This graphic novel is being advertised as
the prequel to the upcoming Star Trek movie with specific insights into
the origin of Nero. I suspect that the movie will also cover some of the
ground for the plot to make sense, but if it doesn’t then this graphic
novel will be a must read for all Star Trek fans.
The novel is set in The Next Generation universe in which Data is now the captain of the Enterprise, Spock is an ambassador on Romulus and Picard is an ambassador on Vulcan. The story generally follows Nero, a Romulan decalithium miner who witnesses a Star go supernova. The problem is that the Star continues to increase in power and threatens to destroy Romulus. Ambassador Spock presents a daring plan to the Romulan Senate to save their planet, but Romulans being Romulans do not trust the Vulcan and turn him down flat. Nero overhears Spock’s plan and decides that he can trust the Vulcan. So the two join forces in desperate attempt to save Romulus but that doesn’t work out as planned. Spock and Nero attempt to enlist the help of the Vulcans and gain access to a weapon that will destroy the supernova. But the Vulcans don’t trust Romulans anymore than the Romulans trust the Vulcans, as such, the Romulans as left to their fate. The hapless Federation is caught in the middle trying to help but it just never works out for them. This all leads Nero into a blood feud against anything that is not a Romulan. The ending of the graphic novel is VERY familiar and really not much of a surprise.
I am somewhat suspect of the plot of the upcoming movie as it involves time travel once again, which is a favorite plot device of the Star Trek movies. While it worked well in First Contact and The Voyage Home, I had déjà vu feeling of Star Trek Generations that kept running through my mind while I was reading this novel. You know, a major original Star Trek character travels into a different time period to due battle with an invincible bad guy and it will most likely cost the icon his life (this is all speculation as I have not scene the movie yet).
What I liked: I enjoyed the back the story of Nero but I also suspect that the movie will have to cover the same ground. The art is well done and really the highlight of the novel as the writing is alittle flat.
What I didn’t like: The plotting is very uneven and forced in the graphic novel. They cover a lot of ground over 4 short chapters and I believe that story would have worked better if spread out more and allowed to breathe. Basically you get the Reader’s Digest version as the major highlights of story are represented and the nuisances that would have a compelling story are by-passed.
This is also essentially a Next Generation story. I was hoping the movie was a strictly a reboot of the TOS universe and the graphic novel would stay within that world. As with the Star Trek Generations movie they are attempting to co-mingle the two universes and this has me concerned. I just wish that they would get away from The Next Generation universe and characters as they are getting a little long in the tooth. Let me put it this way, if they waste Spock in the upcoming movie the way they wasted Captain Kirk, I will be pissed.
Last word: This graphic novel was somewhat of a let down. If they do not cover the same material in the movie then it is essential that you pick this graphic novel up to fully understand Nero’s background, just don’t expect it to be earth shattering.
The novel is set in The Next Generation universe in which Data is now the captain of the Enterprise, Spock is an ambassador on Romulus and Picard is an ambassador on Vulcan. The story generally follows Nero, a Romulan decalithium miner who witnesses a Star go supernova. The problem is that the Star continues to increase in power and threatens to destroy Romulus. Ambassador Spock presents a daring plan to the Romulan Senate to save their planet, but Romulans being Romulans do not trust the Vulcan and turn him down flat. Nero overhears Spock’s plan and decides that he can trust the Vulcan. So the two join forces in desperate attempt to save Romulus but that doesn’t work out as planned. Spock and Nero attempt to enlist the help of the Vulcans and gain access to a weapon that will destroy the supernova. But the Vulcans don’t trust Romulans anymore than the Romulans trust the Vulcans, as such, the Romulans as left to their fate. The hapless Federation is caught in the middle trying to help but it just never works out for them. This all leads Nero into a blood feud against anything that is not a Romulan. The ending of the graphic novel is VERY familiar and really not much of a surprise.
I am somewhat suspect of the plot of the upcoming movie as it involves time travel once again, which is a favorite plot device of the Star Trek movies. While it worked well in First Contact and The Voyage Home, I had déjà vu feeling of Star Trek Generations that kept running through my mind while I was reading this novel. You know, a major original Star Trek character travels into a different time period to due battle with an invincible bad guy and it will most likely cost the icon his life (this is all speculation as I have not scene the movie yet).
What I liked: I enjoyed the back the story of Nero but I also suspect that the movie will have to cover the same ground. The art is well done and really the highlight of the novel as the writing is alittle flat.
What I didn’t like: The plotting is very uneven and forced in the graphic novel. They cover a lot of ground over 4 short chapters and I believe that story would have worked better if spread out more and allowed to breathe. Basically you get the Reader’s Digest version as the major highlights of story are represented and the nuisances that would have a compelling story are by-passed.
This is also essentially a Next Generation story. I was hoping the movie was a strictly a reboot of the TOS universe and the graphic novel would stay within that world. As with the Star Trek Generations movie they are attempting to co-mingle the two universes and this has me concerned. I just wish that they would get away from The Next Generation universe and characters as they are getting a little long in the tooth. Let me put it this way, if they waste Spock in the upcoming movie the way they wasted Captain Kirk, I will be pissed.
Last word: This graphic novel was somewhat of a let down. If they do not cover the same material in the movie then it is essential that you pick this graphic novel up to fully understand Nero’s background, just don’t expect it to be earth shattering.
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