New Releases: Star Trek: The Q Conflict, Star Trek: The Next Generation 20/20, Journey into Unknown Worlds

Star Trek: The Q Conflict #1 (IDW)

Scott Tipton & David Tipton (w) David Messina (a)

Stars are going supernova in the Beta Quadrant and lives are in danger. Starfleet have sent rescue ships but will they arrive in time and are there enough of them. These strange events are inexplicable until Picard shouts for Q to show his face. A conflict is taking place in the Continuum and in order to placates Picard's protests about lives being endangered Q has a bright idea.

Enter the crews of Voyager, Deep Space 9,  The Next Generation and the original Enterprise team. No alternative reality here. It's the classics and what happens next? We'll have to wait & see.

Q is actually quite predictable but having all four crews appear was an interesting opener for this six-issue mini-series.

Rating: 4 Stars



Star Trek: The Next generation 20/20 (IDW)

Peter David (w) J.K. Woodward (a)

Part of IDW's celebration of 20 years of publishing are a seies of one-shots set 20 years in the future of or in the past of some of their titles. This one looks at the beginings of Captain Picard, probably given away on the cover by the fact he has hair!

This adventure sees Picard as Captain of the USS Stargazer sent on a mission to check out political instability on a new member of the Federation, Tellebrux 4. Their leader known as the Sensate is facing a rebellion from his younger brother.

The story introduces Beverley Howard (Dr Crusher in later life) to his life, and someone whose actions have consequences in the adventure ahead.

A nice one shot complete story that does add something to the canon of Star Trek!

Rating: 4 Stars



Journey Into Unknown Worlds #1 (Marvel)

Various (w) & (a)

Another of Marvel's one-shots to celebrate 80 years of publishing is this science fiction comic Journey into Unknown Worlds which was a staple genre of comics back in the late fifties and early sixties. The last of these was DC's Mystery In Space but more on that later.

Usually there would be three stories in one of these comics but the modern art form differs and as a result there are just the two. Both Bones of the Earth and Chrysalis are set in the wilds and both see a threat to humanity. Can they be stopped or is it too late.

Some say he's still out there...coming for you.....

Rating: 3 Stars