Star Trek 1263: Future Tense

1263. Future Tense

PUBLICATION: Star Trek: Early Voyages #13, Marvel Comics, February 1998

CREATORS: Ian Edginton and Dan Abnett (writers), Patrick Zircher and Steve Moncuse (artists)

STARDATE: Unknown (follows the last issue)

PLOT: Yeoman Colt appears at the tail end of the Movie Era, aboard the original Enterprise, now a museum piece. She escapes the guards who take her for a trespasser, but is intercepted by James T. Kirk, freighter captain. It seems her disappearance from history changed events. Kirk was drafted as Pike's yeoman, but they never got along and Kirk left the service. Now he's running freight and regretting his decision, but he's a sucker for lost causes and pretty faces (some things never change) and agrees to help Colt get back to Algol to find a way to return her to her time, even if it's now sitting deep in Klingon space. On the way, they're attacked by Klingons commanded by General Chang and rescued by Pike's Enterprise-A, and he's really angry at them...

CONTINUITY: See previous issue (Algol). The Phoenix Tavern is undoubtedly named after Cochrane's first warp ship (First Contact). In an alternate timeline, Kirk and Scotty have a ship called the Bounty (The Voyage Home). One of Kirk's crew is a Trill, another is Andorian. It is implied that without Captain Kirk fulfilling his role in history, the Klingon Empire has spread wider and survived the destruction of Praxis. We remember General Chang well from The Undiscovered Country. The Enterprise-A is crewed by Captain Pike (who never suffered his injury), Uhura, Spock, Saavik (ST II version), Sulu and... Kyle?

DIVERGENCES: None.

PANEL OF THE DAY - Try doing that with a TNG tricorder.
REVIEW: I wasn't expecting the story to go into alternate timelines and what if territory, but seeing as I'm a sucker for those... In a peripheral way, this is Kirk's Tapestry, in which a great man is sidelined for having made a bad choice. Remove a Starfleet Captain Kirk from history and what changes? Pretty much everything, it seems. The writers don't dwell on the details and don't turn the issue into an exposition-fest (the Watcher isn't on hand, after all). They just let the story invoke the changes. We're either before Praxis blows or it doesn't seem to matter because the Klingon Empire is more powerful. Likely, there was never an Organian Treaty in this timeline. Pike's continuing journeys (not undercut by his famous accident - which will be the true, unknown, tragedy of resetting the timeline) possibly took him on a different route. And while it's fun to see the alternate TOS crew, this is still a Colt story, so it's full of daring action as well. She's a better match for Kirk than Janice Rand ever was. (Still, jeers for how these covers keep spoiling surprises. The issue tries hard to keep back Kirk's reveal, but if you've seen the cover, you already know.)

This Week in Geek (17-23/05/10)

Buys

Nothing this week. I've been pretty sick. Haven't gone out of the house. Or down to the mailbox. I did, however, crash in front of the tv and watch stuff in between sleeping spells. Read on.

"Accomplishments"

DVDs: Continuing on the last few weeks' adventure, I flipped Battlestar Galactica Season 2.0, the first half of the second season (certainly makes "flipping" easier when they parcel it out in bite sizes). This part of the BSG saga finishes what was started in Season 1 and ultimately takes us to the awesome appearance of the Pegasus. The DVD features podcast commentaries and deleted scenes on almost every episode, but not much more, leaving the more complete features for the end of the season. Makes sense.

On Kung Fu Friday, we showed An Empress and the Warriors, a historical epic/romance that was really two films. There's this military drama/tragedy starring Donnie Yen, and then there's a cheesy romance between the heroine (a Mulan by any other name) and her warrior saint/engineer/forest ranger/medical doctor/balloon rider/peacenik boyfriend. The former clearly stole the show and had some pretty wonderful sequences, while the latter made me laugh out loud in all the wrong places. Reminded me of White Tiger, and not in a good way. Of course, it all looked gorgeous whichever part we were in. The DVD is relatively bare for a Dragon Dynasty release: Bey Logan's usual commentary plus a 25-minute promotional featurette.

