*Not A Full Review - Better one coming after I see the movie*Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness is another good addition to the IDW comic series continuing where the J. J. Abrams movies simply can't due to budget constraints.
The characters, including their development, are quite good. These are not the people who set off after their graduation/captaincy celebration; they've experienced things and are a bit wiser. I feel like they may be closer to how they will be in the film.
While some have said this didn't pack the punch of the first Countdown book because there was no nostalgic Next Generation plot line, I felt this did set up some of the mindsets we see from the characters in the trailers. And of course the end lead us straight into the character portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch.
I feel however I can't completely review this until I see just how much it ties into the other movie so this is only a holder until I see the film later today.
Nice of them to come out just in time to celebrate my birthday. Thank you, J. J. Abrams for such a great present.
FULL REVIEW
*4.5 Stars*
Scorecard: (Out of 10)
* Quality of Writing - 9
* Pace - 8
* Plot development - 9
* Characters - 10
* Enjoyability - 9
* Insightfulness - 9
* Ease of Reading - 8
* Photos/Illustrations - 10
Final Score: 72/80 = 90%
Having now watched the movie (which was amazing and you have to go and IMAX made it even better!), I feel this comic did precisely what it was supposed to do. It filled in certain plot holes (the trader ship they fly to a certain planet antagonist to the Federation), added faces to certain dialogue sequences (this is one of the planets Admiral Marcus mentions that they know the Klingons have taken ), and it also added background to the whole Uhura and Spock relationship as it’s portrayed on the screen.
The main thing this comic does is plant the seed that all is not as it seems with Admiral Marcus. You learn that then First Officer Marcus is willing to completely break Federation law for…I doubt it’s for the reason the character in the comic thinks, but for some reason. Now we know, in the comic, that he is now Admiral Marcus and you have to wonder what he is like given the…malleability of his loyalty and the rules as he sees them. Kirk might bend/ break rules to save lives; Marcus does for…no real discernible reason. So you know going into the movie he is not all he seems.
This might not have the flash of the first Countdown comic; but it has a subtlety that I really liked. A subtlety that I feel was present in the film as well.
*Conclusion*
If you have gone/are going to see the movie, read this. It is a great comic all its own but it does give you some background to the movie that does add to the experience.
