markmtz's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best Star Trek comics, if not the best, from IDW Publishing.
jcarter's review against another edition
3.0
I think I can finally, definitely, say that the filmed version is superior to the original script, upon which this adaptation is based. This is Star Trek from another universe.
Is it just me, or are some of the pages out of order, or printed right-to-left? I found some pages hard to follow.
Is it just me, or are some of the pages out of order, or printed right-to-left? I found some pages hard to follow.
juliwi's review against another edition
3.0
I have to admit that I am not a major Star Trek fan. I have always firmly been on the Star Wars-side of that debate. However, I do appreciate some of its moments and I have heard a lot about this particular episode. Therefore I thought, 'Why not try it out?'.
As I said, I have not seen the episode that is based on this graphic novel. Therefore I can only judge the story by what Ellison himself wrote and unfortunately I have to say he runs into the same trap most authors run into when they start messing with time-travel. That trap is the concept that one person changes everything, only to then not show how they would do so. From my history research it has become very clear to me that what changes history is, in the end, usually economics. When people are well-off culture flourishes and so does kindness etc. As we can currently see, economic down-turn leads to distrust and anger. Although a single person can become known for being the front person to a movement, they are hardly ever the one with whom a movement originates.
My problem with time-travel narratives, then, is that authors go for the emotional message that a single person can change the course of the future. Personally it is a message I love hearing as well because it makes me feel important. However, I know it only applies to my own life and on the grand scale on which most of these narratives function it simply doesn't work. City on the Edge of Forever is set between the First and Second World War, a time in world history in which lives were meaninglessly flung away. Partly I found a way in which this aspect of the contemporary history was treated almost disrespectful. The 'person in history' who matters to Kirk and Spock is hardly worked out as a character, rather there is a lot of time spent on Kirk thinking and feeling and Spock not quite understanding. There were some moments which I thought quite insightful, but at times I felt that they could have gone deeper.
Something I really liked were the illustrations. I thought that they captured the atmosphere really well and used colour in a very good way. There were some stunning illustrations of New York and the Star Trek characters were definitely recognizable. What I enjoyed most was being able to actually see different expressions on the characters faces. I have read comics where the face and expression are the same for every panel and it was very off-putting. At times the paneling was a but confusing, leading to me not being quite sure how to read the page.
It was interesting to read but in some ways it confirmed my previous suspicions about Star Trek. The stories are there to continue character tropes, rather than develop a story for its own plot line. However, I enjoyed reading Star Trek: City on the Edge of Forever and I would definitely recommend it to Star Trek fans. Besides that, it's a fun sci-fi read that is bound to give you an hour or so's of fun!
As I said, I have not seen the episode that is based on this graphic novel. Therefore I can only judge the story by what Ellison himself wrote and unfortunately I have to say he runs into the same trap most authors run into when they start messing with time-travel. That trap is the concept that one person changes everything, only to then not show how they would do so. From my history research it has become very clear to me that what changes history is, in the end, usually economics. When people are well-off culture flourishes and so does kindness etc. As we can currently see, economic down-turn leads to distrust and anger. Although a single person can become known for being the front person to a movement, they are hardly ever the one with whom a movement originates.
My problem with time-travel narratives, then, is that authors go for the emotional message that a single person can change the course of the future. Personally it is a message I love hearing as well because it makes me feel important. However, I know it only applies to my own life and on the grand scale on which most of these narratives function it simply doesn't work. City on the Edge of Forever is set between the First and Second World War, a time in world history in which lives were meaninglessly flung away. Partly I found a way in which this aspect of the contemporary history was treated almost disrespectful. The 'person in history' who matters to Kirk and Spock is hardly worked out as a character, rather there is a lot of time spent on Kirk thinking and feeling and Spock not quite understanding. There were some moments which I thought quite insightful, but at times I felt that they could have gone deeper.
Something I really liked were the illustrations. I thought that they captured the atmosphere really well and used colour in a very good way. There were some stunning illustrations of New York and the Star Trek characters were definitely recognizable. What I enjoyed most was being able to actually see different expressions on the characters faces. I have read comics where the face and expression are the same for every panel and it was very off-putting. At times the paneling was a but confusing, leading to me not being quite sure how to read the page.
