Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #2
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION/DOCTOR WHO: ASSIMILATION2 #2 Review by Jamie Dunst
Writers: Scott & David Tipton with Tony Lee; Artist: J.K. Woodward; Letters: Shawn Lee; Editor: Denton J. Tipton
With issue two of this particular fanboy’s dream team-up, we see a Enterprise adventure with Picard and his crew on a mission. The story starts off with Geordi and Data having a philosophical discussion about upgrading Data’s parts. Data counters that it’s the parts that he was created with that make him who he is and upgrading that would in a sense change that. The Enterprise’s mission supposed to be a simple meet and greet with a group of Starfleet Corps of Engineers on a planet where the local inhabitants aren’t the most welcoming of strangers. It turns out that the conditions these engineers are under for their mission is very hazardous and after an incident that causes the death of some of the engineer’s lives and injures more, the Enterprise makes arrangements for this group to get more help. When asked why the risk is so important, it’s revealed that the material that this group is mining for will help Starfleet get their fleet of ships up and running after the devastation of their loss at the Battle of Wolf 359. For those that aren’t in the know, that was a battle from a two part TNG episode called “The Best of Both Worlds” where Starfleet got their butts kicked good by the Borg.
With this particular mission over, Captain Picard recommends that Commander Riker try out the upgraded Holodecks which Commander Riker is only to happy to oblige. Along with Doctor Beverly Crusher and Lt. Commander Data, they try out one of Picard’s Dixon Hill programs. The group mention how even the smells of the program seem enhanced. They enter a restaurant and begin to order drinks when a man comes up to Data who is very impressed with the android’s workings. Dr. Crusher and Commander Riker think that there is some kind of malfunction to the holodeck’s programming but when Commander Riker turns off the program and the Doctor and his companions plus the TARDIS are still there, he decides to take this to the Captain. After a brief meeting, the Enterprise is gets a distress call from Detla IV. When the Enterprise arrives they are met by a group of Borg and Cybermen ships. Things are about to get interesting.
So with issue two, we get introduced to the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise via a mission. Soon enough, the actions of the Enterprise crew meet up with the Doctor’s group at the end of issue 1 and we have our first meet and greet. I think everyone who was written here was spot on character-wise and I continue to be blown away by the art. One of my pet peeves about these types of projects is that rarely does anyone look like the actor that plays the character but in these two issues, every aspect of the art has been executed with amazing style and talent. The painted look also adds to the overall beauty of each panel. The other issue I always have is trying to figure out when in each franchise’s timeline does this story take place. Looking at the uniforms and talk about the Battle of Wolf 359 I can only assume that this story takes place no earlier than sometime in the 4th season while with the Doctor, I would have to say it takes place sometime during series 6.
I have been very impressed with the two issues so far. The first one spotlighting the Doctor and his group and the second issue spotlighting the crew of the Enterprise. I’m very intrigued to see what happens when these two groups team up against two big time foes like the Borg and Cybermen. However, I am most intrigued about next month’s cover which has Captain James T. Kirk struggling with some Cybermen while Mr. Spock and the 4th Doctor look on. Should be a fascinating story.
