Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.reviews,rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: DS9 Graphic Spoiler: "Anthology"
Date: 15 Feb 1994 16:52:34 GMT
Lines: 112

Star Trek Comics Review: "Anthology"
Review by Mark Martinez
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=WARNING= SPOILERS for current comics ahead

Publisher: Malibu
   Series: DS9
   Number: 6
     Date: January 1984
    Title: Field Trip
   Writer: Mike W. Barr

Synopsis

Sisko and Dax accompany Keiko O'Brien and her class, on a field
trip to the other side of the wormhole. On the way back, an
electrical malfunction injures Sisko and Dax, and damages the
runabout's guidance and telemetry systems. Keiko, Jake, and Nog
must find the wormhole and get the ship back to safety before
life support fails.

    Title: Pickpocket
   Writer: John Vornholt

Synopsis

After losing his communicator to a pickpocket, Bashir
commiserates with Quark over Odo's absence and the lack of
security, even in the bar. Deciding to solve the case
themselves, Quark's Regulars (the customers who owe him money)
are pressed into decoy service. The self-deputized constables
catch a dangerous criminal and an innocent accomplice.

    Title: Program 359
   Writer: Colin Clayton
   Writer: Chris Dows

Synopsis

Dax and Bashir run into Sisko coming out of a holosuite again.
Dax is concerned about Sisko's repeated trips visits to the
holosuite. Bashir uses his medical authority to examine Sisko's
program. They discover that Sisko has been fighting the battle
of Wolf 359 over and over again, losing each time. When Sisko
catches them viewing his program, Dax and Bashir learn that he
has finally come to terms with his actions at Wolf 359, and with
his wife's death.

Penciller: Rob Davis
Penciller: Peter Krause (pin-up)
    Inker: Terry Pallot
    Cover: Jerome Moore
 Stardate: na
    Grade: s/fn, a/fn, c/vf

Review

This anthology issue contains three solid stories, all with
characters who are true to form. In "Field Trip", Jake and Nog
are horsing around as usual, but under pressure, they are equal
to the task, as they have been in the television series.
"Pickpocket" highlights Bashir's enthusiasm and Quark's
grudging respect for Odo's job, but suffers from the lack of a
fully characterized villain. Of the three stories, this is the
one I would most like to see expanded. Bashir and Quark make an
amusing investigative team. The last story, "Wolf 359",
successfully portrays Sisko's healing. Acceptance of his
wife's death and the disaster at Wolf 359 is entirely
consistent with character growth exhibited in the television
series. Malibu has been very successful in preserving
continuity of character in their comics. I hope they continue
to do so. 


Jerome Moore has provided another spectacular cover for this
issue. He has drawn a triptych featuring a dramatically lit
portrait of Sisko, with Locutus in the background. The left
panel features Keiko O'Brien, while the right panel depicts
Quark, Bashir, and Morn (without dialogue even in the comics)
on the case. The interior art is uniformly good, which I have
come to expect from the artists Malibu has hired for this
series. This issue also features a pin-up portrait of Quark by
Peter Krause. Overall, a fine set of stories for DS9 fans. 


Notes

Malibu's forthcoming DS9 mini-series, "Hearts and Minds", by
Mark Altman, with art by Rob Davis and Terry Pallot, will be
previewed in DS9 #9, coming April 1994.

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