Star Trek The Next Generation Mirror Broken #1 Review

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Captain Picard, Cardassians, comics, Dave Tipton, DS9, IDW, IDW Publishing, JK Woodward, Klingons, Scott Tipton, Star Trek, Star Trek Mirror Universe, Star Trek The Next Generation Mirror Broken, Star Trek The Next Generation Mirror Broken #1, Star Trek The Next Generation Mirror Broken #1 Review, Star Trek TNG Mirror Broken #1, The Enterprise

Star Trek The Next Generation Mirror Broken #1

Review by Paul Bowler

Get ready to boldly return to the Mirror Universe in Star Trek The Next Generation Mirror Broken #1 as Captain Jean-Luc Picard resolves to seize command of the Empire’s deadliest new warship, the ISS Enterprise! It is a quest fraught with deception, intrigue, and murder – with allies and enemies vying for power at every turn. Picard aims to use the Enterprise to restore the Empire to its former glory, the challenge he faces is immense, but fortunately he has a cut-throat crew on his side that will do whatever it takes to succeed!

IDW Publishing’s new six part Star Trek: The Next Generation Mirror Broken mini-series, written by David Tipton and Scott Tipton, and illustrated by J.K. Woodward, kicks off in fine style with this exciting first issue. The Tipton brothers are a winning team when it comes to writing Star Trek, having already brought us many popular Star Trek comic books, including the Star Trek / Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive crossover series and the FCBD Star Trek TNG Mirror Broken special (which was also the prequel to this mini-series).

The Tipton’s take on the Mirror Universe is a fascinating and insightful one, particularly as their was never a TV episode featuring the STTNG crew in this alternative dimensional pane. Star Trek TNG: Mirror Broken shows how the aftermath of the STTOS crews’ adventure in the episode Mirror Mirror (1967) that led to that universes Spock’s more logical and tolerant rule over the Terran Empire, was ultimately overrun during the Klingon / Cardassian alliance that was eventually forged during the TNG / DS9 era. With most of its fleet in ruins, the balance of power in Alpha Quadrant has shifted, and the Terran Empire has been driven back to Earth.

Captain Picard and the crew of the ISS Stargazer are among the few remaining starships of the fleet left defending the Empire. Following a run in with a Cardassian vessel, the Stargazer visits the Mars shipyards of Utopia Planitia, where Captain Picard learns about a new warship that’s secretly being constructed for the Empire, and it’s a ship that could shift the balance of power in his favour!

Star Trek TNG Mirror Broken presents us with a sleeveless, pumped up, and ruthlessly ambitious Captain Picard. Even the familiar Picard phrases have a far more sinister, edgier, inflection to them. Picard has been playing the long game, and it looks like the Captain’s steely patience is about to pay off. We also meet some of the other TNG crewmembers in this issue, including the alluring Inquisitor Troy, the efficient Commander Data is ever present with his seemingly stoic penchant for Borg-like perfection and adaptations, there’s a decidedly cunning version of Barclay as well, and the downtrodden La Forge seems equally as cunning as Picard.

Well known for Fallen Angel, longtime Star Trek artist, J.K. Woodward’s art is a perfect choice to illustrate IDW’s STTNG Mirror Broken and realize a darker version of the Next Generation crew in the grittier reality of the Mirror Universe. From the scene setting opening flashback, to the brooding introduction of Picard, J.K. Woodward’s stellar artwork instantly transports you right into the heart of this Mirror Universe saga. The likenesses of all the characters are stunningly realized, the bridge of the Stargazer feels alive with activity during the fight with the Cardassians, and the scenes with La Forge, Picard, and Data on Mars crackle with suspense.

As this year is the 30^th anniversary of Star Trek The Next Generation, it makes this Mirror Universe comic book epic all the more exciting, and its great to see these Mirror Universe versions of Picard and Co reunited for this daring escapade to take the Enterprise for themselves and make the Terran Empire great again. Star Trek The Next Generation: Mirror Broken #1, with its intricately crafted storyline by David Tipton and Scott Tipton, and stunning art by J.K. Woodward, certainly gets this IDW mini-series off to a terrific start, and a must read for all Trek fans this new comic book day. Make it so!