It was interesting to read but in some ways it confirmed my previous suspicions about Star Trek. The stories are there to continue character tropes, rather than develop a story for its own plot line. However, I enjoyed reading Star Trek: City on the Edge of Forever and I would definitely recommend it to Star Trek fans. Besides that, it's a fun sci-fi read that is bound to give you an hour or so's of fun!
sp1derfairy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I really loved reading this and the art style was really cool. The incorporation of a lot of swirls to convey time and how the artist worked with the idea of the guardians was super cool. i loved seeing the differences from the episode and reading the “(gently)…(hopelessly)” part. also LOOOVED seeing rand have more responsibility and more character.
cantrememberthedreamthatihad's review against another edition
5.0
"The City on the Edge of Forever" is considered one of the greatest of the original Star Trek episodes, but what many don't realize is the original script penned by legendary science-fiction author Harlan Ellison deviated from the aired episode in many significant ways.
Now, fans have the opportunity to visit this piece of Trek history. Absolute gorgeous artwork brings the original teleplay to vivid life, and fans can now experience what Ellison originally envisioned.
A great bit of classic Trek lore, a look into the original draft of a classic episode, and a must read for any Star Trek fans.
Now, fans have the opportunity to visit this piece of Trek history. Absolute gorgeous artwork brings the original teleplay to vivid life, and fans can now experience what Ellison originally envisioned.
A great bit of classic Trek lore, a look into the original draft of a classic episode, and a must read for any Star Trek fans.
ladyvictoriadiana's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
_bookbabble_'s review against another edition
3.0
It was really a good read, I just wish the art work lived up to the writing.
taaya's review against another edition
2.0
The backgrounds are beautiful, but the characters look like badly done green screen - and sometimes even distorted.
And then there is the plot. Well, it's the original screenplay that was done before the first season was finished, so it is understandable that it's far from canon. But it's racist, sexist (even Spock has a girl in every port and that's okay and completely normal, wtf?!), heteronorm and somehow the moments that are supposed to have emotional depth come suddenly without any explanation, which makes them feel out of sync with the plot and shallow. Sometimes it even feels as if there were whole pages missing so that there is no context to some panels.
In the end it's good this was not filmed. City at the edge of forever has always been one of my most hated episodes, but plotwise this was even worse. Not in technique, but in logic, characterization, lessons taught,...
And then there is the plot. Well, it's the original screenplay that was done before the first season was finished, so it is understandable that it's far from canon. But it's racist, sexist (even Spock has a girl in every port and that's okay and completely normal, wtf?!), heteronorm and somehow the moments that are supposed to have emotional depth come suddenly without any explanation, which makes them feel out of sync with the plot and shallow. Sometimes it even feels as if there were whole pages missing so that there is no context to some panels.
In the end it's good this was not filmed. City at the edge of forever has always been one of my most hated episodes, but plotwise this was even worse. Not in technique, but in logic, characterization, lessons taught,...
faeriedrumsong's review against another edition
4.0
I'm typically a fast reader of graphic novels. I speed through the text with no more than a cursory glance at the images. Enough to know what is happening, no more.
But this one I got from the bookshelves of my recently deceased father. It's a show we both enjoyed, and I waited for at least a month before cracking it open.
And it is beautiful. It is much more full than the televised version, and very much worth the read. And the artwork made me slow down. I read and looked and inhaled the art along with the text.
Two points, in particular, were very intriguing for me:
1) There was a moment when Yeoman Rand (a pretty blond woman who was slightly more than window dressing for many Star Trek - The Original Series episodes) grabs a large gun to blast open a door while Kirk and Spock stand by and let her do it.
2) A different door is jerry-rigged against a blood thirsty crew of pirates. The captain asks the same pretty blond Yeoman Rand if she can hold off the Pirates indefinitely while he and Spock return to the planets surface. The artists allowed the character to be true bad ass. A true team member. Knowing that it is a lost cause - basically a suicide mission - she was in one simple close up panel of her face "I can, sir." And it is amazing.
Yes, these are two extremely minor moments that have very little to do with the primary storyline. But knowing how great these moments are, gives you a glimpse into how intense I think the rest is.
A must for fans.
But this one I got from the bookshelves of my recently deceased father. It's a show we both enjoyed, and I waited for at least a month before cracking it open.
And it is beautiful. It is much more full than the televised version, and very much worth the read. And the artwork made me slow down. I read and looked and inhaled the art along with the text.
