852. Maggie's World!PUBLICATION: Star Trek #31, DC Comics, October 1986
CREATORS: Tony Isabella and Len Wein (writers), Tom Sutton and Ricardo Villagran (artists)
STARDATE: 8903.6 (follows the last issue)
PLOT: "Maggie's World" is a planet shared by the Klingons and Federation under the governorship of Mace "Maggie" Magellan, each side having 10 years to prove to the locals they would best exploit the planet's resources. The 10 years are up and the Klingons are ahead by a mile. The Feds have suffered setbacks because they've done their best to keep the ecology intact, though they've just found a vein of dilithium. Excelsior is assigned to ferry Ambassador Stanton to this lost cause, because after a brilliant start, his ego has made him a dangerous loose cannon. In orbit, Excelsior meets Captain Koloth's ship, also ferrying a diplomat, and down below, the Federation installation explodes...
CONTINUITY: Andorian Commander Thimon from the previous issue appears (he retires as promised), as does Sulu's girlfriend Maria Morelli. Koloth (The Trouble with Tribbles and early issues of this series) returns.
DIVERGENCES: More people wearing glasses. Ambassador Stanton wears a Starfleet uniform.
PANEL OF THE DAY - A man called Maggie
REVIEW: Another take on the World stuck between the Klingons and Federation plot, this one introduces a new character in "Maggie", one that seems to have sprung out of a western. A likable rogue, his only real flaw is his stupid nickname. Hopefully, he'll last a little longer than Commander Thimon who gets a long goodbye scene despite having been on ship for all of two issues (including this one). Lt. Commander Morelli, who I had pegged as a possible mother to Generations' Ensign Sulu may end up in the wrong camp by this arc's climax, allowing her ambition to get the better of her. The original comics characters are definitely more interesting than the borrowed canon cast here. A good set-up, occasionally accompanied by strong prose.
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