Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.reviews,rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: DS9 Graphic Spoiler: "Requiem"
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 1994 10:26:52 -0400
Lines: 135

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

=WARNING= SPOILERS for current comics ahead

Publisher: Malibu
   Series: DS9
   Number: 8
     Date: May 1994
    Title: Requiem
   Writer: Mark A. Altman
Penciller: Gordon Purcell
    Inker: Scott Reed
    Cover: Gordon Purcell
    Cover: Terry Pallot
 Stardate: 45123.8 and two years later
    Grade: s/vf, a/vf, c/vf

Synopsis

A young Bajoran girl is writing in her diary when the
Cardassians arrive and take her parents away. Two years later,
DS9's primary reactor fails. Sisko recruits Dulath, a
Cardassian engineer, to help O'Brien restart one of several
contaminated reactors before the backup reactor fails. O'Brien
reluctantly goes to work with Dulath, who was once DS9's chief
engineer. Sisko explains that he lost his job after shutting
down the contaminated reactors. While examining a conduit,
O'Brien discovers a functioning power generator and a diary.
Kira reads the diary and learns that a young girl, perhaps the
daughter of Bajoran resistance leader Malor Bet, once hid in the
conduit, with help from Quark. She questions Quark, but Dulath
has her answer. The girl's name was Malor Ti. Finding the diary
has affected Kira deeply. In a holosuite, she programs an image
of Malor Ti.

Publisher: Malibu
   Series: DS9
   Number: 9
     Date: June 1994
    Title: Requiem II
   Writer: Mark A. Altman
Penciller: Gordon Purcell
    Inker: Scott Reed
    Inker: Larry Welch
    Cover: Kirk ?
    Cover: Terry Pallot
 Stardate: 47295.3
    Grade: s/vf, a/vf, c/vf

Synopsis

Kira asks Sisko to let her search for Malor Ti, whom she believes
may still be alive and in hiding somewhere in the quarantined
area of DS9. O'Brien and Dulath decide to work separately in
order to restart an off-line reactor before the backup reactor
fails. While Odo conducts a search for the girl, O'Brien finds a
bomb in the reactor he and Dulath have been working on.
Uncertain whether to trust Dulath, Sisko goes with O'Brien's
gut instincts. After the backup reactor fails, Dulath and
O'Brien restart the off-line reactor just in time. O'Brien
also finds the body of Malor Ti in an access tube near the
reactor. Bashir determines that she died of radiation
poisoning several months before. Kira realizes that it was
Malor Ti who placed the bomb in the reactor and died for her
efforts. A Cardassian ship arrives to pick up Dulath. O'Brien
bids goodbye to a new friend and Kira mourns for a young girl. 


Review

Kira and O'Brien are absolutely true to character in this
touching tale. The only odd note is Kira's relationship with
Odo. Neither the television writers, nor the comic book
writers have picked up on the rift that seemed to develop
between Odo and Kira in "Necessary Evil". This is the first
comic story that I have read recently which should be adapted
for the television series. Mark Altman is also writing the
forthcoming mini-series, "Hearts and Minds", so I have high
expectations. 


O'Brien is featured on the cover of #8 along with Dulath, who for
reasons unknown, has pointed ears (must be some kind of
Cardassian mutation). Issue #9 has a young girl peering down
through a ceiling access panel as two armed Cardassians
conduct a search. Both covers are arresting. The interior
artwork is equally good. Maybe I'm beginning to sound like a
broken record, but Malibu writers and artists continue to
outshine their DC counterparts. Run out and find these comics
if you haven't already done so. 


Notes

This issue also includes a prelude to "Hearts and Minds", a
four-issue DS9 mini-series which begins next month. After taking
on supplies and a little R&R on DS9, a Klingon vessel begins an
exploratory mission into the Gamma Quadrant, but they are
attacked by Cardassians. With their weapons sabotaged, the
Klingons choose to self-destruct rather than surrender.

Malibu has cancelled plans for its Bounceback Coupon program
(a Star Trek merchandising scheme) scheduled for insertion in
DS9 #11 and DS9: Hearts and Minds #1. The company is probably
reacting to negative public opinion and objections from comic
retailers to a similar plan scheduled and subsequently
cancelled by Marvel Comics. 


DS9 #13 and DS9: Hearts and Minds #3 will both contain a sneak
preview of the TNG/DS9 crossover coming this fall from DC and
Malibu. 


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