Star Trek 987: Star-Crossed: A Bright Particular Star

987. Star-Crossed: A Bright Particular Star

PUBLICATION: Star Trek v.2 #75, DC Comics, September 1995

CREATORS: Howard Weinstein (writer), Rachel Ketchum and Mark Heike (artists)

STARDATE: 6558.2 (right after the 5-year mission)

PLOT: As the Enterprise returns to Earth, its crew witnesses the NX-500, an experimental ship, blow up during a test. As the Enterprise is decommissioned, Kirk attempts to find out what happened with the NX-500, but everyone is tight-lipped. McCoy quits Starfleet over it. It's been seven years since Kirk saw Carol Marcus and having been offered a promotion to Admiral, he thinks about rekindling their relationship. He takes the post mostly to get the clearance necessary to pursue the NX-500 matter. He and Scotty help the next experimental ship's crew without authorization, saving all but the captain from another disastrous malfunction, at which point, Kirk blows the whistle on the mismanaged project. Disappointed that Kirk still isn't slowing down, Carol leaves him, never even telling David, away at school, that his father had come home.

CONTINUITY: Commodore Wesley (The Ultimate Computer) now commands a station near Saturn. The Enterprise is earmarked for a refit that will take three years (The Motion Picture). Other links to that film include Kirk's promotion and both McCoy and Spock leaving Starfleet. Starfleet's hurry to create new propulsion technology will culminate in Excelsior's transwarp drive (ST III). Carol Marcus has learned how to cook, making her line in ST II a private joke between her and Kirk.

DIVERGENCES: None.

PANEL OF THE DAY - They were just talking and then... cut to this panel. Bwah-ha-ha!
REVIEW: Though a double-sized issue, Weinstein still doesn't manage to cram in enough details to make this a truly satisfying story, though the character bits are all quite good. He deftly explains the change of status quo between the series and first film, managing to tie most of them into his story. Kirk's relationship with Carol moves along using comic transitions, while still managing to be infused with some heart. Not so strong is the plot, which would have benefited from even more pages. If Commodore Wesley was involved, why is there no pay-off with him at the end. It's all a bit abrupt. There's also a McCoy subplot that seems unresolved. But overall, I'm still liking these fill-in-the-blanks for the franchise.