Star Trek: Volume 2
Written by Mike Johnson
Art by Joe Corroney, Joe Phillips
Colors by John Rauch
Letters by Neil Uyetake
IDW Publishing
Release Date: July 11, 2012
Cover Price: $17.99 | $9.67

I’m only a casual Trekker. I stumbled into Star Trek fandom after discovering the Enterprise series starring Dr. Sam Beckett on television one night – that’s still my favorite Trek series. Now, about a decade later, I’ll occasionally catch a random Next Generation episode on Netflix, but that’s where my interest begins and ends. Although I’ve made a few noble attempts, I just can’t sit through a full Original Series episode. This probably makes me an outcast in Trekker circles. To my surprise, I really dug the 2009 theatrical reboot of Star Trek and learned to love Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and all the rest through that movie. So, I was pumped when IDW announced a comic book follow-up that would bridge the movie to its upcoming sequel.

The first four issues of Star Trek were something of a disappointment. The stories were self-contained, trite, and inconsequential to any Star Trek canon. Thankfully, this trend does not continue in Star Trek: Volume 2, which collects issues #5-#8.

Star Trek #10
Written by Mike Johnson
Art by Stephen Molnar
Colors by Jeff Rauch
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Based on the original teleplay The Return of the Archons by Boris Sobelman
Original Story by Gene Roddenberry
Creative Consultant: Robert Orci
Editor: Scott Dunbier
Cover by Tim Bradstreet
IDW Publishing
Release Date: June 27, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

This new Star Trek ongoing series is quickly becoming more than just a series to tide you over to the next Star Trek movie. It’s getting better and better with each issue, and it shows NO signs of slowing down, especially in this issue.

Writer Mike Johnson does some VERY impressive stuff this issue. Not only does he take this episode from the original series and turn it on its ear, but he gives up something really, REALLY shocking at the end. I mean it folks, this is a game changer on epic levels. I’m guessing since Roberto Orci does consulting for this series, it MAY even turn up in the movie. But believe me, it’s something that’s NEVER been done in Star Trek, let alone Star Trek comics.

Star Trek #9
Written by Mike Johnson
Art by Stephen Molnar
Colors by John Raunch
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Based on the original teleplay “The Return of the Archons” by Boris Sobelman
Creative Consultant: Robert Orci
IDW Publishing
Release Date: May 30, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

In Star Trek #9, Sulu takes the spotlight as the crew fights a very strange battle against what appears to be a group of medieval villagers. I’m sure that’s all they are. Just some peaceful people minding their own business, right? What could go wrong?

I’ve gotta tell you, this book is so much FUN!!! Writer Mike Johnson does a great job of taking an old story and updating it to fit into the current Star Trek continuity. Let’s be honest, these stories were all written in the late 1960s and while some aspects can be horribly out-dated or “hokey,” Johnson turns them around and makes them new and fresh and exciting. Plus, there’s the added bonus that this is set in the Star Trek movie “universe,” so at this point, anything can happen. Yes, you know none of the crew will to die, but still, there’s an excitement that Johnson puts into the book that gives you that “anything goes” feeling. Also, he gives us some great flashbacks and insights into the characters lives that we don’t get in the movies.

Star Trek #5
Written by Mike Johnson
Art by Joe Corroney
Colors by John Rauch
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Covers by Tim Bradstreet
Creative Consulting by Robert Orci
IDW Publishing
Release Date: January 18, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

IDW continues adapting the classic Star Trek television episodes into comic book form starring the cast of the 2009 Star Trek reboot movie. Star Trek #5 is based on the classic Star Trek television episode, “Operation: Annihilate” written by Oliver Crawford and Steve W. Carabatsos.

Writer Mike Johnson takes a GREAT many liberties with the story that this issue is based on, and so far, it’s working out great. After all, it would be pretty boring if the story was beat for beat the same as the television episode and just drawn in with the actors that played the characters in the 2009 film.

Yes, there are an astonishing amount of Wizard of Oz remakes, adaptations, and sequels that currently seem to be on the way at the moment. Whether they’ll all make it to the big screen remains to be seen, but that’s not stopping others from adding to the pile.

Vanguard Films has a new re-imagining of the classic tale in development called Oz Wars that will use CGI and stop-motion animations. Unlike most of the other Oz projects in the works — which seem to be staying generally close to the original story — this one will be taking things to a seriously different level, being set in the contemporary world and bringing black magic, battle-ready warrior witches, monsters, and even martial arts to the table.