The people behind Starship Farragut are at it again. First the fan-produced Star Trek spin-off came into being. I reviewed it. Then they came out with an animated version. Reviewed that, too. So when they came out with a comic, guess what? Now all they need is a novel and the requisite mediocre video game, and they’ll have the complete set. 🙂
So click on the logo below and join me in reading tonight’s entry.
story: Charles Kelso & Kail Tescar/art: Raul Quiles Jr.
I’ll get the complaint out of the way now. I don’t understand why they decided to base the comic on the cartoon rather than the live action stuff. It’s not bad, and doesn’t take away from the story, so don’t get me wrong. It’s just when I heard about a comic, I was expecting something more like this.
line art by Steve Conley, colors by me
That’s a low-res scan of a piece done for John Broghton at Baltimore Comic-Con by pro artist Steve Conley, with colors done by a two bit fan with Paint Shop Pro who needed the color practice. (You can see the original here, but I just wanted to show off. That was hosted at my ImageShack account. I should put one up at deviantART, but I’ll probably forget. :P) Just pretend Captain Carter’s wearing a nightshirt. 😛 The point is that this looks like comic art, although light on detailing, and resembles the actors, like any other Star Trek comic (legalities aside), while the webcomic looks like the animated show. (Which also resembles the actors, but as drawn by Filmation.)
Because it's not Star Trek without technobabble.
Storywise, once you get pass the plot devices, it’s a decent story. Not perfect, but good enough for a spot in the Showcase. It puts the crew in an interesting situation typical of the Star Trek Universe, but is handled as the Farragut crew would handle it. I say again that had J.J. Abrams used his own crew rather than some alternate universe version of the classic cast, there would be less detractors of the movie. In this case, it’s a tale of lost loved ones returning from the dead (sans Black Lantern rings), suspicious natures that come from just being in the Star Trek Universe (where this story usually means someone is out to get our heroes), and the question of how to handle a situation that threatens the crew.
I liked the twist ending, even if the explanation was not forthcoming as to who the aliens are or why they did what they did (read the comic), but I was more interested in the “b” plot (seeing as the title was “Dearly Departed”), the way both Tacket and Prescott view the situation, and the ways they choose to get out of it. I’m actually of two minds in this situation. Based on the resolution of the “a” plot, I would have liked to have seen Tacket (the commanding officer in this story) come out on top. Alternately, however, the fact that neither is proven right doesn’t do the story any harm. It wasn’t about which one was right. It was about the differences in both characters perspectives, Tacket’s more scientific approach versus Prescott’s “chief of security” point of view, and how they would handle the situation. I could easily hear the actors voices (Michael Bednar and Paul R. Seiber) in my head debating things, and that works for me. This was an interesting study of both mindsets, and neither viewpoint is treated as stupid. Tacket’s solution only proves to be the right way to handle it because of what we, the readers, know and not because Prescott is treated as a militaristic jackass (unlike way too many other stories I could mention).
You know he paid for this at the next poker game.
Spoiler: On the other hand, I do wonder about Prescott’s decision to leave the ship with nobody able to talk him out of it. I rather enjoy his character on the show, and if this is the comic’s way of telling why he left, I’ll miss him in future stories. If not, it’s the same questionable decision as the New Voyages episode that has Chekov die in a story set prior to the movies. :End Spoiler
Overall, while I would like to see some improvements in future issues, it was still a good read that I can recommend, hence being a “Saturday Night Showcase” entry, but mostly to fans of Star Trek and the other Starship Farragut projects, which I happen to be. I would just send them to the shows first.
BW Media Spotlight 
Thanks ShadowWing Tronix for continuing to cover us – we certainly appreciate it.
BTW, I do think that you will see Prescott on the Farragut again. Farragut Films is still working with the actor Paul Sieber and one project that I’ve been fixated for years and recently brought up again is a story that takes place in THE WRATH OF KHAN era that reunites the main four characters together again.
The story by Charles Kelso and Kail Tescar was a good one and it really captured the essence of the Farragut characters. They, along with Raul Quiles Jr. did an outstanding job on the first Starship Farragut comic!
