Star Trek 1236: mangHom qaD!

1236. mangHom qaD!

PUBLICATION: Starfleet Academy #18, Marvel Comics, May 1998

CREATORS: Chris Cooper (writer), Chris Renaud and Andy Lanning (artists)

STARDATE: Unknown (follows the last issue)

PLOT: The Klingon equivalent of Omega Squadron, First Cadre, decides to hunt for the Sword of Kahless which they heard had been found in space by Jem'Hadar who then crashed on a planet in Federation space. They fly there only to find it to be a trap set by Omega Squadron in retalliation for Goldstein's death. The Starfleet cadets are winning when the last remaining members of First Cadre, including Pava' ex-boyfriend, arrive from another mission. She beams aboard and finds them turning into monsters somehow...

CONTINUITY: First Cadre first appeared in issue #5. The Sword of Kahless was found and re-lost by Worf and Kor in The Sword of Kahless. There is a Klingon variant of this issue, completely authentic thanks to the Klingon Language Institute (the title means "Cadet Challenge!").

DIVERGENCES: None.

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REVIEW: The Klingon language issue is just a bit of fun, but it's doubtful readers will have picked up that one without also getting the English edition. And that one's pretty good, continuing the series tradition of fun action and completely natural continuity plug-ins. Omega's ploy using a rumor concerning the Sword of Kahless is a great twist, just when you're enjoying First Cadre on their own. Their new member, Warg, has metal jaws and a googly eye, and is a really fun addition. Designed to be a sort of Jonah Hex figure? As usual, Cooper plays his heroes as smart and gutsy, though still capable of mistakes. Pava's in for a weird fight, with her ex turning into some kind of inside-out creature as we head for the last issue of the series (snif).

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