923. Target: Mudd!PUBLICATION: Star Trek v.2 #24, DC Comics, October 1991
CREATORS: Howard Weinstein (writer), Gordon Purcell and Arne Starr (artists)
STARDATE: 8538.2 (follows the last issue)
PLOT: Harry Mudd has plans to sell the Nasgul their artifact back, which just gets him lightly tortured by the Salla's half-sister. In the meantime, the Salla shows up demanding his stuff back and trying to broker a deal with his uncooperative sister. Then, the true Salla shows up with a Federation ambassador and thanks to a mole in the corrupt Salla's camp, takes his rightful position back. Then the Klingon commodore shows up, having arrested the weapons smuggler working with the Salla's sister (she agees to leave the mining colony) and giving up Tomlinson's name. Harry is rescued via transporter and denied his retirement fun, will likely continue his con games.
CONTINUITY: Harry Mudd, part the last.
DIVERGENCES: Kirk admits to liking Harry, after a fashion. Tomlinson being outed as a Klingon mole and the "honorable" Kirk-Klingon relations presented contradict the subtext of ST VI.
PANEL OF THE DAY - Had to pick one of the pin-ups for you... how about Kevin Maguire's Spock?
REVIEW: Weinstein's plot once again plays far too heavily on guest characters' actions rather than the crew's. The Salla is finally defeated, not by Kirk, but by his brother and his mole. The Klingons and the Federation traitor Tomlinson are defeated from within, by the Commodore (I sure hope we actually SEE him get his just reward, cuz he's not even in this issue). The plot is resolved mostly through Harry and his confederate. And the investigation of the mining colony administrator's death just spins its tires and doesn't go anywhere. HOWEVER! This was still his most entertaining issue. I don't know if he had a talk with Peter David or something, but the comedy is very much on par with the series' first year. Plenty of wit to go around, and you know what? This is the most readable Harry Mudd I've yet to come across. He's actually got a lot of panache, and you respect the old rogue. First time for everything. The issue is a 25th anniversary special, so includes a few essays from Star Trek writers (Claremont, Friedman, David and Weinstein) and a bunch of very nice pin-ups. Nothing essential, but nice additions nonetheless.
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