Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.reviews,rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: DS9 Graphic Spoiler: "A Short Fuse"
Date: Mon, 08 Aug 1994 11:12:04 -0400
Lines: 111

Star Trek Comics Review: "A Short Fuse"
Review by Mark Martinez
============================================

=WARNING= SPOILERS for current comics ahead

Publisher: Malibu
   Series: DS9
   Number: 11
     Date: July 1994
    Title: A Short Fuse
   Writer: Charles Marshall
Penciller: Leonard Kirk
    Inker: Bruce McCorkindale
    Cover: Leonard Kirk
    Cover: Terry Pallot
 Stardate: na
    Grade: s/fn, a/vf, c/vf

Synopsis

Cardassians stage a surprise raid on DS9, taking over the
station and capturing the command crew. Jake and Nog are the
station's only hope. At least, that's how they imagine their
roles on DS9 to be. When Odo wanders by their usual perch, high
above the Promenade, they learn he is searching for signs of a
bomb. Sisko and Odo insist that the boys return to their
quarters. O'Brien recommends that they have patience with their
elders, but Jake and Nog sneak off to search on their own. Jake
wonders if things would be different if his mother were still
alive. When they find a suspicious object, Jake and Nog take it
to Ops, where they convince Dax to beam it into space (and into
the wormhole).  Expecting to be hailed as heroes, the boys are
somewhat dismayed to learn that Odo found the bomb in Quark's
bar. O'Brien is considerably more than dismayed when he learns
that the "bomb" beamed into space was his long-awaited, brand
new sub-space field analyzer.

Review

"A Short Fuse" is a predictable story that might even be called
"cute", since it features the bad, but not bright enough to be
annoying boys of DS9, Jake and Nog. However, it's a relief to
see boys being boys instead of boys being gods (no apologies to
Wesley fans). Nog isn't quite as grating in the comics as he has
become in recent episodes of DS9 and Jake is very much in
character.  Marshall has done a nice job of capturing the spirit
of this pair and their relationship with DS9's adults.

This issue is a feast of aliens, in addition to the usual
exceptional DS9 character representations. Artists Kirk and
McCorkindale don't have to rely on a few latex nose and forehead
appliances for their aliens. Morn is featured prominently on the
cover, but still hasn't said a word. It must be a conspiracy.
I'm not fond of Star Trek wunderkind stories, but this Jake and
Nog story is mostly harmless and even a little amusing. Go ahead
and get a copy.

Notes

DS9 #12 will feature an information page on Trills.

The first DS9 annual is tentatively scheduled for December.

After publication of Star Trek: Voyager begins, Malibu will
alternate DS9 and Voyager mini-series.

Mark Altman is writing a script for DS9 #0. No details are
available yet. Altman is also writing the first DS9 Special,
with art by Rob Davis, featuring characters from "Hearts and
Minds". DS9 Specials will probably be published quarterly.

Hearts and Minds #1 (the current DS9 mini-series written by Mark
Altman) has been published with a hologram cover based on the
illustrated cover art by Rob Davis and Terry Pallot. The copy I
saw had a hologram on the front cover. Net rumor has it that
there is a version with holograms on front and back covers, but I
haven't been able to confirm this. I understand that the
hologram issue is being sold by comic book dealers for $19.95,
but I was also offered a copy for $25.00. This isn't a limited
edition, but if the print run is low, the price of this edition
may be volatile.  


Anyone still interested in purchasing the DS9 ashcan ($9.95), the
black dual-foil edition of DS9 #1 ($19.95), or the QVC gold foil
edition of DS9 #1 ($19.95), should write to Malibu for their
mail-order catalog. The address is in the copyright block of
current comics (starting with DS9 #9) and the catalog will cost
you a buck. QVC originally sold the gold-foil DS9 #1 for $28.00.
Don't ask me to explain comics economics. I'm clueless.

============================================
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