958. RenegadePUBLICATION: Star Trek v.2 #51, DC Comics, August 1993
CREATORS: Dan Mishkin (writer), Deryl Skelton, Steve Carr, and Arne Starr (artists)
STARDATE: 8748.4 (follows the last issue)
PLOT: Saavik is sent undercover in Romulan space to retrieve a defecting scientist selling them secret technology. He believes peace can only come from balancing the two powers and as he and Saavik are being chased, tries to seduce her both politically and romantically. It was the hope of the Romulans they could turn Saavik, but she discovers the scientist's deception and escapes Romulan space. The Romulans then activate a lethal implant that kills the scientist.
CONTINUITY: Reference is made to Saavik's half-Romulan heritage (ST II's script).
DIVERGENCES: None.
PANEL OF THE DAY - Let's play Spot-the-Skrull!
REVIEW: On the one hand, it's a good Saavik solo story that uses her character well. On the other, I find it hard to believe in the scientist's motives. How he could actually think Romulus is on the side of the angels and Starfleet are the bad guys requires more suspension of disbelief than warp speed or transporters. Thankfully, what first reads as melodrama is part of the deception, redeeming much of the tale. I'd like to see Mishkin do more Star Trek based on this. As for the Skelton/Carr penciling team, I don't know who's responsible for what, but it's fair to say the art has a split personality. The anatomy and likenesses are often rushed and unprofessional, and yet there's a lot of dynamic movement. I liked it more than I disliked it, in fact, but it's like looking at someone who knows what to do in theory, but has no practice with execution.
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