Last week, issue #2 of IDW’s Star Trek and Legion of Super-Heroes was released, and both the readers and the characters learned a bit more about the universe that is the setting for this story.
Similar to the Mirror Universe as previously seen in Star Trek, this is a very militaristic place. Buzz words like emperor, imperial, and insurrectionists help paint this is a world rife with conflict and struggle. The Emperor rules with an iron hand, and makes sure that all enemies either surrender or are brutally defeated and/or killed.
There are so many ways that this crossover could go wrong. It is a risky proposition to put things like this together. However, there is one thing that I think they got right. They have blended aspects of both home universes into the one where our characters find themselves. Organians, Durlans, Klingons, Borg, Coluans, and more, all are here, and have at least some of the characteristics of their original counterparts. I hope that some of these races end up playing bigger parts in the issues to come.
The story so far is somewhat bland. Both groups are fighting to get away from the inhabitants of this universe, to stay alive, and to find a way home. At the end of the issue, the groups finally come face to face, and I presume that in the remaining issues they will be working together.
The major problem I see is once again the art. While the members of the Legion are fine, I do not like the interpretation of the Enterprise crew from the artistic team of Jeffrey and Philip Moy. In some panels, it is as if they are combining William Shatner with Chris Pine, and that gives Kirk a very awkward look. The others are also hit and miss, ranging from McCoy on the good end, to Chekov on the poor end of the spectrum and the others in between.
Perhaps things will improve as the event continues. It is not a total loss, but it is a bit of a disappointment at this stage. I have not totally given up on it, but I must admit that it is possible that the naysayers were right, that this was a bad idea.
i haven’t read the entire issue but from your description it sounds like a black and white version of DS9 with all the different races represented at once. i did read the issue 2 preview and i too wasn’t impressed with the internal art. i’d much rather read it in sketch art format…