This issue is a vast improvement over the banality of issue number 4. Where issue 4 was safe, issue 5 explores some details that proved to be risky and surprising. The book starts with a young Kirk, fresh off of crashing his father’s car into the quarry as seen in the movie, being scolded for doing so. The art failed here because there could have been an excellent visual shift of young Kirk against the field of stars and older Kirk against a field of stars—on the view screen behind him while he commands the NCC-1701. When we see the border of the viewer, we lose the magic of the transition. Check the book on pages three and four to see what I mean.

The Enterprise follows a Denevan ship in an attempt to rescue it from a collision course with a sun. The crew aboard the Denevan ship doesn’t want to be saved, and the vessel collides into the star. Kirk and an away crew investigate the planet (in a scene which reminded me of the film Serenity), and one of the crew falls under alien attack.

An interesting surprise that was hinted at in the beginning of the book finishes this issue, and it makes for a good plot point for readers. Longtime Trek fans will enjoy the plot that’s reminiscent of an episode of classic Trek. And the pacing builds to a frenetic pace like the 2009 movie.

For those jumping in to this comic, the art styling and storylines are based on the 2009 Star Trek movie. That’s not bad at all. I just wanted to lessen the shock of those expecting a Shatner version of Kirk.

While this won’t convert someone who isn’t a Trek fan, it will appease regular fans/readers.

Score: 3/5

Writer: Mike Johnson Artist: Joe Corroney Colorist: John Rauch Publisher: IDW Publishing Price: $3.99 Release Date: 1/18/12