Star Trek 1019: The Weapon

1019. The Weapon

PUBLICATION: Star Trek: The Next Generation #17, DC Comics, March 1991

CREATORS: Michael Jan Friedman (writer), Ken Penders and Pablo Marcos (artists)

STARDATE: Unknown (follows the last issue)

PLOT: The crew's mental aberrations prove to be temporary, but as some are cured, others fall prey to the odd behavior. It is the work of energy aliens from the white hole exploring our universe by fiddling with people innermost fears and desires. After Tomalak shows up with a couple warbirds and accuses the crippled Enterprise of hiding some secret weapon, Picard discovers the truth and confronts the aliens who now wish to make reparations. They do so by possessing the Romulans giving the Enterprise the time it needs to warp out of there on its jury-rigged repairs.

CONTINUITY: Tomalak has been Picard's opposite Romulan number since The Enemy.

DIVERGENCES: The eagle painted on the bridge of Tomalak's ship looks nothing like the one the Romulans actually use.

PANEL OF THE DAY - Why Troi wears a leotard.
REVIEW: Not Friedman's shining hour, with more crew members acting like idiots and the tired old plot of alien possession being trotted out. The Romulans act like morons by insisting the Enterprise is bound to attack despite the fact they know it to be crippled and are essentially wasted. Penders' pencils (inked by Marcos) are more cartoony than the art of late, but do the job. The best bits are the sperm-like aliens' first appearance and the design on the warbirds. Otherwise, I'll leave it at "competent at best". Fun cover though.