Sirk TV Comic Review: IDW Small/Limited Issues #3 [IDW]
The aspect of choice but also the rule of command permeates the essence of many of the stories in collection between the essence of morality but also practical application.
The Q Conflict #3 The continuing structure of the omnipresent beings staging a gladiator competition of sorts combining the different crews across the pantheon (except Discovery) is a bit more clean and concise in this issue simply because there is a little more explanation of the interpersonal struggles at play. Q's moral ineptitude but gray area of perspective continues to personify the complicity. Trelane integrates a notion of galactic capture-the-flag which is interesting especially when he ups the stakes with a planet killer. The stakes, as one of the characters points out, keep the situation from becoming too dire.
Star Wars Adventures #20 This tome has Anakin and Master Yoda on a planet where they discover an old friend with the power of invisibility. The thematic of realizing that which you cannot see but what can be perceived resounds in the story especially when Anakin uses a very simple problem solving tactical maneuver that really helps to continue to define the kind of Jedi he might have become. The secondary story in this issue tells a similar progression in that of Wild Space using a story of Padewan Barriss in a similar way by showing a quest/journey to recover a book for her master is not for the end result but what is learned along the way.
Star Trek: Terra Incognita #5 Like the Animated series episode "The Infinite Vulcan", this story continues to examine the notion about messing with genetic code and the idea of what is better for a society in terms of progress or nostalgia. The crew of the Enterprise uses practical deduction to make their work easier but the dynamic between the command presence of Dr. Crusher versus Worf is an interesting dynamic that was never brought to a head per se during the series. While it doesn't get too heated, the balance of the warrior mindset versus the medical mindset rests in the passive aggressive which is an interesting path. The mirror structure underneath continues to coalesce but with no true progression in this issue.
Star Wars - Flight Of The Falcon One Shot Hondo as a character has always been an interesting comic bright spot in the Star Wars universe and hopefully with get a tinge of live action impression at some point. This story follows Hondo having holed up on Baatu with the Falcon while Chewbacca is away. Mahko is a flyer and an all-around sharp flyer who, like Han Solo, has her emotions and priorities in both worlds. She is perhaps a little naive, wears her heart too much on her sleeve and trusts even though it will not turn out well. Hondo agrees to a race with the Falcon for some extra money and almost gets it stolen from him with a chicken tug-of-war with a tractor beam. It is a little childish on Hondo's part especially when he tries to talk Chewie into letting him do it on a results basis. That said, this one shot really has a sense of character work that comes off both effortless but also organic.
By Tim Wassberg