace the transporter beam which was used to abduct the Starfleet officers, three away teams beam down to the planet. All three missing bodies are found with suspicious ease and Barclay traces the transporter beam to an unexpected source. The Sakerionites have been setting up the Eregeans as fall guys (fall aliens?), in order to hide theie crimes against Eregeus. Thanks to Barclay's efforts, Picard creates a ruse of hos own to expose the Sakerionites. The grateful Eregeans help reunite separated minds and bodies. Worf, of course, is dismayed at having had such an intimate encounter with Lwaxana. Review This story arc is a dog. There, I said it. I would have given up after the first issue, but I felt obligated to write a complete synopsis. Brief appearances by Barclay, Robin Leffler, Ogawa, and a few other seldom-seen characters in part three, fail to enliven the story. Basically, it's Starfleet boys and girls meet aliens, aliens steal minds and bodies, Starfleet boys and girls reunited with minds and bodies, and everybody lives happily ever after, or until the next close encounter. It's time to put this plot device out to pasture. The artwork is disappointing also. Deryl Skelton's characters lack texture and definition. Ordinarily, Jason Palmer and Jerome Moore contribute outstanding covers, but these three issues are a letdown. Let's hope the next story arc is an improvement. Notes Malibu and DC have announced the first DS9/TNG crossover. It's the first time that two major companies have combined licensed properties. The first two issues of the four-issue crossover, one from each company, are scheduled for simultaneous October release. The last two issues are scheduled for November. Mike Barr will write for Malibu and Michael Jan Friedman for DC. Gordon Purcell and Terry Pallot will do all the artwork. DC claims that ST:TNG Special #2 is due in April, but this issue hasn't been solicited by comic-book distributors yet. "Shadowheart", DC's Klingon mini-series begins in June. Beginning with issue #61, due in May, the price of ST:TNG comics will increase to $1.95 per issue. ============================================ Grading Key (adapted with tongue-in-cheek from "The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide" and subject to revision with little or no provocation) s Story a Art c Cover art mt Mint: perfect in every way nm Near mint: minor imperfections only vf Very fine: outstanding fn Fine: no serious defects vg Very good: presentable gd Good: readable fr Fair: ragged pr Poor: falls apart na Not applicable/available