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Post by tarkintino on Nov 16, 2021 12:29:31 GMT -5
^ This.
Plus, he's such a hack that he used images of the actors from more than one season, or part of a single season, which is glaring, as the actors appearances changed over the run of the show, from hairstyles to costume fittings, weight, etc. Somehow, Byrne must have believed that Star Trek fans--who have watched the series over and over again for decades, would not notice that, or the flat-out amateurish cut-and-pasting of body parts (nevermind the "writing").
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Post by tonebone on Nov 16, 2021 15:15:37 GMT -5
Over the past few years, John Byrne's series New Visions has done much the same thing, using screen shots from HD video, and Photoshop. His stories are basically an extension of the original series, and the stories read very much like classic Star Trek. I remember seeing this as a total scam when it was first announced. There are a million Trek fans out there writing original scripts, and most can photoshop just as well as Byrne. It takes some gall to slap a standard price tag on this, as if Byrne should be compensated for this the same as he would be for penciling his own work and hiring an inker, letterer, and colorist. I've got to disagree. He puts a lot of thought and work into the stories, as well as the PS art. It seems that he plans out the stories first with "pencils", and then finds or creates the art to support them. The stories actually look like his pencils, with all of his tropes. I'm a digital artist, and what he's doing is not easy. He makes it look easy, tho. You mention that there are a million fans out there who could do the same, but your implication is that all of those people should be able to do it, but not Byrne. Plus, the "standard price tag" comment... it's 22 story pages, full color, with color covers. Just like other comics. Should IDW charge less for it? Also: Byrne is sort of a lone-wolf, these days. He's really known for inking and even lettering his own work, for the past 15 years or so, so you can't really lament he's not hiring others. Plus, it's really none of my business if he's not hiring inkers, colorists, or letterers. I'm not sure what insight you have into exactly how much he is paid to deliver this package to IDW, but if they want to pay it, he should be able to get it. Plus, he could be doing NOTHING and still not hiring other people... not sure what your point is. That being said, It's not my cup of tea. I love the TOS movies, but don't really have a taste for the TOS episodes... the stories are good, and I can't really complain about his ability to tell a story. I just don't think anyone should be able to gripe about it being created, or published, or purchased.
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Post by tonebone on Nov 16, 2021 15:20:21 GMT -5
^ This. Plus, he's such a hack that he used images of the actors from more than one season, or part of a single season, which is glaring, as the actors appearances changed over the run of the show, from hairstyles to costume fittings, weight, etc. Somehow, Byrne must have believed that Star Trek fans--who have watched the series over and over again for decades, would not notice that, or the flat-out amateurish cut-and-pasting of body parts (nevermind the "writing"). My sympathies, as it sounds like someone forced you to buy and read this comic.
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Post by tarkintino on Nov 16, 2021 15:40:38 GMT -5
Not the point. Byrne's shoddy Photoshop job with captures from one end of actors' appearances to another--in the same story--is the point.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,707
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Post by shaxper on Nov 16, 2021 21:44:54 GMT -5
You mention that there are a million fans out there who could do the same, but your implication is that all of those people should be able to do it, but not Byrne. Umm, no. Not what I said. Really doesn't seem like you're even trying to understand my perspective before attempting to knock it down, here. Hard to argue against a point that you don't make an effort to understand, really.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Nov 17, 2021 7:37:44 GMT -5
Not a fan of Byrne or photoshopping stories, so these were a hard pass for me. The 'year 5' story is really the only book I've really enjoyed from IDW in some time.. they get WAY to carried away with the mirror universe.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Nov 17, 2021 9:39:11 GMT -5
I remember seeing this as a total scam when it was first announced. There are a million Trek fans out there writing original scripts, and most can photoshop just as well as Byrne. It takes some gall to slap a standard price tag on this, as if Byrne should be compensated for this the same as he would be for penciling his own work and hiring an inker, letterer, and colorist. I've got to disagree. He puts a lot of thought and work into the stories, as well as the PS art. It seems that he plans out the stories first with "pencils", and then finds or creates the art to support them. The stories actually look like his pencils, with all of his tropes. I'm a digital artist, and what he's doing is not easy. (...) Agreed! Digital work make some things way faster, but it can also be extremely time-consuming in other aspects. I draw my own pages the traditional way, then scan them and add digital effects in Photoshop... and I can vouch that I spend more time in front of the screen than at the drawing board. Especially when colour is involved.
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Post by tonebone on Nov 17, 2021 10:28:53 GMT -5
Not a fan of Byrne or photoshopping stories, so these were a hard pass for me. The 'year 5' story is really the only book I've really enjoyed from IDW in some time.. they get WAY to carried away with the mirror universe. Yeah, I really enjoyed that series, for the most part. Didn't really enjoy the diversion into Sulu's sex life with the fish alien. I did enjoy the transition from TOS to the STTMP era.