Also flipped this week is the geekapalooza that is the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2009 version of Hamlet starring David Tennant and Patrick Stewart. And I swear I'm not saying this because I'm a Doctor Who or Trek fan, but it's already one of my favorite film versions. It's got some great performances and staging, with Stewart actually redeeming himself in my eyes (not a fan of his 1980 Claudius). I'll let my Hamlet blog tell a fuller tale (link at the bottom of this post). The DVD has a commentary track with the director, d.p. and producer, which is very interesting indeed, and a half-hour making of besides, with interviews by most of those concerned. The only thing I find is missing is some footage from the original theatrical production.

Because I was going to make Doctor Who CCG cards all weekend, I had to watch a couple stories. The first of these was State of Decay starring the 4th Doctor, the 2nd Romana and the 1st Adric (oh, there was only one?). It's the one with the vampires, in case you're wondering. Though the direction and design are pretty good, and Adric surprisingly palatable, the script is one of those clashing Terrence Dicks/Chris Bidmead atrocities that feature the worst of both writers (recycled ideas + deathly boring dialog). The DVD is great fun though. The commentary tracks are full of levity as usual, and in addition to the making of, there are features on the vampire in fiction (sorry girls, they don't get to Twilight per se) and on the meaning of blood in our culture (wonderfully macabre).

I also watched The Twin Dilemma (and this, for the first time), but opted not to make cards from it at this juncture. Colin Baker's first story as the 6th Doctor is actually a lot better than people have led me to think. Oh, the plot is complete rubbish, bog-standard Who with naff monsters and gratuitous continuity references. However, much like the more excessive episodes of New Who, you can watch it for the characters. An "anti-Doctor" wasn't a good idea (not at the time it was broadcast), but it is one worthy of our attention. And Peri is actually really good in this too. You almost want Kevin McNally's character to jump onboard as well, by the end, despite his putting his glue gun in everyone's face every three minutes. At the time, it was a terrible dropping off from The Caves of Androzani, but 25+ years later, I think it's got some redeeming elements. This is a cheap story, so the DVD is too, notable for its complete lack of a making of documentary. The commentary tracks tell the tale of course. There's also a cute bit of fluff with Baker and a comedienne discussing the various costumes the Doctor's worn, an interview with the man who designed the opening credits of this era, and features from the television of the time, one with a sadly under-researched interviewer on a morning show, and the other on Blue Peter.

New Unauthorized Doctor Who CCG cards: 40, split pretty much between The Ultimate Foe (6th Doctor) and State of Decay (4th Doctor).

Hyperion to a Satyr entries this week include:
Act I Scene 4 - Hamlet 2000
Act I Scene 4 - Fodor (2007)
Addition: Tennant's Hamlet (2009)

Star Trek 1262: Futures, Part One

1262. Futures, Part One

PUBLICATION: Star Trek: Early Voyages #12, Marvel Comics, January 1998

CREATORS: Ian Edginton and Dan Abnett (writers), Michael Collins and Greg Adams (artists)

STARDATE: 2389.4 (follows the last issue)

PLOT: While the Enterprise is effecting repairs at planet Algol, Number One is offered command of the USS Nelson, but she declines. Turns out Pike needs her to command the Enterprise anyway, since he's beings ent on a secret mission. Her mentor during this period will be Admiral Robert April. Meanwhile, Colt and José are on their "date" down on the planet where they pick up an artifact at the "Well of Tomorrows" a sort of oracle for the heroes of Algolian myth. In the bauble, José sees himself as a captain (in the Movie Era). Colt sees nothing. She secrets the bauble to the ship to examine it further, and an active tricorder scan transports her in time to the Movie Era where she is arrested as an intruder...

CONTINUITY: Algolians were seen in both Ménage à Troi and Qpid (they are not seen here, only their planet). Admiral Robert April, the Enterprise's previous captain, last appeared in issue #1.

DIVERGENCES: See previous issues (stardates).

PANEL OF THE DAY - Breaking the warp barrier
REVIEW: It occurs to me that I haven't read a Star Trek time travel story in a while. This looks to be a good one, with potential homages to others versions of the Enterprise crew, and Mia Colt is a fun, spunky character. I want to go on that tour with her. Is the lack of a future for her a bit of foreshadowing? Is she on Kirk's Enterprise or somehow on José's foreseen command? That's all for next issue. This issue is only half-concerned with the time travel story. Number One's possible departure turns out to be much ado about nothing, but isn't without its uses. Looks like it sparks off an arc where she will be in command (we get out cake and eat it too). And will Sita keep bucking for a promotion? As a possible choice for the next first officer, she's got a lot of growing up to do. The dynamics could be interesting. Too early to tell on Pike's secret mission. Speaking of Pike, I'm struck at how level-headed and serious he is. We're so used to Kirk's lighter touch that it's become the standard for the "cowboys" of the TOS era. So props to the writers for making him a distinct, if pretty joyless, character. We'll see how the older Robert April stacks up.