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Thanks for the heads up, John. I understand Prescott’s reasons in the comic, but I like the fact that he’s on the outside, at least for now. Seeing him slowly come into the group, connected by their shared experiences, evolving from “new kid” to “one of the gang” is part of what I like about the character, and offers them a new perspective they could use. So I really hope to see more of him on the crew.
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Thank you ShadowWing Tronix for your very constructive review. The reason the comic is in the style of the Filmation animated series is because that is the medium I work in as webmaster of http://www.startrekanimated.com. I have a whole series of comic books based on the look of the animated Star Trek series located here… http://startrekanimated.com/tas_comic_main.html
Since I was the associated producer and lead artist on Starship Farragut’s tribute to the animated series, it seemed only natural to use the artwork in a comic.
If you enjoy fan films, you’ll also find a Starship Exeter comic, made with the full co-operation and input of that group.
Thanks again,
Kail
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Yeah, I should have mentioned you were an artist on the animated version, but I thought “The Animated Series Comic” was a dead giveaway. 😀 I should probably check out your other comics, as I do like the art. (Filmation may not have great animation, but they do have the best character models, backgrounds, and special effects.) I just thought they should have learned towards the live-action show like the other Star Trek comics. But if it is in the Saturday post, it still means I liked it.
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I understand, and I believe John has another comic book in production with a more traditional comic book look.
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If you’d like to see the original script, check it out here–
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The real reason why Prescott transfered to the Enterprise was because Paul R. Sieber had a falling out with the Farragut production staff. Michael Bednar had explained to a friend of mine that Sieber wanted to play Will Decker in a Star Trek-New Voyages/Phase II production, but for some reason or another could not commit to that project during Starship Farragut’s shooting schedule. This later led to some artistic differences between Sieber and Bednar, which resulted in Sieber leaving Starship Farragut.
My guess is that(judging by Bednar’s information to my friend and what I have seen of it)the comic mirrored not only Sieber’s departure from Farragut, but also some conflict between him and Bednar. Obviously one of ego, no less(i.e. Sieber’s ego and Bednar’s failure in resolving the issue at hand).
Looks like the curse of Bill Shatner’s ego and temperment has poisoned and permeated the starship Farragut production.
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Actually Paul left on his own accord to work with James Cawley on Phase II. He decided that he simply wanted to be an actor on Farragut. James enticed him to play Decker, which is why Paul left. No hard feelings and we do wish him well. It is an unfortunate move, as I understand they are no longer casting the Decker character. Not sure who the friend is that misinformed you, but facts are facts. Sorry.
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I would like to mention that Paul was nice enough to read my script and give me notes on the Prescott character. Very gracious of him.
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No apologies are necessary, Michael. As with any story, there are two sides. Sadly, misinformation is a bad side effect. Thanks for clarifying things from your end.
Kail, I would like to say that I enjoy viewing your website. It’s nice to see that people still enjoy the animated series. If you ever accept any fan submissions, I would be more than happy to submit a story for you to illustrate.
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Tommy, if you’d like to send me a story idea, I’d be happy to take a look. You can send it to kailer35@yahoo.com
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Thanks, Kail.
And for what it is worth, I like the Filmation animation format for the comic books. They are certainly razor sharp and crystal clear.
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Well, it looks as if Starship Farragut has reached an all-time low. After having read this thread, the Farragut production has certainly given new meaning to the philosophy of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. Or I should say blemished the name of Star Trek and all of the good qualities that it stands for.
Assuming if this is still on the board, this link will explain everything.
http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=133657&page=53
Because of their association with this narcissistic individual(who made promises and did not keep them)and the bad examples set forth by the series two main leads, it is clearly obvious that Starship Farragut’s reputation has not only been tarnished by such inexcusable behavior, but also by the act of going as low as any individual can get.
Lying and back-stabbing doesn’t get anybody anywhere.
This incident has proven that people of such disgusting natures can turn something fun into a pigmire run by pernicious people who have no respect or decency of anyone, let alone themselves, by committing or even being associated with the likes of someone who is narcissistic and untrustworthy as the individual(or individuals – depending on who you believe)in question.
Starship Farragut – you’ve certainly proved your character and morality. And you’ve really turned something great into a festering and fetid sewer of disgust.
Thanks a lot!
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