Comic Book Review: Star Trek – Warriors of the Mirror War TPB
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Image provided by IDW Publishing.
by Joe Schickman, Reporter
The mirror universe offers the same double edged sword that all “Elseworlds,” “What Ifs”, and other reality warping takes on our beloved characters do. Seeing how things might be different if Peggy Carter took the super soldier serum, or if the Waynes found baby Kal-El’s ship, or if captain Picard and his crew were a group of opportunistic, aggressive, sociopaths, who’s amoral compass pointed whatever direction was most self serving, affords authors a unique ability to project multiple narratives atop familiar surroundings, and for artists to break away from the limits of canonized aesthetics. At their worst, these feel like a betrayal of things we know implicitly and are jarring to work through. But at their best these hybrid stories challenge our customary ways of looking at our favorite archetypes, and ultimately our own preconceptions on a grander scale, while being compelling and engaging. Star Trek – Warriors of the Mirror War belongs to that latter category.
Official Synopsis: Return to the Mirror Universe of The Next Generation with Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the ISS Enterprise-D as they plot to reestablish their dominance.
There is the reality you know. And, on another dimensional plane, there exists a dark, twisted reflection of that universe. So familiar, and yet so different. An Empire in place of a Federation, where profit and power take precedence over peace and exploration.
As the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance rules, having overrun the Empire, destroying its fleet, and driving it back to Earth, rumors and propaganda spread throughout the Alpha Quadrant the news of the Empire’s final demise. Those rumors are, however, untrue. A handful of Imperial ships remain, intent on protecting Earth and what’s left of the Empire. And commanding the newest and most powerful of those ships is a man equally intent on seeing it rise again—Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
Creative Teams Cover Artist: Tom Ralston
Series Editors: Heather Antos and Megan Brown
Series Editorial Assistant: Vanessa Real
Collection Editor: Alonzo Simon
Collection Group Editor: Kris Simon
Collection Designer: Nathan Widick
MIRROR WAR # 0 Writers: Scott & David Tipton
Artist: Carlos Nieto
Colorist: DC Alonso
DATA Writer: Celeste Bronfman
Artist: Roberta Ingranata
Colorist: Valentina Pinto
GEORDI Writer: J. Holtham
Artist: Carlos Rodriguez
Colorist: DC Alonso
SISKO Writer: Danny Lore
Artist: Hendry Prasetya
Colorist: DC Alonso
TROI Writer: Marieke Nijkamp
Artist: Megan Levens
Colorist: Charlie Kirchoff
Letterer: Neil Uyetake
What complicates this dynamic in tales about the mirror universe is that these are not isolated stories featuring one of limitless possibilities permeating out from a multiverse as Worf experienced after flying through a quantum fissure in the 7th season Next Generation episode “Parallels.” In that episode, Data reflects that “For any event there is an infinite number of possible outcomes… everything that can happen does happen in different quantum realities.” However, the mirror universe as Star Trek conveys its existence is rooted in the conventional Star Trek galaxy that we know and love, and reflects back a singular narrative anchored to our own. That ups the ante like Riker trying to bluff through a hand of poker.
This compilation issues a widely spanning account, entangling myriad components from across Star Trek’s mirror universe, and infuses them into a record both fractured and cohesive, while every bit as compelling as any told in Star Trek’s prime universe episodes. Captain Picard is an emotionally volatile, muscle clad, badass, fighting off on-board assassins while chaffing against the Empire’s authoritarian rule. The neoclassical look of the column lined Imperial Palace harkens back to Rome and cannot help but allude to the same obscured decay occurring while the Empire desperately tries to hide its over bloated dying corpse behind the Golden Gate Bridge’s turret clad peaks. Data exhibits how terrifying his android abilities would be if his ethical program were developed to reflect this dark universe, reminiscent of the sidewise logic and eschewed emotions displayed in The Next Generation seasons 6 & 7 episodes, “Descent” parts one and two. La Forge exchanged all the positivity and perseverance derived from a life overcoming his prime universe adversities for a cold hearted, ruthless outlook on the galaxy, which exemplifies every pivot the mirror universe takes. Sisko’s introspection into the mindset of a man stuck in an impossible situation, trying to make the most of no good choices, expands on the complicated character we meet briefly in the season 2 Deep Space Nine episode “Crossover,” but then never see again. Inquisitor Troi uses her empathic abilities and calculating intelligence to manipulate events to her own benefit, her true motives at any given time a dangerous mystery. And Barclay… let’s just say Barclay is even more unrecognizable than the rest, and personifies the freedom of portrayal afforded the great creative teams in Star Trek – Warriors of the Mirror War.
Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Star Trek – Warriors of the Mirror War – 3.5/5 dilithium crystals.
