Star Trek #12
Written by Mike Johnson
Art by Claudia Balboni
Colors by Arianna Florean
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Creative Consultant Roberto Orci
Editor Scott Dunbier
Cover by Claudia Balboni
IDW Publishing
Release Date: August 22, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Star Trek #12 is the finale to the two-part Tribbles story line. Yes, I’m sure you’re all familiar with the OLD or CLASSIC “Trouble with Tribbles” story. You even know that Captain Sisko & company revisited that episode in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. But, as they say, this ain’t your father’s Star Trek!

Writer Mike Johnson puts a WHOLE new spin on the Tribbles tale, one that is probably the furthest yet removed from its original predecessor. Guided by Roberto Orci, this pretty much original story sticks to some of the same beats that that the original episode does, but that’s where the similarities end. Johnson takes us almost literally from one end of the Star Trek timeline to the other, and includes SO MUCH of the “new” Star Trek history, it’s a wonder that it didn’t take a dozen scriptwriters to proofread this comic.

Danger Girl G.I. Joe #2
Written by Andy Hartnell
Pencils by John Royle
Inks by Philip Moy
Colors by Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Edited by John Barber & Scott Dunbier
Covers by John Royle & J. Scott Campbell
IDW Publishing
Release Date: August 22, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

After reading Danger Girl G.I. Joe #2, I’d advise you to breathe into a paper bag, put your head between your knees, whatever it is you need to do to catch your breath. This issue, as was the first, is quite a roller coaster ride!

Andy Hartnell has proven himself time and again that he can write Danger Girl. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that he’s the BEST writer of Danger Girl that there ever has been and ever will be. You can imagine my surprise, then, at how well written this issue is, because the Danger Girl team is BARELY IN IT!!! That’s right, it’s 90% G.I. Joe and 200% awesome. The thing that I love about Hartnell’s work here is that he chooses the continuity that EVERYONE knows when it comes to G.I. Joe – the cartoon continuity. And from there he drops Abbey Chase and friends smack dab into the action. VERY well played.

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.

Rocketeer Adventures, Vol. 2 #3
Written by Dave Lapham, Kyle Baker & Matt Wagner
Art by Chris Sprouse, Kyle Baker, Eric Canete & Eric Powell
Inks by Karl Story
Colors by Jordie Bellaire, Eric Canete, Cassandra Poulson & David Stewart
Letters by Shawn Lee & Kyle Baker
Covers by Darwyn Cooke & Dave Stevens
The Rocketeer Created by Dave Stevens
Design by Chris Mowry
IDW Publishing
Release Date: May 30, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Rocketeer Adventures reminds me why I love comics. And why I’ll always love the traditional comic medium. No, I’m not one of those who hates digital. I have MORE than plenty of digital comics on my computer and 100% of the books that I review are sent to me via computer. But there’s something about holding a comic book in your hands. You get totally lost in the story and in the book itself. Cheers to IDW for putting together another fantastic issue of this series.

The first story in Rocketeer Adventures, Vol. 2 #3 is written by David Lapham with art by Chris Sprouse. It’s a great truth or dare type of story that really speaks to ANYONE reading it. The underlying message in the book is universal and applies to the audience. We can all find a piece of ourselves in this fantastic short story. It reads light, with no heavy moral issue, but when you get to the end, there’s a great “ah-ha” moment that will make you want to read it again. This is, by far, my favorite story in the issue.