It’s one of the better variations of Catan, too, using the same rules as the Helpers of Catan scenarios expansion.
I got a copy for my dad a few years before he passed. He mostly enjoyed games like Trivia Pursuit, but the Trek theme did draw him in to this version of Catan.
Shaxs’ Bucket List:
• Beat up the Klingons (all of them) ✔
• Crashing a shuttle into a Pak’led Clumpship to beat the tar out of the Pak’leds while Baby Bear (Rutherford) installs a virus, and die a glorious death ✔
• Eject the warp core to use as a mine to destroy pursuing A.I. controlled starships ✔
I really enjoyed Shaxs’ Best Day. It’s like 30 perfect pages of comic featuring one of my favourite characters, written by one of my favourite writers. It doesn’t have much impact on the larger Day of Blood storyline, but that’s fine because it as just about Shaxs unleashing his Bajoran fury on an entire planet full of Klingon fascists.
I don’t think I will be sticking with Picard’s Academy. A story about how young Jean-Luc Picard was a dick, and needed to learn how to make friends doesn’t hold much appeal. We know from “The Samaritan Snare” and “Tapestry” that during his Academy days Picard was a bit of a rover and rabble rouser, so seeing him here as a guy obsessed with getting top marks and being alone doesn’t really fit. Granted, he’s only second year here, but regardless.
Some aspects of the story are the writer, Sam Maggs, trying too hard to be cute, like Picard asking Boothby if he has coffee instead before settling for tea, and some choices are just bizarre. A couple pages in, a caption box describes a characters as “Always drinks his respecting-women juice.” Which is just a wild thing to put in a Trek comic for one, but also not relevant to the scene they’re in, and we don’t see the character again for the rest of the issue.
I also hate the art choices. For some reason the artist decided a Bolian character – the respecting-women juice drinker – should have a fin on his face and head as opposed to the bifurcation line that we see Bolians typically have. There’s a Betazoid that appears to have a number of extra nostrils like an Ilari from the VOY episode, “Warlord”, and if the cover is any indication they glow. In a holodeck simulation, there are a number of ENT era vessels, some of which have their nacelles connected at what appears to be 45° angles to the ships’ centreline.
I was immediately excited to see a Chalnoth show up. I thought LDS could have some fun with a species that is, at least according to “Allegiance”, completely lawless trying to do science.
The bit about the Chalnoth not trusting Starfleet scans because they’re too nuanced and through I thought was good, but the rest of the b-plot after that didn’t really work for me. Maybe if Coqqor had actually engaged in the Mark Twain conflict resolution strategy. That would have been fun.
Fortunately the a-plot was really strong on this one.
There is a handful of ships we’ve seen on LDS that were previously only in video games or, concept art, or now in a comic, and I really like that the crew behind the show has all these deep cut references, in addition to making their own inclusions.
Yeah, I don’t want to rewrite the episode too much, because that’s not what I’m here for, but what Rutherford and Boimler showed up on the bridge, still struggling to get their Twain cosplay off? The episode already had Rutherford decrying how complicated vests are. They get called to the bridge, and they’re still half in costume when they interrupt Freeman’s negotiations with Coqqor and he demands an explanation. They stumble over one another trying to provide context for who Twain is, and that they were in an argument, but by both engaging with the character they were able to sort out their differences. The camera pulls in tight on Coqqor’s face as his eyes narrow, and after a pause he says, “Show me.”
Freeman’s willing to entertain anything at this point but isn’t convinced. However, Coqqor really gets into the character. After some coaching from Boimler and Rutherford, Freeman is able to reach an agreement with Coqqor, and in addition to scanning access, they agree to a cultural exchange. They give Coqqor the Cerritos’ library of Twain writings, including a printing of “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” that’s been in Boimler’s family for generations, but he’s willing to part with for the sake galactic diplomacy. Coqqor then immediately eats the book.
It really bumped me when I was scrubbing through “The Pirates of Orion” to confirm something for this post, and they started saying “OrEEahn,” which I had completely forgotten. Went go back to “Journey to Babel” to make sure they didn’t pronounce it that way in there, too.
