The Best of Star Trek
{5/5} “There’s a feeling that you have when you command a starship. It’s impossible to explain to someone who has never had that responsibility. To see the stars shoot by you, and know that you… no on else… is responsible for bringing four hundred and thirty lives safely through that vast unknown. And you feel… a kinship… to the stars.” (from “The Trial of James T. Kirk”)
The Best of Star Trek by Mike Barr, Diane Duane, and Peter David, published in 1991 (individual comic books published between 1984 and 1990)
In “Mortal Gods” Kirk finds a former student of his has declared himself a god on a planet of aliens. In “The Final Voyage” the Enterprise is whisked off to Talos IV, where Captain Pike is — Kirk finds 3 Klingon ships in orbit. In “Double Blind” there are some aliens who want to take over the ship — but Kirk isn’t sure they are capable of doing it. In “Retrospect” when Kirk asks Scotty what’s wrong he reveals that his wife has died. In “The Trial of James T. Kirk” Kirk surrenders himself to prevent hostilities between the Klingons and the Nasgul.
This graphic novel contains 5 stories. The title is accurate — this was the best of Star Trek comic books in 1991.
We see Sarek, Samuel T. Cogley, Will Decker, and a few others we’ve seen before. In “Trial” there are remarkable conversations between Spock and Sarek, and between Uhura and R.J. Blaise. Scotty has a beautiful romance in “Retrospect.”
There are a small number of flaws. In “Mortal” phasers are set to kill when they shouldn’t be. In “Final” the Klingons gain the power of the Talosians — but they don’t have the brains for it.
The cover by Jason Palmer is superb. The interior artwork is by people like Tom Sutton, Curt Swan, and James Fry.
This is the 2nd time I’ve read it.
I’ve read a few Batman and Star Trek comic books and a joint novel by Barr. I previously reviewed Star Trek: The Mirror Universe Saga.
I’ve read 10 novels and 1 graphic novel by Duane. I previously reviewed Star Trek: Doctor’s Orders.
I’ve read 28 novels, 3 graphic novels, and a bunch of comic books by David. I previously reviewed Star Trek: The Return!