864. What Goes Around...PUBLICATION: Star Trek #41, DC Comics, August 1987
CREATORS: Michael Carlin (writer), Tom Sutton and Ricardo Villagran (artists)
STARDATE: 8950.4 (follows the last issue)
PLOT: On the Enterprise, Bearclaw's misbehavior almost brings him to blows with Chekov, so Kirk assigns him the unruly ensign as a security trainee. Meanwhile, an alien transport is attacked by Orion Pirates, forcing the Enterprise to intervene, even though it is on auxiliary power as Scotty effects an overhaul. They have transporters to get the hostages out, and minimal shields, but no phasers. Bearclaw decides to fire anyway, leaving the Enterprise crippled until Scotty risks his life restoring main power - and getting the bad end of a power surge in the process. The Orions beaten, Kirk decides to leave Bearclaw's reprimand to Chekov, who simply assigns him to guard sickbay where Scotty is convalescing. And Scotty feels a whole lot better after he punches the ensign in the gut.
CONTINUITY: Orion Pirates make their first comic book appearance in Star Trek, with a look similar to the one seen in the Animated Series
DIVERGENCES: They differ with those seen on Enterprise and TAS by their chalk white complexions (so closer to the latter's blue skin).
PANEL OF THE DAY - Scotty hates cosplay.
REVIEW: Mike Carlin comes on as writer and right away, he seems to have ideas for both the regular cast and the comic book originals. Seems like Mike Barr created a handful of characters that have stuck around, but not done much. Bearclaw is even more of a jerk than usual, but finally gets his due in a fun and clever manner. Though I do wonder what Kirk sees in the kid. The Orion Pirates are pretty badass, jumping into hull breaches like space commandos, though they just don't have the power to take on a a fully powered Starfleet ship. Here's hoping we see them again in some capacity. Sutton and Villagran's aliens are getting crazier and crazier, which may or may not be Carlin's doing, but it makes for visually interesting comics.
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