Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.reviews,rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: TOS Graphic Spoiler: "Epic Proportions"
Date: 2 Aug 1993 14:28:32 GMT
Lines: 83

Star Trek Comics Review: "Epic Proportions"
Review by Mark Martinez
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WARNING: SPOILERS FOR CURRENT STAR TREK COMICS AHEAD


Publisher: DC
   Series: TOS
   Number: 52
     Date: September 1993
    Title: Epic Proportions
   Writer: Diane Duane
Penciller: Rod Whigham
    Inker: Arne Starr
    Cover: Rod Whigham
    Cover: Carlos Garzon
 Stardate: 8752.5
 Synopsis: Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are invited to make first
contact. Puzzled by the invitation, but curious, they meet
with the Atyansa and are welcomed as mythic heroes. The trio,
along with an Atyansa guide must go on a quest to find the
creature of the mountain, as legend says they did a thousand
years before. Scotty, in command of the Enterprise, must try
and keep a Klingon battle cruiser from interfering with the
first contact mission. During the quest, Kirk and the others
meet and battle beings and beasts from their past, including a
Mugatu, a Gorn, and a salt creature. When Klingons arrive, our
heroes are chased into a mountain cave where they find a massive
and sophisticated computer installation. The computer,
built by the Atyansa's ancestors half a million years ago,
appears as a beautiful woman, and welcomes the Federation
officers. Their arrival was predicted long ago and made part of
Atyansa mythology to facilitate their arrival. The computer
installation is failing and the Federation is asked to help
restore the system for use by the present day Atyansa. Klingons
briefly interrupt, annoying the computer. She chases them
back to their ship, then pushes it out of orbit. The Enterprise
crew celebrates their new association with the Atyansa.    

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

REVIEW

Diane Duane consistently scripts entertaining stories for
the comics. In this episode she takes a poke at the Trek mythos by
incorporating it into her story. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, the
mythic trio of heroes; Kirk and the ladies; Kirk and wilful
computers; McCoy and his complaints--all these images hit
their marks. The story also features Klingons, in a cameo role,
speaking in their native tongue. My only complaint is that
Scotty usually does a better job of dealing with Klingons than
he does here.  


The cover art depicts a showdown between the Enterprise
landing party and what could be a pack of alien dinosaurs.
Interior artwork and covers are generally drawn by different
artists so it's not surprising when covers and the story don't
match. However, I find it a little annoying. Overall, this was a
very enjoyable chapter of Trek lore.   


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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