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Post by brutalis on Nov 22, 2021 18:25:04 GMT -5
Warp Speed Star Trek Reviews
Warp factor 4 helm! Covering issues 2, 3, 4 and 5. All photo covers. Spock and Kirk appears on each cover as Spock gets the most emphasis in larger dominance as well as the focus for issue 3. Enterprise takes the focus for issue 4. I neglected to mention that NONE of these Gold Key issues have any credits for writer/art/colorist. Writer/Artist credit won't appear until #47, so readers in the day would have no clue to the creators (know I didn't) until years later.
Issue 2: The Devil's Isle of Space finds Enterprise investigating a glowing asreoid belt and going into orbit around a planet. I have no idea why they go to a planet when asteroids attract their attention other than in one panel they discuss glowing asteroids then the next it is glowing planets. Comic book science fiction plot. You expect logic? Next panel Kirk orders the ships infra-red periscope to be "upped" and suddenly season 3 of TOS isn't looking quite so bad anymore!
Enterprise is trapped in orbit by a huge electronic field so a landing crew beams down immediately. Perfect science: electronic field locks your starship in orbit so electronically shoot your atoms to the planet surface. So much for the science officer providing intelligent information or the Captain using critical command common sense. Upon beaming down the party starts with an alien attack. A cease fire ensues as Kirk is informed the aliens were marooned on the planet over a year ago.
Soon another alien is encountered who says they are not marooned but ate condemned as a planet of convicts. The landing party is taken Prisoner with demands to Spock who is in command aboard Enterprise to beam up the aliens or else an internal volcano will explode on the planet sending into a super-nova within 24 hours. Again with the wonky comic book science fiction.
More wonky plotting as Kirk orders Spock to take command of Enterprise and gives a 2nd order to save the ship/crew and fly away before everything goes kaboom. Spock disobeys the 2nd order by logical thinking that he was 1st ordered to take command, so he does NOT have to obey Kirk's command to leave the landing party behind. Spock for the win and yet another plot oddity as they leave ALL the aliens upon the planet to die. Dang it all that Federation non-interference rule! Of note: Uhura, McCoy and Scotty make appearances looking nothing like the television cast.
Issue 3: Invasion of the City Builders. Opens with engineering crew shown doing outside repairs on the ship before they zip to research Planet Questionmark. Enterprise is drawn in the planets atmosphere flying low just above vast cities. Also with jet propulsion thrusters shooting from the nacelles. Definitely poorer artistry as Kirk/Spock are less recognizable as well with Spock more Elvishly long ears than short Vulcan ears.
We get a strange story of 1 man named Krill fighting to save his world. A world where EVERYTHING is mechanically automated and the population will die once the machines have finished converting ALL of the worlds surface to gleaming cities. Of course Kirk violated the Prime Directive to save the day. Very selective about that isn't he?
Issue 4: the Peril of Planet Quick Change. Enterprise receives a Red Alert on a planet they are surveying. The ship once more is shown in the planets atmosphere with jet plumes just above surface level. The planet keeps shifting from organic to inorganic reactions across the planet. Spock is mentally taken over by 5 glowing balls of energy using him as a conduit so that they might save their planet. In the end only 4 exit Spock's body as the Fifth remains behind to "live" within Spock. Spock again shows his bloodthirsty side utilizing the transporters to force the energy being to materialize where it immediately collapses and vaporizes. Of note: Sulu appears in 1 panel operating the transporter for the landing part but is not named. McCoy is part of the landing party and called Bones 2 panels.
Issue 5: The Ghost Planet. another nameless landing part lead by Kirk/Spock beams down to a planet hidden behind a rainbow corona. They find a city half torn apart in ruins from a holocaust. Twin Supreme rulers of the city appear on a video screen explaining how all the people were struck by terror of the advancing rainbow corona and dying from radiation poisoning.
Exploring the ruined city they find a library which turns out to being a War room where they discover the planet was at war. All countries declared a truce as the deadly rings circled the planet. All of civilization rocketed to safety on 2 circling satellite stations awaiting rescue and the return to their fighting. Beaming back aboard Enterprise, Kirk/Spock manage to destroy the deadly rainbow rings.
The planets population all quickly return planet side attacking the landing party. Spock fools the attackers into believing Starfleet can recreate the surrounding deadly rainbow at whim. Kirk/Spock destroy all the planets space crafts and secret war supplies while leaving stating they will keep watch on the planet and should war on the planet continue the deadly rainbow bands will return forever. Who needs a Prime Directive of non-interference when you can simply threaten other civilizations?
These 4 issues show very little connection to or understanding of Trek as a whole. It has all the markings of 1950's science fiction/fantasy concepts painted with the veneer of Trek. OK enough on their own but nothing to with Trek at all for the most part. Trek in name only I would say, but with Trek only available in syndication repeats, these quarterly adventures were keeping the brand alive for the fans.
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