Customer Reviews

Star Trek Comics Classics: Death Before Dishonor

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The events are described as taking place after Star Trek III. This is NOT the case. This is the first few comics from DC's 2nd run. They take place immediately after Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. They originally came out in 1989, not 1984.

That said, they are some of my favorite Star Trek comics. I bought them allright when they came out. How can you not love Peter David stories. One of Star Trek's best.

are herein. But first, let me clarify a minor discrepancy. Titan Books, the publisher, printed vol. 1 of this series with the first six issues of DC Comics first Star Trek series. Star Trek Comics Classics: To Boldly Go (v. 1) and written by Mike W. Barr. For vol. 2 (this volume), they jumped ahead 5 years. "Death Before Dishonor" is the first six issues of DC's SECOND Star Trek series. (I imagine this was due to fans clamoring to "get to the good stuff !")

The problem with writing Star Trek in any format except TV or film is, you've got one hand tied behind your back. You can't make any major changes to the established characters and any new characters are dismissed as not important since they're not part of the "canon." Peter David (and Mike Barr before him) sidestep this by creating interesting continuing minor characters, such as Sara Tuchinsky, the sarcastic transporter operator and Kathy Li, a new recruit who tells Sulu, "You're shorter than I pictured you !"

This volume tells a series of inter-related stories. James Kirk, who is already hated by the Klingon Empire, manages to infuriate the self-proclaimed "god" of a mysterious race, the Nasgul who previously avoided both Federation and Klingons as being beneath them. The Nasgul and the Klingons can't stand each other either, and compete in a bidding war over who will put a bounty on Kirk's head. (Although you wouldn't know it from this synopsis, there's also quite a bit of humor in these stories.)

Nor is that the end of Kirk's troubles. Some members of Starfleet are annoyed and jealous of Kirk's success and how he gets away with bending the rules. One of these officers, Vice-Admiral Tomlinson, finds out that two alien races wants his bete noire dead. He responds, "We MAY have to cut him in two" and doesn't appear to be joking! Finally, in response to repeated complaints (usually by those who lost to Kirk), Starfleet assigns him a protocol officer, a kind of censor to oversee Kirk's actions.

All of this is a build up to volume three: Star Trek Comics Classics: The Trial of James T. Kirk.

"Death Before Dishonor" features the writing of Peter David, one of the finest scripters ever to pen a Star Trek tale and images by the team of James Fry and Arne Starr. While not as polished as others' efforts, it's still nice artwork.

This book also features two rather candid interviews: one with James Doohan ("Scotty") and the other with Leonard Nimoy ("Spock").

Star Trek: Death Before Dishonor has some good stories! The issues that were reprinted from DC comics 2nd series is a must have! The reviewer before is right. The Stories take place after Star Trek: V The Final Frontier and not after Star Trek III. I recommend this book because the issues are well written by Peter David! If you collected these issues then I still recommend them for nostalgia! I Highly Recommend it! Peter David is a good writer!