New Frontier: Turnaround #4

[The Nth Doctor]

Like the previous issues before it, I absorbed this issue quickly and my only complaint is that I want MORE!

The face off between our Morgan (who now resides in four different locations ) and Mirror Henry was cool and I hope to see more much of that in the final issue. I'm glad the political situation on New Thallon was quickly dealt with, although the whole thing seemed a bit pointless, but it was good to see those three characters.

At long last, we get to see M'Ress and Arex and they look fantastic (although I can barely make out Arex's third arm). I hope they featured more in the next issue.

Only one issue left, which makes me sad. Five issues aren't nearly enough to satisfy me.

 

[Therin of Andor]

At long last, we get to see M'Ress and Arex and they look fantastic

Ah, cool! My comic should arrive in Oz today. I've been wondering if PAD was going to introduce them.

How about Desma, the Andorian executive officer of the USS Trident? Is she there yet?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

At long last, we get to see M'Ress and Arex and they look fantastic

Ah, cool! My comic should arrive in Oz today. I've been wondering if PAD was going to introduce them.

I figured you would be happy about that.

How about Desma, the Andorian executive officer of the USS Trident? Is she there yet?

Yup, she shows up briefly, too. The three of them only had a few lines between themselves.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Yup, she shows up briefly, too.

Yay!

 

[Baerbel Haddrell]

Hopefully Shore Leave will have some good NF news. Yes, five issues doesn`t feel enough for me, too. That leaves me with the hope that "Turnaround" sells well and that also the trade paperback will be successful so that there will be more NF comics in future.

I wonder if the trade paperback will get a special cover and some additional art inside would be great, too.

 

[JD]

Sweet, I'm glad those other characters do make appearances. Sadly, I'm only on issue three and I have no idea when I'll get to pick it up, so it'll probably be a while before I get to read this one.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I wonder if the trade paperback will get a special cover and some additional art inside would be great, too.

I'm sure it will. I'm undecided whether or not to get the trade paperback. I love having individual issues.

 

[Baerbel Haddrell]

I am getting both. To me, singles are more a collector`s item. For comics I intend to read quite often and would like to put onto my book shelf, I get the trade paperback as well.

 

[tenmei]

As I said elsewhere, I picked up my copy today amongst my other comics - and it's the only one I've read so far. I may get the TPB as well when it comes out just so it can go onto the shelf along with the other NF novels.

 

[fleetcaptain]

I got my copy on thursday and I was surprised at how everything was happening so fast in this issue. I was glad to see the appearence of Arex, M'Ress and Desma. What I find funny is Hash appeared on the bridge of Trident and well the Hash look alike aboard Excalibur disappeared. Makes you wonder now, who that was. I got the idea in my head recently, maybe that was a Sulu at OPS but I highly doubt that.

 

[Turtletrekker]

My local comic-book store hasn't received it yet.

 

[Trilliam]

I ordered mine today. I should have it by Wednesday or Thursday.

 

[Csalem]

Got mine and liked it. Loved Robin's response to the threat.

 

[Trilliam]

Well it arrived in the mail today. I've read it.

 

[Baerbel Haddrell]

Here is my review of the comic. It contains spoilers:


The cover is definitely eye-catching. That is excellent artwork and in general, I think Thompson`s art keeps improving. There are only very few examples in this comic that shows artwork with some minor flaws. Very impressive!

I also liked the way he showed Arex and M`Ress. I am glad that he didn`t simply put a cat into a Starfleet uniform as in the cartoons but found a good compromise. She still looks like the TAS character but at the same time more realistic. I regret it that with only one issue left, I probably won`t get the chance to see how Thompson would portray Calhoun`s sons, Xyon and Moke. It would have been interesting.

Thompson shows very well in this comic how good he is at showing facial expressions. The contrast between MU Calhoun and “our” Calhoun was interesting to watch.

I wish I could give so much praise to the story but one aspect put me off so much that it tainted my enjoyment of the rest of this issue. I wonder, why did PAD put the scene in the comic in which Soleta bites MU Calhoun? It is definitely not funny even if PAD seemed to have intended it that way. It also feels wrong. Soleta is not a Klingon. If she would have been a Klingon, it would have worked. In that case MU Calhoun`s reaction and explanation would make sense and although it would go against my human instincts, I could appreciate the intended humour and even smile at it, as I sometimes do, for example, at certain scenes in the Gorkon books.

Yes, Romulans are not Vulcans. But I have never heard or read that Romulans like violent sexual activities as Klingons do. What was the point of introducing this now? Maybe showing that Soleta is a kind of pervert in both universes? Or make MU Calhoun look more primitive, more savage compared with “ours”? There was absolutely no need for it and it tainted a scene that otherwise would have been interesting, even touching.

I also wondered, why is MU Kalinda constantly leaning against MU Lefler and resting her head on her shoulder? I don`t mind at all if in the MU they are more than just friends but in this situation it looked ridiculous and inappropriate.

I don`t have enough information yet to make any judgements about who is right and wrong here but I can see that the background is complex. Hopefully the last issue will answer all questions.

 

[Centaur2000]

Hello everybody,

unfortunately it seems not possible to get this series of graphic novels here in Germany (at least not for a fair price... shipping costs and all).
But there is one comic book coming out later this year which seems to contain all 5 issues of "Turnaround" judging from the cover and the number of pages: http://www.amazon.de/dp/1600102662/ . Does anybody know if that's true? Or can somebody tell my how to get the single issues any other way?

Thanks in advance,
centaur2000

 

[Trilliam]

Baerbel, you give this latest offering far more praise that it deserves. The artwork leaves me cold. There are more aspects of the story that put me off, that to go into them would result in a post longer than the comic itself. I am sooo over the whole MU concept.

 

[Therin of Andor]

unfortunately it seems not possible to get this series of graphic novels here in Germany

They're not "graphic novels". They are five issues of a regular comic book mini-series.

But there is one comic book coming out later this year which seems to contain all 5 issues of "Turnaround" judging from the cover and the number of pages: http://www.amazon.de/dp/1600102662/ . Does anybody know if that's true?

Yes. Every IDW ST mini-series has been released in a graphic novel reprint omnibus shortly after the mini-series concludes.

Or can somebody tell my how to get the single issues any other way?

Do you have a local comic vendor who orders from the Diamond orderpak?

Being in Europe, you might have more luck with UK comic sellers rather than the US. There are also online sellers, such as Mile High. Or check IDW's website. But, seeing there's only one issue left to come out, you may as well wait for the trade-size omnibus.

 

[Centaur2000]

Hi Therin,

thanks for the info!

Cheers,
centaur2000

 

[Therin of Andor]

This is mainly for Baebel, because she's such a big PAD fan.

Peter David is working on a "Fallen Angel" comic series for IDW at the same time as putting out his "New Frontier" comics. As you know, "NF: Turnaround" issue #1 had Fallen Angel in the red cape appearing behind Captain Peter David on the alternate art cover, and the same red-caped figure recently passed through a Bravo Station corridor (p 17 of NF issue #4).

http://www.comicsbulletin.com/features/113315744310836.htm

Also, check out the "split face" cover art of "Fallen Angel" in the interview - essentially the same design the two Calhouns on issue #4 of "NF: Turnaround".

I notice he finished his interview with a warning about TPB omnibuses: "I would caution readers the same thing that I did several years ago: Sitting around and waiting for trades is the first, best way to guarantee that monthly titles will be unsuccessful."