What If... Spider-Man's Clone Had Lived?

Doesn't seem like a What If story anymore, does it? To be fair, Bill Flanagan's story here is better than the "Clone Saga" of the 90s (despite the wonky resolution). He uses the three-years younger clone to reflect on the past events of Spider-Man's life, on how things have changed, some for the better and some for the worst. It's a love letter to the character's evolution, or how Stan Lee might have reacted to his character's growth three years on.

What If Vol.1 #30 (December 1981)
Based on: Amazing Spider-Man #148-149
The true history: Three years ago, Dr. Warren took DNA samples from Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy. Today, he's cloned them, memories and all. This creates a second Spider-Man who initially fights the first, but when they get a chance to talk, they combine forces to stop Warren and save Ned Leeds. There's an explosion in which Warren seems to perish. The Spider-clone dies from it as well, though the Gwen Stacy clone runs off to find a new life.
Turning point: What if Spider-Man's clone couldn't trust his other self not to be a clone?
Story type: Happily ever after
Watcher's mood: Kirbyesque
Altered history: In this timeline, when Spidey extends a hand in friendship at his clone, the clone panics. He knocks him out and then saves Ned and Gwen2. He thinks he's the real Spider-Man, even though the last thing he remembers is Warren taking a DNA sample from him. Not knowing what to do with his "clone", he brings the real Parker to Warren's hideout and puts him in suspended animation there. In deep denial, he doesn't see Parker's age as further evidence of his own clone-ness.
He then tries to rejoin his life already in progress, but he's lost (he blames amnesia). Aunt May has moved out of the house, he's living with that creep Harry Osborn, he's friends with Flash Thompson, he's had one gorgeous girlfriend after another, but not Betty who's married to that creep Ned Leeds... And why are the cops after him? Who are all these new villains coming out of the woodwork? And will he have to drop out of college, what with his lowly high school education? He investigates Warren a bit more and finally comes to the conclusion that HE'S the clone. Well, it's all a bit overwhelming.
And still, it doesn't quite occur to him to free the real Parker from suspended animation. Maybe the clone is hardwired for this kind of survival? He's even ready to pull the plug on ol'Parker and take over his life permanently, but nah, he can't do it. He frees Parker and together they go and fight the Kingpin at Coney Island (Kingpin did appear in Amazing #150, though under different circumstances). This isn't the Kingpin we've gotten used to.
But with the clone acting as poor defenseless "Peter Parker", and yet pulling some tricks on the Kingpin's goons, the baddies all go to jail. The Spider-Men then formalize this mutually beneficial arrangement. Pete will take Mondays and Wednesdays, his kid brother Pete2 will take Tuesdays and Thursdays, and they'll alternate weekends.
And so ends Peter Parker's losing streak (presumably) as he finally juggles his superhero life with his studies, jobs and love life. How they'll explain this to Aunt May is anybody's guess. I say accuse her of going senile. "Can't you remember Lil' Pete, Aunt May?" That or call Mephisto up on the satan-o-phone.
Books canceled as a result: None. I predict Spectacular Spider-Man would have been started to accommodate the clone's adventures, each Spidey to his own series. And then they would have gotten rid of the clone is some bloody way.
These things happen: We learned the hard way how they do. Not only did it turn out that the Spider-clone HAD survived, but they even did the shtick where he believed he was the actual Spider-Man (and they would have had us believe it too!). Both Spiders operated simultaneously, one as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and the other as Ben Reilly/Scarlet Spider for a time, and when "Ben" took on the mantle of the Amazing Spider-Man, it did allow Peter to have a personal life (with Mary Jane, et. al. - I know, I know, you're asking "Who?!" - oh you kids who grew up post devil's contract!). Despite the sheer unpopularity of that story, writers keep trying to bring it back (see Spider-Man: The Clone Saga, or rather, don't).

