Publisher: IDW Publisher
Writer: Mike Johnson
Artist: Tony Shasteen
Release Date: 14 January, 2015

As we warp into the final issue of The Q Gambit I realise just how sorry I will be to see this series finish. While I’m certainly a fan of the ongoing IDW comic as a fun way to get my Star Trek fix, I’ve been so spoiled by this 6-part story that I’m afraid I may be disappointed going back to two-parters. Well, at least The Q Gambit goes out on a high note.

Characterisations are spot on, especially a humbled, yet still snarky Q. A possessed Gul Dukat (or rather, a Gul Dukat harnessing the power of a Pah-Wraith) conversing with the Trek universes’ most malevolent extradimensional beings is also of note, raising one of Trek’s greatest baddies to new, godlike heights.

Tony Shasteen’s art once again benefits from a darker environment, and shading across his character models, which also builds upon the dark setting of this ruined Federation, and the seemingly no-win scenario. On the spacey side, he draws the Enterprise surrounded by Pah-Wraith energy so beautifully that I would one day love to own a Ships of the Line calender entirely drawn by his hand. I’m a sucker for my spaceships, and his attention to detail, perfect proportions and great lighting really make my day whenever he gets to draw the Federation’s finest.

He also gets to draw Q in a pose worthy of a full-size poster. I hope John de Lancie has seen this.

Issue #40 was an absolute blast to read from start to finish, which is retrospectively what I would like to say of The Q Gambit as a whole. I really hope IDW chooses to deliver more epic multi-part stories in future. This issue, filled with action, great character interplay, and a great, solitary line from Picard, shows what can be achieved when those working with the Trek license really understand the characters individually, and how they bounce off of others.

Rating: 5/5.

The Writer of this piece was: Andrew Stevens
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