Customer Reviews

Star Trek: The Mirror Universe Saga (Star Trek (DC Comics))

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The Wrath of Khan is my favorite Star Trek movie, due to the fact that it ties in so well with the original series. After reading STAR TREK: THE MIRROR UNIVERSE SAGA, I can say that this story should have received the cinematic treatment as well, for the same reasons. THE MIRROR UNIVERSE SAGA collects the "New Frontiers" storyline from issues # 9 - 16 of DC's Star Trek series (waaaaay back in '84, remember?), where Captain Kirk and the members of the Enterprise crew re-encounter their evil Terran Empire doubles from the original series show "Mirror, Mirror". This time, however, the stakes are much higher - the Empire's planned invasion of our universe. Author Mike Barr constructs the story to occur between the events of the movies ST3: The Search for Spock and ST4: The Voyage Home. I cannot say if the Mirror Universe Saga fits perfectly with regular continuity, but I can say that the story was good enough for me to enjoy it, despite my not being a huge Trekkie. The plot is a logical extension of the TV episode (20 years later), explaining what happened after its conclusion and providing more information on the state of affairs in the Mirror Universe. The dialogue is written convincingly enough to where I had no problem imagining the actors voicing the actual lines. As you can guess, the plot involves quite a bit of mistaken identity, but Barr handles it well. The art by Tom Sutton and Ricardo Villagran is quite detailed and captures the look of the characters well. Unfortunately, it seems that it wasn't clear enough for the colorist, who obviously was confused between Captain Kirk and the alternate David Marcus, as well as between Lt. Uhura and Marlena. Try a little harder next time...

The introduction by ST novel author A. C. Crispin is the worst part of the book. It's not really so much an intro as it is slobbering praise of Star Trek's greatness. There's no background on the Mirror Universe, no discussion of the story's popularity or evil Spock's fashionable goatee... nothing. In fact, this intro could be used as generic copy to be placed at the beginning of every Star Trek novel or comic. I would think that someone so intimately involved with Star Trek could do better.

This is the best of the DC comic series in the early eighties. It don't get better than this. Kirk takes the Excelsior to battle his evil counterpart in the Mirror Universe! Romulans, Klingons, a Spock double.....this one's got it all! This would have made a terrific film.

This is a good book to have even if you have all of the issues of the comic series.The whole story is right here,and there is no need to change books to finish out the story.The Mirror Universe idea was a great one,taken from one of the best episodes of the TV series.Anyone who liked the idea in "Mirror,Mirror" has a great read ahead in this story since it carries on after the other story.The idea was put out for a long time that the Mirror Universe crew was 'NOT DONE YET' with the ideas put out in the TV episode.This is worth the look and well worth the time.

"Star Trek III: The Search for Spock," was released in the summer of 1984. The sequel, "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," was released in the fall of 1986. In the interval between the two movies, DC Comics published an eight part comic title "The Mirror Universe Saga." This eight-part story is a different version of what happened as described in Star Trek IV, and thus falls into the category of what could have been or what may have happened in an alternate universe.

In this version, Spock remains on Vulcan while Kirk and his companions head back to the Federation to face their superiors for the deeds committed in Star Trek III. As seems to happen often in the Star Trek universe, fate intervenes and Kirk faces his nemesis from the mirror universe, along with other characters from the original television episode. Kirk's mirror universe self is, as in the television episode, still trying to gain status in the mirror universe. His plan this time is to lead an invasion fleet into Kirk's universe with the goal of gaining significant power and authority in both universes.

The story becomes increasingly complex as it proceeds. Even though Spock begins the story on Vulcan, mirror universe Kirk needs Spock's knowledge of the Genesis device to accomplish his grand scheme. Thus, Spock eventually rejoins his companions and eventually plays a critical role in the story. There are surprises along the way and a suggestion that the mirror universe story line remains far from a conclusion and as we know from subsequent events, the mirror universe has appeared in a series of novels.

I thought the plot was generally fast-paced and realistic. I did have a difficult time figuring out which character was which a couple of times and had to re-read portions of the graphic novel. Part of the problem is that the story relied a lot on mistaken identities so you have to take hints from what came before and after and what the character says. Even then, there were one or two challenges.

The story is reasonably consistent with the original television story and with the characters at the time, which makes this story quite enjoyable. While Star Trek has come a long way since 1966, I must admit that the original cast and stories have a certain character that I enjoy. The features of the original series are in evidence throughout this story.

Comics and graphic novels have also changed much over the years. The style of the illustrations readily places this graphic novel in the late 1970's and early 1980's, which remains, to me, fun to read.

I am often annoyed when someone takes a known universe and skews a story line in a direction completely different from where the universe eventually went. In this case, the authors were unaware of the existence of Star Trek IV and they created a bold and interesting story that could readily have been a sequel to Star Trek III. I strongly recommend this story to fans of the original series and particularly to those who enjoyed the original episode featuring the mirror universe.

Enjoy!

This is the 8 part Mirror Uiverse saga story that was written and published by DC Comics in 1984. After the release of the movie " Star Trek III: the Search for Spock, Paramount Pictures gave the comic book license to DC comics to continue the stories after Star Trek III. This particular Story is the sequel to the Star Trek classic episode "Mirror, Mirror" Kirk and crew meet their counteparts from the other Star Trek Demension were the Federation is called the Empire and instead of space exploration the Empire's main goal is to conquer the Universe. This is a wonderful, well written sequel to that episode. And it looks more contemporary since this story takes place during the original Star Trek movies. Written by Mike W. Barr, Tom Sutton and the rest of the DC comics crew. This is one tale not to be missed by comic book fans, Sci-Fi fans, and Classic Star Trek fans a-like. Get it! If you find this out of print book it is definitly worth saving as Star Trek memorablia.