Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.reviews,rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: TOS Graphic Spoiler: "Renegade"
Date: 2 Aug 1993 14:27:49 GMT
Lines: 77

Star Trek Comics Review: "Renegade"
Review by Mark Martinez
============================================

WARNING: SPOILERS FOR CURRENT STAR TREK COMICS AHEAD


Publisher: DC
   Series: TOS
   Number: 51
     Date: August 1993
    Title: Renegade
   Writer: Dan Mishkin
Penciller: Deryl Skelton
Penciller: Steve Carr
    Inker: Arne Starr
    Cover: Rod Whigham
    Cover: Carlos Garzon
 Stardate: 8648.4
 Synopsis: Saavik tracks down and captures a Federation
scientist, Professor Erickson, on a Romulan outpost world.
Erickson developed a major breakthrough in starship weapons
technology and decided to take it to the Romulans to restore the
balance of power. Traveling in a captured Romulan vessel,
Saavik questions Erickson about his motives while he tries to
persuade her to join him. Attacked by a pursuing Romulan ship,
Saavik refuses to surrender and fights until the Romulans
retreat. Erickson continues to try and persuade Saavik that
his is the right way. When they detect an unexpected Federation
ship, Saavik realizes that Erickson has programmed a phony
vessel configuration signal and the ship is really Romulan.
When Erickson fails to win over Saavik, the Romulans activate a
neural surger which kills him. The Romulan commander commends
Saavik, telling her she would have made a fine Romulan, leaving
Saavik to ponder the situation.   

    Grade: s/gd, a/vg, c/fn

REVIEW

I believe this story lacks the impact it could have had by really
exploring the internal conflict of Saavik's Vulcan/Romulan
heritage. This aspect of her character is alluded to, but not
brought to the surface. Instead, the reader is expected to
think that a stranger might romance Saavik into joining the
Romulans. Saavik is much to principled a character for this to
occur. 


The cover is quite good, featuring a sinewy Saavik in some kind
of battle armor. Most comic artists draw women with Amazonian
characteristics, including the women of Star Trek. This may
not be appropriate for others, but it fits my impression of
Saavik. The interior artwork is consistent and generally up to
DC's usual standards.  


============================================
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: near perfect in every way
nm      Near mint: minor imperfections only
vf      Very fine: outstanding
fn      Fine: above-average with no serious defects
vg      Very good: average
gd      Good: readable
fr      Fair: ragged
pr      Poor: falls apart
na      Not applicable/available