ComicList Critiques by Charles LePage

Star Trek The Key Collection Volume 1
Checker Book Publishing Group
Nevio Zaccara, Alberto Giolitti

Collecting the first eight issues of the Gold Key Star Trek comic book series, this trade paperback certainly is an affordable means of owning and reading these stories. There wasn't much in the way of explanation, however, for anyone new to these comics.

The trade is well produced. I have to imagine the artwork looks better here than it did originally, at least as far as the coloring goes. I would also imagine any modern reader, whether they were familiar with Star Trek or not, would find the stories at least a little odd. Personally, I think the historical nature of these comics out weighs any shortcomings, not unlike the Golden Age comics I have read.

Unfortunately, there's little explanation for newcomers as to why the Gold Key series is so different from any other Star Trek comic book or television series. A little online research revealed the artist who drew issues #3-8, Alberto Giolitti, had never seen the television series and only had publicity photos to use as references. I don't know if the more recent volumes have more background information, but more facts and figures would be helpful. For instance, did the artists inject ideas like flame bursting from the nacelles, and the Enterprise flying VERY close to the ground, or were they drawing whatever the unknown writers told them to draw?

Having said that, I still look forward to reading and reviewing the rest of this fine series.

For more information on the Gold Key Star Trek comics, visit http://curtdanhauser.com/Main.html

Checker Book Publishing Group can be found online at http://www.checkerbpg.com