1205. The Shadow GroupPUBLICATION: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #5, Marvel Comics, March 1997
CREATORS: Mariano Nicieza (writer), Tom Grindberg and Al Milgrom (artists)
STARDATE: Unknown (follows the last issue)
PLOT: From its cloaked HQ on Bajor, the Shadow Group, composed of Cardassians and Bajorans alike, targets Ziyal for assassination. DS9's investigation leads Kira to Bajor with Odo, Ziyal and Garak in tow. They are captured by the Shadow Group who wants to start a war between the Federation and the Cardassian Union so that the latter will finally be defeated (or so the Bajoran contingent thinks). The heroes escape and are rescued by the Defiant and a very angry Dukat's bird-of-prey and surviving members of the Shadow Group are arrested.
CONTINUITY: Appearances by Garak and Ziyal. Dukat is currently flying a bird-of-prey (Blaze of Glory). The Shadow Group uses Maquis ships as cover. The Shadow Group is made up of members of both the Obsidian Order and the Circle (The Circle).
DIVERGENCES: The Obsidian Order really shouldn't be dressed like the military.
PANEL OF THE DAY - Nobody ever dared mention Worf's speech impediment.
REVIEW: An intriguing way to bring back the Circle and good use of DS9's supporting cast at this point in the series. That's why it's too bad it only lasted one issue while lesser storylines were allowed to go to two issues. The Shadow Group could have been a much more important and long-lasting threat. There's some fairly good action, even if the art somewhat undercuts it (for example, the clever, but badly designed sequence in which Odo "replaces" a part of the door holding him captive). Still, Nicieza's issues hold more potential than Weinstein's.
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