Next week: What If Wolverine Had Killed the Hulk?
My guess: Americans would fear Canada more.

Star Trek 1261: The Fallen, Part Two

1261. The Fallen, Part Two

PUBLICATION: Star Trek: Early Voyages #11, Marvel Comics, December 1997

CREATORS: Ian Edginton and Dan Abnett (writers), Michael Collins and Greg Adams (artists)

STARDATE: Unknown (follows the last issue)

PLOT: As Starfleet throws everything it has into fighting the Chakuun in orbit, losing many ships in dastardly moves, Nurse Calotti comes across a wounded Chakuun on the planet surface. She tries to kill it, but can't bring herself to. Instead, she opens a dialog and makes the Chakuun understand human values (importance of life, etc.), while the Chakuun makes Carlotti understand the Tholians' fluid concept of territory (as stars move through space so do frontiers shift). In the end, the Chakuun is rescued by its people and her life is equally spared. With this new understanding, war is prevented and the Federation knows better than to establish colonies in the Tholians' path.

CONTINUITY: See previous issue (Tholians).

DIVERGENCES: None.

PANEL OF THE DAY - Picking your moments
REVIEW: Equal parts slam-bang action (with moves I don't think we've seen in Trek yet) and "Star Trek mission statement" (promoting understanding), The Fallen Part Two is a strong issue. Carlotti gets her turn to shine, and the Chakuun prove to be an interesting race, at once more and less alien than we might have thought. It all leads to a big Roddenberry moment at the end that acknowledges that we were in the wrong as well. Other characters obviously don't have as much to do, though they are each featured. The best bit is the one pictured above, not so much because of the Colt/José dating stuff, but because the writers have set Sita up as the resident teaser. A fun character, that one.

Movie Marquee Friday: Escapes

Casino Royale, it ain't...
Time is out of joint, so we must go back back back...

We live in a beautiful world (irony)...

Chances of cell showers...

The long dark tunnel of the soul...

The man with the plan...

Marche militaire wasn't the way to go...

Star Trek 1260: The Fallen, Part One

1260. The Fallen, Part One

PUBLICATION: Star Trek: Early Voyages #10, Marvel Comics, November 1997

CREATORS: Ian Edginton and Dan Abnett (writers), Michael Collins and Greg Adams (artists)

STARDATE: 2371.2 (follows the last issue)

PLOT: The Federation colony of Jubal is under attack by Chakuun warriors, a race annexed by the Tholians and used as their warrior elite. The Enterprise intercepts their ship and narrowly escapes destruction. Though the much more powerful Chakuun are destroyed, the Enterprise must limp back to Earth for repairs while a fleet is assembled to meet this threat head on. Is it the start of a new war with the Tholians? Downtime gives the crew time to reflect on things, especially Nurse Carlotti whose parents were massacred by the Chakuun. When the fleet reaches Jubal, it has been destroyed, and they are immediately ambushed by multiple Chakuun ships...

CONTINUITY: The issue finds a good way of using the Tholians without contradicting The Tholian Web (where they were "seen" for the first time). Pike visits the Mojave settlement seen in The Cage. Spock compares the gargoyles on the Sears Tower with effigies of the Great Bird of the Galaxy (Roddenberry's nickname).

DIVERGENCES: See previous issues (stardates).

PANEL OF THE DAY - New York 2254
REVIEW: Thanks to Carlotti's back story, we knew we'd eventually get to see some Tholians. The writers have been smart about it and have actually added to the mythos without creating contradictions. Phsyicslly showing the Tholians is a risky prospect, but giving them underlings works. The Chakuun are fearsome insectoid centaurs with massive ships, which is borderline crazy (they seem more powerful than the Tholians themselves), but it's fun, visual stuff. I was glad to see some shore leave activity, since these are always good for character development. In addition to Carlotti's trauma over the Chakuun, we get Pike dressing down Number One for meddling in his family affairs and his oh so Trek-like father figure trouble, and a fun bit with Sita setting Colt and José up on a date that actually gives the Yeoman food for thought. She's not being played as looking for a husband, for which I'm thankful, but does that mean romance has to stay off the table? Chemistry between the cast members is starting to set in...