Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.reviews,rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: TNG Graphic Spoiler: "Children of Chaos"
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 1994 10:21:24 -0400
Lines: 141

Star Trek Comics Review: "Children of Chaos"
Review by Mark Martinez
============================================

=WARNING= SPOILERS for current comics ahead

Publisher: DC
   Series: TNG
   Number: 59
     Date: May 1994
    Title: Children of Chaos
   Writer: Michael Jan Friedman
Penciller: Deryl Skelton
    Inker: Deryl Skelton
    Cover: Jason Palmer
    Cover: Jerome Moore
 Stardate: 47763.7 and events sixteen years earlier
    Grade: s/fn, a/vg, c/vg

Synopsis

On Chalna, Capt. Picard of the Stargazer, first officer Ben
Zoma, and science officer Jack Crusher, exercise their
diplomatic skills to try and prevent the Chalnoth from attacking
a colony in disputed territory. To prove his veracity, Picard
agrees to trial by combat, while a power struggle brews among
the Chalnoth leaders. Choosing to fight with slings, Picard
defeats his Goliath-like opponent, resolving the situation, but
making Chalnoth enemies in the process. Sixteen years later,
while investigating the disappearance of a Federation ship, the
Enterprise encounters the Chalnoth, and Picard renews an
acquaintance with an old adversary.

Publisher: DC
   Series: TNG
   Number: 60
     Date: June 1994
    Title: Mother of Madness
   Writer: Michael Jan Friedman
Penciller: Pablo Marcos
    Inker: Pablo Marcos
    Cover: Jason Palmer
    Cover: Jerome Moore
    Cover: Williams ?
 Stardate: na
    Grade: s/fn, a/fn, c/fn

Synopsis

Searching for the missing crew of the Aquitaine, Riker and his
away team follow a Chalnoth team, while Picard tries to hold off
Pathox, captain of the Bludgeoner and an adversary from a
previous mission. The Enterprise away team finds the Chalnoth
attacking a bug-eyed monster beneath the planet's surface.
The creature has cocooned the crew of the Aquitaine and a
Chalnoth crew. Pathox attacks the Enterprise, which holds its
own, until several more Chalnoth ships arrive. The creature
routs the Chalnoth away team, but Troi senses that it is trying
to protect them by cocooning them. Riker learns that the
Chalnoth were trying to set up a military post. Picard may have
to abandon the away team to protect the ship. 


Publisher: DC
   Series: TNG
   Number: 61
     Date: July 1994
    Title: Brothers in Darkness
   Writer: Michael Jan Friedman
Penciller: Deryl Skelton
    Inker: Deryl Skelton
    Cover: Jason Palmer
    Cover: Terry Pallot
    Cover: Rick Taylor
 Stardate: na
    Grade: s/vg, a/vg, c/fn

Synopsis

While Picard, in the Enterprise, battles the Chalnoth,
Riker and his away team try to understand the unusual behavior
of the creature. They free some of the cocooned Aquitaine and
Chalnoth crew and learn that the creature may have been injured
by the Chalnoth, causing her to destroy her own eggs and cocoon
the humanoids as if they were her eggs. Picard manages to disable
the Chalnoth ships while the away team subdues the Chalnoth
landing party. Dr. Crusher sedates the creature, the cocooned
crewmembers are rescued, and Crusher finishes up with some field
brain surgery on the creature, to repair her injuries. Picard
disavows any desire to meet the Chalnoth a third time.

Review

This story arc started out with a brief look at a younger Picard
(complete with hair) and Jack Crusher. The Chalnoth (standard
issue Star Trek warrior race) were potentially worthy
adversaries for our heroes. I was even willing to accept the
introduction of a BEM (bug-eyed monster) in the second issue,
because you never know when a BEM might turn out to be amusing.
However, by the time Bev finished stitching up her patient, I
was hoping that a few little green men would appear and blast the
Enterprise into atoms. I guess I'm just a little tired of DC's
sagging interest in publishing entertaining comic books.  


The middle issue of this arc was drawn by Pablo Marcos, a
seasoned veteran of Star Trek comics. The difference between
his work and Deryl Skelton's first and last issues is striking.
Skelton does an adequate job, but I prefer Marcos' work. Jason
Palmer's BEM cover for issue #60 is a throwback to the heyday of
the science fiction pulp magazine. Picard has hair on the cover
of #59. He looks less distinguished with hair. If you collect
comics, I suppose you could buy these comics for their covers,
otherwise I would pass on them. 


Notes

TNG Special #2 with stories by Chris Claremont and Michael Jan
Friedman is coming in July. 


============================================
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: above average
vg      Very good: average
gd      Good: some defects
fr      Fair: ragged
pr      Poor: falls apart
na      Not applicable/available