Writer: Mike Johnson
Artist: Efran Fajar

Reviewing a comic you have no real experience with can be daunting. Interpreting an issue out of context, or jumping on in the middle of an arc you aren’t familiar with can make things difficult.

Fortunately, Star Trek #25 is the first part of a four part arc, and no history is really needed here, as the book is set after the events of Star Trek: Into Darkness. This is J.J. Abrams-era Trek, keeping things nice and current.

Part 1 of ‘The Khitomer Conflict’ sets things up nice and simply for things to come. Mike Johnson structures the story well, fitting quite a bit of plot into one issue, including an intriguing connection to the 2009 Star Trek movie. You get the impression there is a lot of story to tell in the next three issues though, as the pacing here is a little off. In just one issue we go from the Enterprise crew prepping for a new 5-year mission, to being slap-bang in the middle of a galactic war in the space of a few pages. Everything is explained, but that doesn’t stop it all feeling a bit sudden.

Where Star Trek really stumbles though, is in the artwork. Erfan Fajar’s work isn’t bad, but it seems as though the book’s visual potential is limited by the fact that all the characters are drawn in the image of the actors who play them in the films. The result is lots of close-up panels, as if to say “This looks just like Zachary Quinto!”. Combined with bland backgrounds, and colours that leave everything looking flat, it’s a fairly forgettable visual experience.

Story-wise, Star Trek #25 is enough to hold a reader’s interest, but if you like your comic books pretty, which I’m sure most of us do, you may find yourself wanting something more.

Rating: 6/10.

The writer of this piece was: Alan Shields aka (Al)
You can also find Al on Facebook