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bahuerka's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
geekwayne's review against another edition
5.0
'Star Trek: Harlan Ellison's The City on the Edge of Forever: The Original Teleplay' is a terrific way to present this screenplay. The art is great and it is only helped by being in a graphic novel format.
Anyone who vaguely knows the original Star Trek series has some familiarity with the episode 'The City on the Edge of Forever.' It's an iconic episode that ends in a heartbreaking choice by Kirk. That's all still here at the core, but the framing story is different.
In the original episode, McCoy goes crazy, ends up back in the 1930s and Kirk and Spock go back to stop him. This story has a completely different framing story involving a corrupt crewman, a crew of marauders attacking the Enterprise and a group of aliens known as the Guardians intent on preserving the pathways of time. Maybe the casting budget is what decided the changes, and when it's all said and done, the core story is the same, so it's more interesting just to see this as alternate take on a classic Trek episode.
The script adaptation is solid, and the art by J.K. Woodward is really top notch. My review copy didn't include anything but the comics, but I understand the full version includes an afterword by Harlan Ellison and also artist notes from J.K. Woodward on his process. Highly recommended for Trekkers like me.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this excellent graphic novel.
Anyone who vaguely knows the original Star Trek series has some familiarity with the episode 'The City on the Edge of Forever.' It's an iconic episode that ends in a heartbreaking choice by Kirk. That's all still here at the core, but the framing story is different.
In the original episode, McCoy goes crazy, ends up back in the 1930s and Kirk and Spock go back to stop him. This story has a completely different framing story involving a corrupt crewman, a crew of marauders attacking the Enterprise and a group of aliens known as the Guardians intent on preserving the pathways of time. Maybe the casting budget is what decided the changes, and when it's all said and done, the core story is the same, so it's more interesting just to see this as alternate take on a classic Trek episode.
The script adaptation is solid, and the art by J.K. Woodward is really top notch. My review copy didn't include anything but the comics, but I understand the full version includes an afterword by Harlan Ellison and also artist notes from J.K. Woodward on his process. Highly recommended for Trekkers like me.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this excellent graphic novel.
jflo717's review against another edition
Way better than the episode that was produced.
tomtrimail's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
nodogsonthemoon's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
markmtz's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best Star Trek comics, if not the best, from IDW Publishing.
jcarter's review against another edition
3.0
I think I can finally, definitely, say that the filmed version is superior to the original script, upon which this adaptation is based. This is Star Trek from another universe.
Is it just me, or are some of the pages out of order, or printed right-to-left? I found some pages hard to follow.
Is it just me, or are some of the pages out of order, or printed right-to-left? I found some pages hard to follow.
juliwi's review against another edition
3.0
I have to admit that I am not a major Star Trek fan. I have always firmly been on the Star Wars-side of that debate. However, I do appreciate some of its moments and I have heard a lot about this particular episode. Therefore I thought, 'Why not try it out?'.
As I said, I have not seen the episode that is based on this graphic novel. Therefore I can only judge the story by what Ellison himself wrote and unfortunately I have to say he runs into the same trap most authors run into when they start messing with time-travel. That trap is the concept that one person changes everything, only to then not show how they would do so. From my history research it has become very clear to me that what changes history is, in the end, usually economics. When people are well-off culture flourishes and so does kindness etc. As we can currently see, economic down-turn leads to distrust and anger. Although a single person can become known for being the front person to a movement, they are hardly ever the one with whom a movement originates.
My problem with time-travel narratives, then, is that authors go for the emotional message that a single person can change the course of the future. Personally it is a message I love hearing as well because it makes me feel important. However, I know it only applies to my own life and on the grand scale on which most of these narratives function it simply doesn't work. City on the Edge of Forever is set between the First and Second World War, a time in world history in which lives were meaninglessly flung away. Partly I found a way in which this aspect of the contemporary history was treated almost disrespectful. The 'person in history' who matters to Kirk and Spock is hardly worked out as a character, rather there is a lot of time spent on Kirk thinking and feeling and Spock not quite understanding. There were some moments which I thought quite insightful, but at times I felt that they could have gone deeper.