Two points, in particular, were very intriguing for me:
1) There was a moment when Yeoman Rand (a pretty blond woman who was slightly more than window dressing for many Star Trek - The Original Series episodes) grabs a large gun to blast open a door while Kirk and Spock stand by and let her do it.
2) A different door is jerry-rigged against a blood thirsty crew of pirates. The captain asks the same pretty blond Yeoman Rand if she can hold off the Pirates indefinitely while he and Spock return to the planets surface. The artists allowed the character to be true bad ass. A true team member. Knowing that it is a lost cause - basically a suicide mission - she was in one simple close up panel of her face "I can, sir." And it is amazing.
Yes, these are two extremely minor moments that have very little to do with the primary storyline. But knowing how great these moments are, gives you a glimpse into how intense I think the rest is.
A must for fans.
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
5.0
Harlan Ellison's The City on the Edge of Forever is a graphic novel adaptation (by Scott & David Tipton) of Ellison's original screenplay for arguably Star Trek's best television episode. According to Ellison's introduction, the Tipton's have done a perfect job representing his original vision: "I could not have pictured it as perfect as it has turned out." And perfect it is. Ellison's vision, per usual, is a bit darker than the televised episode, but it also digs even deeper into Captain Kirk's psyche and the loneliness he feels as the man in charge. Ellison has presented readers with an intelligent story with meaning and he does us the great courtesy of assuming that we are fairly bright people who don't need absolutely everything explained. He lets the story speak for itself. That's a great gift from a writer.
There are a few differences between the screenplay and the episode that I'd like to point out. First, there is very little McCoy here. The character who goes a bit crazy and winds up going back in time to change history in the teleplay is a drug-dealing, murderous rogue lieutenant, not our favorite doctor accidentally injected with a full hypo. McCoy shows up just once, to attend to the man Lieutenant Beckworth attacked...and then not by name. And, of course, having a drug-dealer on board the flagship of the Federation is another change. It is also nice to see Yeoman Rand represented as a competent, serious member of the crew and not just secretarial eye candy for Kirk. The other biggie is the role of Trooper, the down-and-out WWI soldier who helps Kirk and Spock find Beckworth.
Trooper, it seems to me, was a huge loss for the televised version. The contrast between his historical value and the value of Edith Keeler is vivid and poignant. It makes a statement about sacrifice as well. Spock's sacrifice in Wrath of Kahn is important--but he makes the sacrifice for his friends and his shipmates. Trooper also sacrifices--but his sacrifice benefits strangers...and ultimately humanity's future. Hard-hitting stuff from a master story-teller.
As far as the graphic novel goes--it is gorgeous. The teleplay has been expertly adapted for the graphic novel and the artwork is impressive. Most of the regular crew members look as we expect--McCoy's brief appearance being the only exception, but perhaps since he wasn't center stage he was given quite the attention that Kirk, Spock and Rand received. Overall, a fantastic graphic novel that any Trek fan should make part of their collection.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
There are a few differences between the screenplay and the episode that I'd like to point out. First, there is very little McCoy here. The character who goes a bit crazy and winds up going back in time to change history in the teleplay is a drug-dealing, murderous rogue lieutenant, not our favorite doctor accidentally injected with a full hypo. McCoy shows up just once, to attend to the man Lieutenant Beckworth attacked...and then not by name. And, of course, having a drug-dealer on board the flagship of the Federation is another change. It is also nice to see Yeoman Rand represented as a competent, serious member of the crew and not just secretarial eye candy for Kirk. The other biggie is the role of Trooper, the down-and-out WWI soldier who helps Kirk and Spock find Beckworth.
Trooper, it seems to me, was a huge loss for the televised version. The contrast between his historical value and the value of Edith Keeler is vivid and poignant. It makes a statement about sacrifice as well. Spock's sacrifice in Wrath of Kahn is important--but he makes the sacrifice for his friends and his shipmates. Trooper also sacrifices--but his sacrifice benefits strangers...and ultimately humanity's future. Hard-hitting stuff from a master story-teller.
As far as the graphic novel goes--it is gorgeous. The teleplay has been expertly adapted for the graphic novel and the artwork is impressive. Most of the regular crew members look as we expect--McCoy's brief appearance being the only exception, but perhaps since he wasn't center stage he was given quite the attention that Kirk, Spock and Rand received. Overall, a fantastic graphic novel that any Trek fan should make part of their collection.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.