IDW’s “Mirror Broken” series was one of the most exciting Star Trek series I’ve ever read and clearly fans agreed or we wouldn’t be getting this sequel series. It appears series writers David and Scott Tipton are going to bring the evil universe Picard and his crew face to face with the TNG heroes we know and love. By the end of this first issue though know there’s even more crossover action than you might expect.
So what’s it about?
The official summary reads:
Because you demanded it! Following up the smash-hit miniseries MIRROR BROKEN, the Mirror Universe Next Generation crew is looking for new worlds to conquer, and they’re crossing over to the Prime Star Trek Universe to find them! Also in each issue: Just how did the Mirror Universe crew find their way to ours, and what does Emperor Spock have to do with it? Backup stories every issue illustrated by MIRROR BROKEN co-creator J.K. Woodward!
Why does this matter?
This issue has hotshot artist Marcus To drawing the main story, but previous series artist J.K. Woodward telling the second story. The first ties the mirror universe into the main one, while the second tells a story that involves an iconic original series character. That’s big and an exciting element for longtime fans of the original series.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
Star Trek fans are going to appreciate the note to when this takes place in canon.
The main story focuses on Worf, possibly the coolest TNG character there is, investigating some suspicious business. This leads to some revelations and the eventual shock moment of seeing something that’s familiar but not. Hence the mirror aspect of the series name. The Tiptons do a good job writing Worf, who sounds and looks just like the character. It builds towards a cliffhanger that will make you come back for more next issue.
The second story is where this issue really shines; it begins to explain a whole different story entirely, unless of course this somehow ties into the main one. This story uses Woodward’s photorealistic style and has a darker, grittier tone that suits the mirror universe characters story well. It’s only four pages, but does a good job piquing your interest much like the cliffhanger of the first story.
I don’t remember him having facial hair…
It can’t be perfect can it?
The main story runs a bit long, never really getting to the meat of the crossover and instead languishes in the somewhat mundane mission Worf is on. I don’t know why the Tiptons are dragging out the eventual meet up of mirror selves, but they’re taking their time. The second story is good, but has its own problems, mostly being way too much dialogue. Either they didn’t have enough pages, or they simply decided to dump a ton of dialogue on readers on the very last page. It’s almost comical how much the word balloons cover up the panels. This backup could have used a few pages to let it breath.
Is It Good?
This is a good, but not great issue. It gets the ball rolling on two major plots and will pique your interest, but the first is paced too slowly and the second is overflowing with dialogue and exposition. Both stories will leave you wanting more, but only because they’re both teasing rather than delivering on expectations.
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