Something I really liked were the illustrations. I thought that they captured the atmosphere really well and used colour in a very good way. There were some stunning illustrations of New York and the Star Trek characters were definitely recognizable. What I enjoyed most was being able to actually see different expressions on the characters faces. I have read comics where the face and expression are the same for every panel and it was very off-putting. At times the paneling was a but confusing, leading to me not being quite sure how to read the page.
It was interesting to read but in some ways it confirmed my previous suspicions about Star Trek. The stories are there to continue character tropes, rather than develop a story for its own plot line. However, I enjoyed reading Star Trek: City on the Edge of Forever and I would definitely recommend it to Star Trek fans. Besides that, it's a fun sci-fi read that is bound to give you an hour or so's of fun!
As I said, I have not seen the episode that is based on this graphic novel. Therefore I can only judge the story by what Ellison himself wrote and unfortunately I have to say he runs into the same trap most authors run into when they start messing with time-travel. That trap is the concept that one person changes everything, only to then not show how they would do so. From my history research it has become very clear to me that what changes history is, in the end, usually economics. When people are well-off culture flourishes and so does kindness etc. As we can currently see, economic down-turn leads to distrust and anger. Although a single person can become known for being the front person to a movement, they are hardly ever the one with whom a movement originates.
My problem with time-travel narratives, then, is that authors go for the emotional message that a single person can change the course of the future. Personally it is a message I love hearing as well because it makes me feel important. However, I know it only applies to my own life and on the grand scale on which most of these narratives function it simply doesn't work. City on the Edge of Forever is set between the First and Second World War, a time in world history in which lives were meaninglessly flung away. Partly I found a way in which this aspect of the contemporary history was treated almost disrespectful. The 'person in history' who matters to Kirk and Spock is hardly worked out as a character, rather there is a lot of time spent on Kirk thinking and feeling and Spock not quite understanding. There were some moments which I thought quite insightful, but at times I felt that they could have gone deeper.
Something I really liked were the illustrations. I thought that they captured the atmosphere really well and used colour in a very good way. There were some stunning illustrations of New York and the Star Trek characters were definitely recognizable. What I enjoyed most was being able to actually see different expressions on the characters faces. I have read comics where the face and expression are the same for every panel and it was very off-putting. At times the paneling was a but confusing, leading to me not being quite sure how to read the page.
It was interesting to read but in some ways it confirmed my previous suspicions about Star Trek. The stories are there to continue character tropes, rather than develop a story for its own plot line. However, I enjoyed reading Star Trek: City on the Edge of Forever and I would definitely recommend it to Star Trek fans. Besides that, it's a fun sci-fi read that is bound to give you an hour or so's of fun!
sp1derfairy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I really loved reading this and the art style was cool. The incorporation of a lot of swirls to convey time and how the artist worked with the idea of the guardians was super cool. i loved seeing the differences from the episode and reading the “(gently)…(hopelessly)” part. also LOOOVED seeing rand have more responsibility and more character.
cantrememberthedreamthatihad's review against another edition
5.0
"The City on the Edge of Forever" is considered one of the greatest of the original Star Trek episodes, but what many don't realize is the original script penned by legendary science-fiction author Harlan Ellison deviated from the aired episode in many significant ways.
Now, fans have the opportunity to visit this piece of Trek history. Absolute gorgeous artwork brings the original teleplay to vivid life, and fans can now experience what Ellison originally envisioned.
A great bit of classic Trek lore, a look into the original draft of a classic episode, and a must read for any Star Trek fans.
Now, fans have the opportunity to visit this piece of Trek history. Absolute gorgeous artwork brings the original teleplay to vivid life, and fans can now experience what Ellison originally envisioned.
A great bit of classic Trek lore, a look into the original draft of a classic episode, and a must read for any Star Trek fans.