1265. Now and ThenPUBLICATION: Star Trek: Early Voyages #15, Marvel Comics, April 1998
CREATORS: Ian Edginton and Dan Abnett (writers), Patrick Zircher and Steve Moncuse (artists)
STARDATE: 9522.0 (follows the last issue)
PLOT: Sulu is killed in the Klingon attack before Number One and the Excelsior arrive to save the day. The latter captain is convinced to help them get to Algol once she sees Yeoman Colt. The planet is being used as a Klingon outpost by Chang and more battle ensues. A landing party brings Colt to the surface where a Guardian of Forever-type entity entreats her to throw herself in and repair the timeline. As she falls through, much of the combined crew give their lives fighting the Klingons. She falls into the arms of José and her experiences are classified. History is back on track.
CONTINUITY: See previous issues (alternate timeline TOS crew, Algol, General Chang, Excelsior). The "you're breaking up" "bless you" scene from The Undiscovered Country is replayed with Number One and Pike. Many other lines are ripped off the various films (including Generations). Number One's last name is again given as "Robbins" (issue #1). Falling into the well, Colt sees Mirror Spock (Mirror, Mirror), the TNG crew, the Enterprise-E, Deep Space Nine and the Borg. In the glass bauble, Pike sees his terrible accident (The Menagerie).
DIVERGENCES: None.
PANEL OF THE DAY - How bat'leths actually work
REVIEW: This alternate timeline story goes where many alternate timeline stories have gone before. The death toll gets so high that it removes any remaining dilemma from the characters' hands. The new timeline can't possibly be any worse, right? The issue doesn't quite hit its character marks either, with many moments recycled from the Star Trek films, stale homages to what's gone before, not made better by replacing the principals by Early Voyages'. It kind of loses its way and fails to surprise. I've seen it all before. Many characters don't get a significant scene, and those that do, often end up dying like chumps. Perhaps a story like this could only ever disappoint, but it's not what this creative team prepared me for.
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