Well, that’s oh for two. I don’t think this instalment was quite as rough as the first, but it also didn’t have Pete Holmes, so it gets points for that alone.
For whatever reason I assumed each of the VSTs would be done by different studios, but this is the same team that worked on the first. I don’t have high hopes for the rest.
• The episode title is reference to the Harlan Ellison short story, “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream”. Ellison also wrote the TOS episode, “The City on the Edge of Forever”....
• The episode title calls back to the VOY season two episode, “Tuvix”, in which Neelix and Tuvok are combined into a single being by due to the unique properties of an alien orchid and the transporter....
I think we have to take intention into account though. Did T’Lyn know, or at least suspect, that by transporting all the Tuvixed beings that she would be combining them into a single lifeform? We don’t see her react when the transport completes, but she does hesitate before saying she might be able to “split them into their individual components.” I got the impression that her intent was only to transport the various Tuvixi into the brig, not amalgamate them into an abomination in the eyes of both science and the Prophets.
It’s like the transporter accident in TMP that killed commander Sonak and another officer. No one was at fault, but they still died. If Rand figured out a way to restore Sonak to life afterwards, and the only thing would have been impacted was his inside remains, you wouldn’t say it was unethical to do because Rand was the one operating the transporter when the accident occured.
I did think it was a bit of a shame that one of Trek’s most powerful ethical quandaries got so easily and blithely technobabbled away
Personally, I’ve never really thought of it as being that much of a quandary. Janeway’s decision wasn’t much different from what the Vidiians do; she condemned one innocent being to death so his body could be used to save two others. We recognize it’s wrong when the Vidiians are jumping starships to harvest lungs and kidneys, but suddenly we need to have a debate when Janeway is molecularly disentangling Tuvix?
Also, I do think it would have been more interesting to proceed with Tuvix from a storytelling point of view. Obviously that doesn’t work great when you have actors contracted for multiple seasons, but VOY is way too eager to hit the reset button.
The only thing I think could have actually made the Tuvix story something worth debating is if we ever learned what Tuvok and Neelix’s perspectives were after the fact. But we don’t. They never speak of it again. Probably because Janeway threatened to murder anyone on the ship who brings it up.
And speaking of inside remains as a result of transporter accidents, will you do these canon connections posts for the Very Short Treks, (even if they themselves have been declared non-canonical)?
I think that after the season of LDS is done, while we’re waiting Disco season five, I’ll try and do some Non-Canon Connections. I already did the LDS comic mini-series back before the switch to Lemmy. So I’ll probably do all the VST episodes in a single post though so far there seem to be much to work with there. I also started working on one for the PRO video game a while back and I’m about halfway done that. I just got distracted by other games.
So I think there’s the kernel of an entertaining idea here, regarding how idioms translate, but I have such an immediate, visceral reaction to how unfunny Pete Holmes is that I’m not really feeling charitable here. I think as soon as the woman whose head was underpants showed up, we crossed the line past anything that could be salvaged.
Hey, did y’all know that IDW’s solicitations don’t list the books that come out in the first week of the month? Those are always included in the solicitations for the preceding month. Anyways! Here’s the post for this week, a day late because I’m sick and forgot.
Also, on the topic of housekeeping, I think I’m going to discontinue these posts after the Day of Blood crossover wraps up. They haven’t really garnered much interest, so that seems like a good place to call it. I will almost certainly post my thoughts on whatever Trek comics I’m enjoying going forward, but they won’t be pinned to the top of the community or anything like that. And I’d love to see others do the same.
I don’t think it’s a matter of giving up so much as it is acknowledging that these posts don’t really serve the community. Which is fine. Trek comics are obviously a niche within a niche, so there isn’t enough interest here to generate discussion.
I enjoyed this issue quite a bit, as we finally get a bit of actual story momentum, especially between Worf and Alexander. Sisco being side lined for the issue so we can get the big final confrontation between him and Kahless in the last issue of the crossover didn’t work that well though, and I feel like we’re supposed to care more about captain Meyerson, despite the fact that he’s been in like two issues, one of which being the FCBD issue which was barely marketed.
