How important do you feel "Countdown" is?

[Chrisisall]

I just bought it, haven't read it yet, but I was wondering what you peeps who have read it thought...
Does it significantly affect your enjoyment/understanding of ST09?

 

[Yeoman Randi]

I havent read it nor do i have it. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it when you've finished as i have thought about getting it myself. And you know how you and i share alike opinions much of the time....little brother....

 

[JuanBolio]

Yeah, I think it makes a worthy prequel. Certainly explains how this chain of events came to be, and resurrects Data. Works for me.

 

[Jeri]

We read it before we saw the movie, and I think it was a good idea to do so. It's not necessary, though. It was just fun to know a few details.

 

[Chrisisall]

And you know how you and i share alike opinions much of the time....little brother....

Yo sis, one thing I can tell ya is that the art is nothing to write home about, and usually that kills it right there for me, but I'm jus' reading it for the story, so I'll more or less blow through it. I usually linger on the art some, but that ain't gonna happen with this one. A quick visual skim shows a pretty big story there, though. My next post will be after I read it.

 

[Cyke101]

I would state my problems with it, but that would involve spoilers. As it is, it's unnecessary, kind of fan-wanky, and a bit inconsistent with the film (which I suppose is a necessary evil with this kind of tie-in).

 

[Jeri]

...one thing I can tell ya is that the art is nothing to write home about...

Data is looking very buff in it. That and the Jellyfish were my two favorite bits.

 

[Daneel]

Cyke's criticisms of Countdown are certainly valid: it is a bit fanwankish at times and a few of the details don't quite jive perfectly with the movie. However, I think it's a decent, mostly fun series. Plus it helps one understand Nero and his motivations a bit better; he was rather underdeveloped in the film, but Countdown makes him a bit more of a well-rounded character.

 

[Clancy_s]

I too liked the extra depth it gave to Nero. I could have done without the TNG characters but since this sort of tie-in is aimed at the dedicated fans I suppose their inclusion was inevitable.

So: interesting but not at all necessary to the enjoyment of ST11.

 

[JarodRussell]

It's pure fanwank, has big holes at the important parts, and is very, very boring. Which is surprising, because it comes from the same writers, so I expected it would have been action oriented and fast paced.

 

[urbandk]

I wasn't a huge fan. Too many cameos. Character development was rather thin. It just wasn't my style. I'd almost prefer some mystery surrounding Nero.

 

[Cyke101]

I wasn't a huge fan. Too many cameos. Character development was rather thin. It just wasn't my style. I'd almost prefer some mystery surrounding Nero.

*takes a sip of the Countdown soup*

Hm, needs more Robau.

 

[Bones2]

I read it just before the first time I watched XI. After seeing the film, I felt it was only half the story without Countdown.

 

[soot]

I think the film stands best on its own. I kind of like that Nero comes out of nowhere. Countdown doesn't really give him any depth anyway. The backstory isn't anything to write home about.

However, Countdown does add something to the franchise as a whole for me. I am much happier having it as an epilogue to TNG, and a bridge from there to the new timeline, even if it wasn't as good a story as it could have been.

 

[The Wormhole]

Pure fanwank which reduces Nero to a cartoon-supervillain. Despite the fact that's what he already was. And let's not even get started with the Borg's involvement in Countdown...

Trek XI has its own problems without this mess adding to it.

 

[BenRoethig]

Not important at all.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Other than the appearance of Geordie I loved it, it was very interesting. Great background details, things like the tatts on the Romulans.

 

[RAMA]

I loved it, and it added to my appreciation of the film.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Keep in mind that Paramount knows full well that ST licensed tie-ins are bought by about 1% of the cinema-going audience who watches ST movies on the big screen in first release. "Countdown" - and "Nero" and "Spock Reflections" - are "fanwanky" tie-ins because they are aimed squarely at diehard ST fans.

I've enjoyed all three comic mini-series very much.

 

[Chrisisall]

*takes a sip of the Countdown soup*

Hm, needs more Robau.

That would have been nice, but hey- they only HAD four issues.

I read it just before the first time I watched XI. After seeing the film, I felt it was only half the story without Countdown.

I feel the same way.

I loved it, and it added to my appreciation of the film.

I can't wait for the DVD now!

@ Yeoman Randi:
Get it. The story was excellent. My only criticisms are that the final "script" for the comic were slightly off character in *some* dialogue points, and that the final couple pages showed fatigue on the part of the artist (IMO, of course).
The art overall was much better than I first thought. Moments of brilliance, even. Not my favourite style, but above average & well done.
AND if you're a fan of TNG (as I am), it resonates even more.

***&1/2* out of 5