831. Masquerade!PUBLICATION: Star Trek #13, DC Comics, April 1985
CREATORS: Mike W. Barr (writer), Tom Sutton and Ricardo Villagran (artists)
STARDATE: 8220.3 (follows the last issue)
PLOT: Kirk, now in the mirror universe, convinces the Imperial Council to put him in charge of the mirror fleet, which he means to betray while the Resistance uses the opportunity to turn the tables on the Empire at home. Kirk makes an enemy of a Captain Blaine, has sex, and then follows Marlena to the Resistance base in Alcatraz. Their leader - David Marcus! David agrees to Kirk's plan and follows him to Excelsior and to the Imperial fleet. Also joining it is Kirk's bird-of-prey commanded not by one Spock, but two. Unfortunately, one of David's men is a traitor who tattles on Kirk and the entire fleet turns on Excelsior...
CONTINUITY: As with the rest of the Mirror Universe Saga, Captain Styles, Excelsior, the bird-of-prey that will be known as the HMS Bounty, the mirror universe itself, Marlena Moreau and David Marcus (mirror). Mirror Spock is once again on board with the plans to destroy the Empire.
DIVERGENCES: Places the divergence between universes during the Earth-Romulan War of 100 years ago (in the mirror universe, it was fought in the Earth system, followed by a decade of Romulan occupation) contradicts In a Mirror, Darkly. Spock walking around like everything is fine can be explained by his mindmeld with mirror Spock, but violates ST IV (they have a convoluted way out, watch for it).
PANEL OF THE DAY - An evil trolley?
REVIEW: I know you want to hook readers with the cover, but it's always a tad dull when the Big Reveal(TM) is telegraphed that far ahead. In this case, the still living David of the mirror universe. He's sketched pretty briefly; I hope we get to know him a little more in the next few issues. Will Kirk have to suffer his death a second time? The comic has an interesting take on the timeline's diverging point, and indeed, a Romulan occupation might have reintroduced a Roman-like culture into the Terrans'. But in 10 years? Since contradicted, it's easier to believe in a world where the Roman Empire didn't fall and leave it at that. Otherwise a fair issue, not as clever as the last few, despite the chance to show us mirror Earth in more detail (they have gladiatorial fights, big surprise).
Comments
The idea that the POD was Remus killing Romulus has leapt into my head, and I sort of think that it came from somewhere other than inside there...
I don't know about the Romulus/Remus Cain/Abel thing, but it's interesting.
If there was a grading system, I'd be tempted to go with:
Alternative Universe: Things are very different! (Edith Keeler = no Enterprise ever)
Parallel universe: One or two things are different! (Worf and Troi have had a kid! Still an Enterprise)
Mirror universe: Lots of things are different BUT SOMEHOW THE SAME! (There is an Enterprise, BUT IT'S EVIL!)