Still, on the whole, between the Worf/Alexander fight, and the Defiant and Theseus crews working together across the two ships, this mostly worked for me.
Star Trek #11 is a fun read, but ultimately seems like it’s spinning its wheels, as very little story progress is made here. There are a lot of good character interactions – the highlight of which is once again Lore and Data, though Doctor Crusher and Sela also have a cool moment only slightly diminished by the fact that Sela still seems shoehorned into the book – but the main attraction for Day of Blood is Sisko, Worf, and Emperor Kahless, and they’re pretty much no where in the book.
Nit picks: The likeness for Tom Paris has always been off in this book, and never more so than in this issue. It’s like the artist heard of the Nick Locarno issue and is worried he’s going to have to pay royalties if Paris looks too much like Robert Duncan McNeil. Also, Ro has been done dirty ever since she showed up in Defiant #1, and this issue is no exception.
Compliment sandwich! I really like the interpretation of the Kobayashi Maru that Lily Sato gives.
The first issue of The Scorpius Run isn’t doing much to grab me. The premise of the Enterprise crew being forced to compete in a race is interesting enough, but for whatever reason the idea that the Enterprise itself is going to be in the race just seems silly. Like a cruise ship race. All the other ships were of similar size; do they have comparable crew compliments?
Anyways, writing is fine, but the art seems a little stiff. I don’t really have any thoughts on the issue beyond that.
I found this after reading and responding to this post here about early Trek fans’ prejudicial negative reaction to TNG. One of my responses (see here) was to point out that any fans of the progressiveness of Trek ought to have been mindful of the room for improvement over TOS, with female representation being an obvious...
You’re commenting this on a Star Trek discussion forum. A show that was founded on the idea that diversity is a strength. Gene Roddenberry specifically cast women in positions of authority, and non-white actors to be the crew of the Enterprise because he wanted to portray a future where humanity had moved beyond such petty bigotries.
A franchise which has persisted for 57 years, and is recognized the world over, founded on the “diversity first” approach you’re lamenting.
That’s not how that movie was marketed though; it was marketed with a bunch of bad CGI and half-assed adlib because Paul Feig couldn’t write an actually funny script even if he had Mel Brooks and Mike Judge puppeting him like marionette.
What you’re talking about is the same thing I was talking about, the very conception of the idea. Star Trek from the very beginning in 1966 has been about pushing the boundaries of diversity on television.
I think the Kelvin-universe cast is largely pretty good. Zoe Saldana has never struck me as a great fit for Uhura, but I like everyone else, and I think Karl Urban is great. I also like that all the characters get something to do in the movie. The interactions between Spock and Bones, and Scotty and Jaylah are definite highlights for me.
Speaking of, Sofia Boutella’s Jaylah character is a lot of fun, and if they actually ever get a fourth one off the ground – not holding my breath – I do hope they’re able to work the character in.
It’s hard to go wrong with Idris Elba in anything, but I do think he was wasted as Krall, who is not particularly compelling, and that’s probably the film’s biggest failing. But then, I don’t think many Trek movie villains are all the compelling. The most relatable threat in all thirteen movies was the giant space probe that just wanted to talk to some whales. 'Cause, y’know…same. After that it’s probably General Chang, and then, despite my low regard for the movie overall, Nero.
The set pieces are great. Obviously it’s silly, but the opening scene where Kirk gets attacked by the Teenaxi is a lot of fun. The scene where Krall’s drones are tearing up the Enterprise is riveting. I love Kirk on the motorcycle during the rescue beam-out scene. And the final fight between Kirk and Krall is really well done, even if the actual threat is kinda lacklustre.
I love the design work. Yorktown station looks great. The Franklin might be my favourite starship design across the franchise. I really like the new uniforms that don’t have the textured delta pattern of the previous two films, as well as the Franklin uniform that Spock ends up wearing. I don’t love the phasers with their rotating emitter, but other than that aspect they look good.
