Star Trek - City on the Edge of Forever Comic

[Therin of Andor]

If Woodward's art is the same style as in the Trek/Who crossover I'll be less than thrilled.

http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2014/06/preview-star-trek-harlan-ellisons-city-edge-forever-1.html

 

[Steve Roby]

Less than thrilled I am, then.

 

[Maurice]

I just noticed that they flopped one panel of the comic so that insignias are on the wrong side.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I just noticed that they flopped one panel of the comic so that insignias are on the wrong side.

Part of his drugged hallucinations.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

I just noticed that they flopped one panel of the comic so that insignias are on the wrong side.

See Woodward's trying to capture those moments in TOS, when the shot was flipped.

 

[Christopher]

^And, as in those cases, it was probably done to preserve a consistent line of action, i.e. keep things moving from one side of the screen to the other in a consistent way that doesn't confuse the eye.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

^And, as in those cases, it was probably done to preserve a consistent line of action, i.e. keep things moving from one side of the screen to the other in a consistent way that doesn't confuse the eye.

Yep! Totally aware of that.

 

[Maurice]

Given all the 'shoppery possible it's just funny that they didn't bother to move the insignias when they flopped the image.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^And, as in those cases, it was probably done to preserve a consistent line of action, i.e. keep things moving from one side of the screen to the other in a consistent way that doesn't confuse the eye.

Yep! Totally aware of that.

Just like in SW episode 2, where the clone troopers always move from right to left (and shoot projectiles with clean, white trails) and the droid army always moves from left to right (and whose missiles leave thick, black smoke), so you can easily tell which is which.

 

[DimesDan]

^And, as in those cases, it was probably done to preserve a consistent line of action, i.e. keep things moving from one side of the screen to the other in a consistent way that doesn't confuse the eye.

Yep! Totally aware of that.

Just like in SW episode 2, where the clone troopers always move from right to left (and shoot projectiles with clean, white trails) and the droid army always moves from left to right (and whose missiles leave thick, black smoke), so you can easily tell which is which.

That's also used to imply that one day, the Clones will be the bad guys as the Imperials, especially on Hoth traveled from right to left.

 

[Villordsutch]

My Issue 3 is over at Flickering Myth -

We’ve hit the middle of our comic book translation of Harlan Ellison’s original teleplay of Star Trek: City on the Edge of Forever. After this we’ve got only a mere two issues left of this hugely impressive series , and our story has now brought in Edith Keeler and Kirk is smitten.

Obviously this isn’t just a love story – far from it; those who know the tale will have some knowledge of what is happening and where it is going. I did say some, as what this story introduces is the more grimy world of the USA Depression which was lacking from the TV show including racist terminology thrown at Spock either off the cuff or aggressively, youth crime and employers ripping off illegal aliens (sic). Granted this may not have made interesting television at the time, but here it expands the world in which Kirk and Spock are truly alien. A few things I did find extremely interesting was the aggressive tone Spock was taking towards his Captain in relation to the human savagery he observed. This, along with his lack of patience towards Kirk wanting the Tricorder to be fixed – was this a correct portrayal of Spock from Ellison? I....

Full article - http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2014/...trek-harlan-ellisons-city-edge-forever-3.html

 

[Christopher]

I wonder if it was really appropriate to use an image of Joan Collins on the cover, since Ellison has said she wasn't the casting choice he had in mind. Is she the model for the interior art as well?

 

[Villordsutch]

She is and she is stunningly beautiful in this too I'm guessing J.K. Woodward and the Tipton's convinced Ellison to keep her in.

 

[Christopher]

Beautiful, yes, but really, really wrong for the part. I would've liked to see an alternative.

 

[Villordsutch]

Do we know who was Harlan's choice of role at the time?

 

[Sir Rhosis]

I have to admit that I too looked forward to a fresh take on Edith. I've read a lot about the episode, own scripts, etc., but have never heard who HE wanted to cast. I know he based her somewhat on Aimee Semple McPherson...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimee_Semple_McPherson

Sir Rhosis

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

Some interesting bits of Trek history tossed into the dialogue that no longer jibe with latter continuity.

Spoiler: Issue #3

Vulcans, a people of peace, achieved space flight 200 years AFTER humanity did so.

Earth is responsible for "uplifting" the Vulcan people. Spock seems to resent this fact.

These nuggets are revealed in an exchange between Kirk and Spock. Had this scene remained in the broadcast episode unaltered, imagine the repercussions from this shift in dynamics between Humans and Vulcans on the Trek history that we're familiar with...

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

Some interesting bits of Trek history tossed into the dialogue that no longer jibe with latter continuity.

Spoiler: Issue #3

Vulcans, a people of peace, achieved space flight 200 years AFTER humanity did so.

Earth is responsible for "uplifting" the Vulcan people. Spock seems to resent this fact.

.

After re-reading this issue, I think I should retract one of the spoilers:

Spoiler: Issue #3

The line about humanity "uplifting" Vulcans seems to be more sarcastic in tone, used by Spock as a way of needling Kirk during a nasty confrontation the two share. I misread the line as Spock arguing humanity's claim of "uplifting" (in the David Brin sense) Vulcans in the past as being disingenuous -- when, in all likelihood, "uplifting" was used in the more general sense, as a synonym for "inspiring."

Sorry about that.

 

[Pauln6]

I'm enjoying the story immensely. I think that some ranting about how un-Trek the original script was are a bit exaggerated. There are some elements that I wish they had kept (the city on the edge of forever for one) and some that would definitely have had to be tweaked. We have Harry Mudd as a drug dealer and other ne'er-do-well crewmen in other episodes so they would just have needed to tone down the personality and crimes of Bekwith to make him credible but not... well, Nero, I guess.

Some of the dialogue is a bit disjointed and would benefit from some further refinement and people have already mentioned Spock's grouchiness, which I rather like this early on in the series. He's totally out of his comfort zone here and still bonding with his captain.

Interesting points from the letters page - I agree that it's great to see Rand treated like a competent and skilled crewman, and it's interesting to note that Ellison didn't send McCoy to the planet because he felt the CMO should only beam down if there is a reason for him to do so.

The problems with the tricroder would have been better explained by the time jump having drained its power and/or made it unstable rather than just from its normal function but I like the general direction of their investigations and Kirk's awkward attempts at ingratiating himself with a nun from a different time are refreshing.

Best of all - Janice gets a cameo. It cheers me up no end and then makes me sad that the poor girl hardly ever gets enough respect for a cameo let alone a key role in any of the other comics these days.

 

[Villordsutch]

Final chapter in this rather excellent series

http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2014/...trek-harlan-ellisons-city-edge-forever-4.html