Comics Review : Star Trek Deep Space Nine Fool's Gold Issue 3

The covers: The Sharp Brothers show Quark making some serious latinum under the watchful eyes of Odo and Sisko for Cover A. It's a winner. And O'Brien is the focus of Cover B by by David Messina with colors by Giovanna Niro. As with the previous B covers the main character stands in front of a red schematic of the station on a white background. It's also great. The Incentive Cover is the B without the writing. Overall grades: All A

The story: I don't want this story to end. Every character you remember from DS9 is so true to their voice it makes me so happy that Scott & David Tipton are attached to Trek. The first four pages are a five month flashback to how the story of a hidden Cardassian cache aboard DS9 began. The remainder of the book deals with two problems: 1, how to stop the influx of unsavory fortune hunters and 2, is the treasure real? There are many joys in dialogue throughout: Sisko's maxim on Page 7, Quark's mutterings on Page 11, all of the exchange between the pair on Pages 12 - 14 (always one of my favorite bits from the show), and the gloriously fantastic final panel! I feel as though I'm in a lost episode of the series as I read this. What better compliment is there to give? Overall grade: A

The art: Seen the previous two issues? More of the same. Fabio Mantovani knows how to lay out a page expertly and he moves his "camera" in each panel well. The characters you know are identifiable, but not outstanding. Humans and Ferengi look best, while Odo and Kira look the worst (though that version of Kira is a cutie). And I do love the last panel of the last page. Overall grade: B-

The colors: I so wish the credits specified which of this issue's colorists did which page so I know whom to direct my compliments. Fabio Mantovani and Chiara Cinabro look as though they really enjoyed doing this book because the colors burst out in details, which draw your attention to all the right places. For instance, look at Page 1, panel one. The "source" of information is the focus of the panel and is backlit by a bright yellow, while pale dancers behind him are backlit by bright whites, highlighting their curves. Purples meld into browns, suggesting an exotic locale. All of this in just the first panel. This issue would be a good textbook example for others to see how a comic should be colored. Other places of enjoyment include the red on Sisko on Page 7, all of the lighting in Quark's and the Promenade, the neon in the last two panels of Page 21, and the circular reflection of that very last panel. Overall grade: A

The letters: Dialogue, broken glass, phaser fire, and a falling body are all aptly done by Neil Uyetake. Overall grade: A

The final line: The story, coloring, and lettering are making up for the art's deficiencies. This is a solid comic that you could jump into without any loss of what's occurred earlier. Only two more to go, IDW? C'mon! You can't stop DS9 with just this story! Overall grade: B+

http://trekweb.com/stories.php?aid=4b7cead575aca