STAR TREK: NEW VISIONS VOL. 2 - graphic novel

STAR TREK WEEK


 Last summer I read and reviewed the first volume in author/artist John Byrne's Star Trek: New Visions graphic novel series.  It is set up like a comic book/graphic novel but using manipulated photos from the Star Trek series (like the old 'Fotonovel' books) to tell new stories.

In this collection, Byrne stretches his character-creating, giving us some familiar faces (familiar if you're a fan of the show), though not always the more recognizable guests, as well as creating some new characters.  I liked that Byrne sticks with the 1960's style. In the short "Robot" our guest is wearing a very 'mod' outfit that would easily have been in fashion on earth circa 1969.

Something Byrne is able to do is to give us aliens that are truly alien in appearance.  We see this nicely in "Cry Vengeance" in which Kirk encounters a very alien race that has also had a run-in with the Doomsday Machine.

There's a Harry Mudd story and Tribble story, but my favorite is "A Scent of Ghosts" in which we get some throw-back flashbacks to the Captain Pike era. But in the current, Kirk era, Pike's Number One is now a Commodore.

This volume ends with a tease that I found exciting.  The last panel has Kirk walking on to the bridge that resembles the animated series, complete with animated characters. I think that would be an excited take on this New Voyages series.

This volume has the following stories:

"Cry Vengeance"

"Robot"

"Made out of Mudd"

"The Great Tribble Hunt"

"A Scent of Ghosts"

"Memorium"

"Eye of the Beholder"

Looking for a good book? If you are a Star Trek fan you really should check out John Byrne's Star Trek: New Visions (Volume 2) graphic novel for some new stories with familiar faces.

3-1/2 stars

* * * * * *

Star Trek: New Visions Volume 2

author/artist: John Byrne

publisher: IDW Publishing

ISBN: 1631403672

paperback, 144 pages

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