I recognize that it’s pretty much a dumb action movie, but it is, in my opinion, a very watchable dumb action movie. That’s really all it’s trying to be, which I respect. Am I going to argue that it’s technically he best executed movie of the bunch? Of course not! But is it my personal favourite? Yeah. Except for when my mood changes and “The Voyage Home” is my favourite.
• The title refers to the Gorn Hegemony, the name of the polity from which the Gorn hail. It was first mentioned on screen in the ENT episode, “Bound”, but it as used non-canon as early as the 1992 novel, “The Disinherited”....
Canon Connections: Lower Decks 4x05 - Empathological Fallacies
• Captain Sokel and the VCF Sh’vhal were both introduced in “wej Duj” the same episode in which we first saw T’Lyn....
Did you know there's a Star Trek version of Settlers of Catan? Did you also know Wil Wheaton and Jeri Ryan played it together? Behold. ( youtu.be )
I’ve always wanted to use the world behold....
Star Trek: very Short Treks | "Holograms All the Way Down" ( www.startrek.com )
This one was written by Star Trek: Prodigy’s Aaron J. Waltke....
New Comics Discussion September 27 | Star Trek #12 | Star Trek: Day of Blood - Shaxs' Best Day | Star Trek: Picard's Academy #1 ( startrek.website )
Star Trek #12...
Canon Connections: Lower Decks 4x04 - Something Borrowed, Something Green
• The Orion starship we see in the opening is visually similar to the Orion interceptors seen in “Borderland” with some distinct differences....
Canon Connections: Lower Decks 4x03 - In the Cradle of Vexilon
• Cap’n Freeman’s log records the stardate as 58759.1....
Star Trek: very Short Treks | "Holiday Party" ( www.youtube.com )
StarTrek.com link featuring the second chapter of “The Scheimer Barrier”.
Canon Connections: 4x02 - I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee
• The episode title is reference to the Harlan Ellison short story, “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream”. Ellison also wrote the TOS episode, “The City on the Edge of Forever”....
Canon Connections: Lower Decks 4x01 - Twovix
• The episode title calls back to the VOY season two episode, “Tuvix”, in which Neelix and Tuvok are combined into a single being by due to the unique properties of an alien orchid and the transporter....
Star Trek: very Short Treks | Skin a Cat ( youtu.be )
Produced by: Awesome Inc...
Star Trek Day 2023 Special ( www.youtube.com )
New Comics Discussion September 6 | Star Trek Defiant #7 ( startrek.website )
Star Trek Defiant #7...
Worf and Riker Have a Heart to Heart in Star Trek: Picard Deleted Scene ( gizmodo.com )
Celebrate 50 Years of Star Trek Animation with the Launch of 'Star Trek: very Short Treks' ( www.startrek.com )
Master Replicas’ Caretaker’s Array Review ( trekcentral.net )
The Starfleet Insignia Explained ( startrek.com )
This is an old one, but a good one, and StarTrek.com decided to republish it for whatever reason.
Armin Shimerman and Terry Farrell Join the "Delta Flyers" Podcast for "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" Rewatch ( trekmovie.com )
New Comics Discussion August 23 | Star Trek #11 | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Scorpius Run #1 ( i.imgur.com )
Star Trek #11...
How Many Star Trek Episodes Pass the Bechdel Test? (TOS to ENT) | The Mary Sue ( www.themarysue.com )
I found this after reading and responding to this post here about early Trek fans’ prejudicial negative reaction to TNG. One of my responses (see here) was to point out that any fans of the progressiveness of Trek ought to have been mindful of the room for improvement over TOS, with female representation being an obvious...
Rank your favorite Star Trek movies! Be ready to defend your positions!
Here’s mine:...
Canon Connections: Strange New Worlds 2x10 - Hegemony
• The title refers to the Gorn Hegemony, the name of the polity from which the Gorn hail. It was first mentioned on screen in the ENT episode, “Bound”, but it as used non-canon as early as the 1992 novel, “The Disinherited”....
New Comics Discussion August 9 | Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Echoes #4 ( startrek.website )
** Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Echoes #4**...