Countdown to Darkness - Review and Discussion

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by JD, Jan 23, 2013.

?

Rate the comics

  1. Excellent

    5 vote(s)
    14.7%
  2. Above Average

    13 vote(s)
    38.2%
  3. Average

    10 vote(s)
    29.4%
  4. Below Average

    2 vote(s)
    5.9%
  5. Poor

    4 vote(s)
    11.8%
  1. JD

    JD Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Since this comes out tomorrow, and we've already gotten one review, from Trekmovie. I thought it might be a good time to set up a thread for this.
    Trek movie seemed to enjoy it based on their review.
    They did review a pretty major spoiler, that should get an interesting reaction from the fandom. Apparently at least one of the series possible baddies is
    Rober April
    .
    EDIT: Oops, if a mod could change the thread name to Countdown to Darkness #1.... it would appreciated.
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2013
  2. TJ Sinclair

    TJ Sinclair Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Doesn't TrekMovie enjoy just about everything?

    I'll be picking this up tomorrow. Hope the LCS puts the right cover in my box, I wish IDW would stop with the photo versions.
     
  3. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    A type 13 planet in it's final stage
  4. JarodRussell

    JarodRussell Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Poor Uhura gets denied her sexy time. Kirk's chance!
     
  5. Allyn Gibson

    Allyn Gibson Vice Admiral Admiral

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    The first issue is fine.

    It reads fast. It feels a little thinner than most issues of the ongoing series (or even Countdown), but it feels more substantial than any issue of the recent Assimilation2.

    In terms of story, it feels very retro -- strange new worlds and a Prime Directive puzzle. The character work is fun.

    There's no indication as to where this is going or how it will lead into the film. It feels like it's simply the next issue of the ongoing series.
     
  6. ATimson

    ATimson Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    After seeing your spoiler-free reviews above, I decided to take the plunge and spring for the $4 issue (even though I normally wait for the price drop to $2/issue). Well, I have to say, I wasn't expecting that ending. They've got me hooked for the rest of the series. :)
     
  7. Agent Richard07

    Agent Richard07 Admiral Admiral

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    Jun 20, 2001
    Got the last issue on the shelf. They went fast. It was a quick read but the reveal of Robert April was a nice surprise and the Uhura art on the next page was pretty nice too. I didn't read Countdown when the first movie came out, so I don't know to what degree this will tie into the new one. I wondered if the planet they were on was the same one we saw in the trailer.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2013
  8. CaptainDonovin

    CaptainDonovin Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    According to Bob Orci the movie begins where the last page of part 4 of this series ends, just like ST09.

    I was surprised by April as well, very interested to see what his role is in all this. Wonder if that is who Peter Weller is playing.
     
  9. Tosk

    Tosk Admiral Admiral

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    On the run.
  10. Markonian

    Markonian Fleet Admiral Moderator

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    According to Trekmovie, the planet in the trailer is Nibiru. The world in the comic is Phaedus.
     
  11. Ronald Held

    Ronald Held Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Which universe's April is very it?
     
  12. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I just got around to reading it. It's okay, nothing particularly bad, but not really stand-out good either. It's so far better than Countdown, for whatever that's worth.
     
  13. TJ Sinclair

    TJ Sinclair Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    ...
     
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2013
  14. TJ Sinclair

    TJ Sinclair Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    So sometime in the last five years
    Robert April lands on Barsoom and goes all John Gill with the Thark?

    Not what I was expecting, but the writing seems at least a little cut above the usual Trek fare from IDW. And yes, it's better than Countdown so far. I'll stick with it.
     
  15. Pauln6

    Pauln6 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I really enjoyed the comic. It takes its time to set up the story, provides sufficient background on each of its characters to set them up for their role in the story and even references the ongoing series as well as the first movie. I don't feel as though the story itself is going to be much more complex than a standard 2 issue story but they're taking more time, which is something I've wanted to see in the ongoing comic.

    Characterisation felt solid and Kudos for giving Uhura the conn but that doesn't alter the fact that the comic is seriously top heavy with men. The ongoing comic has put some small effort into introducing a few more recurring women in the form of security guards but this issue doesn't bode well for the equality of the sexes in the sequel if it represents their approach to the supporting characters (and one extra female crew member isn't anywhere near enough to make up the difference). Apart from a dream sequence reflecting scenes from the first movie (and even then that was top heavy with men) Uhura is pretty much it for the gals.

    Overall it's a good start to the series. There is certainly enough here to pique curiosity for the rest of the series and the sequel.
     
  16. JarodRussell

    JarodRussell Vice Admiral Admiral

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    The main villain clearly is Darth Vader.
     
  17. Therin of Andor

    Therin of Andor Admiral Moderator

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    Read it on the train home last night. Last page was a huge, pleasant surprise!
     
  18. Therin of Andor

    Therin of Andor Admiral Moderator

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    Here's a stray thought:

    What if Khan's sleeper ship, Botany Bay, was once found by Captain Robert April's earlier Enterprise - and Khan and his Augments took over the ship and... abandoned April and his crew on Phaedus?
     
  19. ATimson

    ATimson Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Do we really know that it is an earlier Enterprise? Maybe I just have my head stuck too firmly in Final Frontier, but I can't imagine an earlier Enterprise for him that isn't NCC-1701.
     
  20. bullethead

    bullethead Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Feb 24, 2008
    Literary Treks had an interesting theory:
    Robert April is from an alternate universe.

    I think it could work and would deal with the ship problem, but I don't know if they would do more universe hopping in the comics/Abramsverse.