Star Trek Alien Spotlight: Romulans

[Garth Rockett]

I thought this was one of the better issues in the Alien Spotlight series. I think I would have enjoyed getting inside the Romulan Commander's head a bit more , I thought John Byrne did a nice job of showing why the Commander was uncomfortable with the Praetor and his agenda.

The bits with the Commander's son seemed a bit unnecessary to me, as I don't think it ever really went anywhere that enhanced the story, or revealed anything about the character we didn't already know. However, the art was great as usual from Byrne.

Did anyone else pick this up? What did you think?

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

I haven't picked it up. While I enjoy Byrne's artwork, his writing tends to leave me cold.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I thought this was one of the better issues in the Alien Spotlight series... The bits with the Commander's son seemed a bit unnecessary to me, as I don't think it ever really went anywhere that enhanced the story, or revealed anything about the character we didn't already know.

I got it on Thursday and enjoyed it. Still loved the Andorian issue more, but I'm biased. The son subplot was essential: all that unspoken stuff between husband and wife because she realises that the upcoming "Balance of Terror" will likely be a suicide mission.

 

[Turtletrekker]

I haven't picked it up. While I enjoy Byrne's artwork, his writing tends to leave me cold.

QFT.

I haven't decided on whether on not to buy this yet for the exact same reason. Byrne's Fantastic Four was, well, fantastic. Pretty much everything I've read from him since has been so-so at best.

 

[KRAD]

With the exception of Batman/Captain America and the first Generations miniseries, I have hated every comic book John Byrne has lent his name to since his Fantastic Four and Alpha Flight days. The thought of his runs on Avengers West Coast and Wonder Woman makes me break out in hives.

That streak came to an end with Alien Spotlight: Romulans. This is the best work Byrne has done in years. It's a perfect prelude to "Balance of Terror" (and more besides, but that would involve giving away the surprise on the last page). Byrne's Trek fandom has been evident for many years (he's put in references all over his work), and it's put to very good use here.

Don't let the steaming pile of excrement that has been Byrne's output over the past 15 years stop you from picking this up. Seriously.

 

[William Leisner]

Don't let the steaming pile of excrement that has been Byrne's output over the past 15 years stop you from picking this up. Seriously.

I hope to hell IDW puts that quote on the cover of the TPB compilation. :thumbsup:

 

[foravalon]

I really loved it, I like the smarmy young praetor, he's never named but considering the time line, would probably be the son of Vrax (from Summon the Thunder), from the look of things a recent victim of patricide. He reminded me of the young Centauri emperor from B5.

I could be wrong but the stuff with the Commander and his family seemed like a nod to Mark Lenard and a counterpoint to his family as Sarek. Like a mirror version of the life of Sarek, what may have been had he been born in the empire, there seemed like a lot of contrasting parallels between the two lives if you look closely. A nice peek into life, the Romulan Way.

 

[KRAD]

He reminded me of the young Centauri emperor from B5.

More likely that Byrne was basing the praetor on the same thing that JMS based Cartagia on: the Roman Emperor Caligula, in particular John Hurt's portrayal of same on I, Claudius.

 

[Garth Rockett]

I got it on Thursday and enjoyed it. Still loved the Andorian issue more, but I'm biased. The son subplot was essential: all that unspoken stuff between husband and wife because she realises that the upcoming "Balance of Terror" will likely be a suicide mission.

I looked back through it, and on further reflection there's more worth to the thread with the son than I thought on my first read.

I agree that the Andorian issue was a little better storywise, but in terms of story and art the Romulan issue may have hit the better balance.

As far as JB's work post-FF has been, I agree some has been better than others, but I think I've found more to be enjoyable over the years than KRAD has. In addition to Batman/Captain America and Generations, I liked his work on Superman, Next Men, and Iron Man. I'll agree that Avengers West Coast was pretty bad, though. I haven't read enough of his Wonder Woman to have much of an opinion, though.

 

[foravalon]

He reminded me of the young Centauri emperor from B5.

More likely that Byrne was basing the praetor on the same thing that JMS based Cartagia on: the Roman Emperor Caligula, in particular John Hurt's portrayal of same on I, Claudius.

No doubt, nice catch, it's a fun character and I hope he doesn't fall into complete obscurity.

 

[JD]

Haha, I actually remembered to use the search before starting a new thread.
Ok, I just got this and read it this morning and I thought it was great. I really enjoyed getting to see what was going on with the Romulans at this point in the Trekverse. I thought the writing was really good, while the art wasn't as realistic as I usually prefer I still thought that it worked and it really didn't bother me. My only real problem with it was that I don't remember the episode (Balance of Terror?), so I missed alot of the foreshadowing. I also wanted to say, that I really liked the suprise at the end.
Overall, I would give it an 8/10.