Publisher IDW Publishing

Writers David Tipton & Scott Tipton / Art and colors by J.K. Woodward

Letters AndWorld Design / Cover by J.K. Woodward

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Transformers Lost Light #3 Review

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comics, Cybertron, IDW, IDW Publishing, IDW Transformers, Jack Lawrence, James Roberts, Joana Lafuente, Megatron, Rodimus Prime, The Lost Light, Transformers, Transformers Lost Light, Transformers Lost Light #3, Transofmeros Lost Light #3 review

Transforms Lost Light #3

Review by Paul Bowler

Transformers Lost Light #3 finds Rodimus and Co confronting the bizarre status-quo on the alternative Cybertron, just as the Functionist council prepare to reveal an ancient secret. Meanwhile, back on Necroworld, Anode has to address questions about her past, while Swerve, Ten, and Whirl awaken a terrifying monstrosity!

The adventure of Rodimus, the pacifist Megatron, and the miss-matched Autobot Transformer crew of the Lost Light from IDW’s brilliant Transformers More Than Meets The Eye series – where the trials and tribulations that accompanied Rodimus’ crew in their search to find the mythical Cyberutopia saw them loose their only map, their starship, and even their lives for a short while when Necroworld exploded from inside – continues in IDW Publishing’s brand new Transformers Lost Light comic books series by writer James Roberts (Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye) and artist Jack Lawrence (Skylanders, Micronauts).

Having being stranded on Necroworld to face the Decepticon Justice Division after Getaway led a mutiny and stole the Lost Light, Rodimus, Megatron, and their Transformers shipmates tried to return to Cybertron using Brainstorms cobbled together teleporter device. It worked, the only trouble is they ended up in a parallel universe, arriving on an extremely different version of Cybertron where Megatron never existed and the Functionist council now rules.

Transformers Lost Light #3 is a magnificently structured and densely plotted issue by James Roberts. From the – oh dear I really don’t think you should’ve pressed that switch – opening moments back on Necroworld, Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced quickly sets the narrative in motion with some truly delightful moments when Rodimus’ interstellar parallel universe communiqué gives Brainstorm and Nightbeat permission to Squeee! From there the issue rattles along at high velocity as Whirl takes on his hulking Nemesis, Rodimus, Megatron, and other others witness the revelation of one of the Transformers universe’s biggest mysteries, and the ongoing mystery surrounding the archaeologist Anode‘s past, together with her trusty sidekick Lug, faces some extremely difficult questions when she’s accosted by Velocity and Nautical.

Jack Lawrence’s artwork impressively captures the likenesses of each and every Transformer character, there’s a vast roll call of Transformers in this issue of Lost Light as well, and Lawrence deftly ensures that scenes on both Necroworld and the alternative Cybertron are lavishly realized while still retaining a distinct identity all their own. It’s also interesting to spot the variances and similarities with some of the Transformers parallel counterparts. The fight with the Nemesis (Killmaster) is fast and frenetic, the emotional scenes with Anode are also handled beautifully, and the big reveal of Rung’s true alt-mode is real scene stealing moment. The colors by Joana Lafuente stylishly complements the mood and tone of each scene, each of the Transformers liveries boasts a gorgeous mix of vividly portrayed hues and sheens that gleam from the page, and the skilful deployment of velvety shadows heightens the ominous sense of encroaching dread during key moments.

The issue rides a crest of exposition towards an unexpected cliff-hanger of epic proportions that perhaps poses almost as many questions as it answers. I was a huge fan of IDW’s Transformers More Than Meets The Eye, so this new Transformers series had a lot to live up to, but I’m happy to say that Transformers Lost light is shaping up to be every bit as wonderfully exciting, wildly mind-boggling and complicated, hilariously funny, and as big an emotional a roller coaster ride as Transformers: MTMTE ever was.

Transformer Lost Light #3 is another excellent issue from James Roberts, Jack Lawrence, and Joana Lafuente; it has distilled everything that was so loved about Transformers: MTMTE, and then some! This is an issue that demands your attention though, new readers might find the plot a tad overcomplicated in places, but the sheer level of characterization and Transformer action make this new series a veritable delight for Transformers fans!

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Writer: James Roberts / Art: Jack Lawrence

Colors: Joana Lafuente / Letters: Tom B Long

Regular Cover: Jack Lawrence & Joana Lafuente

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