Star Trek Voyager: Seven's Reckoning #3

Star Trek Voyager: Seven's Reckoning Part 3 0f 4 - "Symphony For The Damned"

Publisher: IDW

Writer: Dave Baker

Artist: Angel Hernandez

Colorist: Ronda Pattison

Letterer: Neil Uyetake

Reviewer: Michael Nunneley

On their wat through the Delta Quadrant, shortly after picking up a new Borg Drone crewmate (7 of 9), Voyager stops to help a ship of unknown origins. The ship is in need of repairs and 7 of 9 has been assigned to help them with repairing their warpdrive. However, 7 of 9 is instead caught up in the political uprising of the ship's working class - The Vesh, a 4-armed, reptilian race. The Vesh has been abused for too long by Septa and her soldiers (the Kz'ar) and they have had enough. We meet The Vesh, their leader Greeb & 7 of 9 in mid battle with the Kz'ar at the start of this issue. The spirit of the Dawn Bringer is rising!

This issue has a big reveal about the Dawn Bringer and the history of the Vesh. For that reason alone, if you've been following this story, you're going to want to pick this issue up. There is a real sense of culmination in this issue and this reveal will change everything about the Vash's story. Baker paced the story well - the tempo was nice. This story has a very Voyager feel to it and it's a decent read. But if I'm being honest, the dialog feels a little forced in places - like the sentences in at least 1 spot seem to be a non sequitur. However it's not too bad and it only pulled me out of the story once. Also, the issue lacked a sense of completion, as in they characters didn't start out with a problem and solve it, but as this is a mini-series I'm not counting it against them - especially since we do get some pretty important information in this issue that is very much an event.

Hernandez's artwork is pretty good - good likenesses and a great use of space and paneling. In fact there is one panel where we get a nice close up of 7 of 9's face and you could swear your looking right at Jeri Ryan Although I think a fair portion of the likenesses quality is due to Pattison's colors - which are fantastic, layers upon layers and beautiful dimensions. I also like Hernandez's choices in point of view for the panels - like great camera work in a movie. However when I took the time to soak in each panel I started to notice a somewhat scratchy style which, in places, felt over done. But I think my biggest complaint for Hernandez was that, whether it is stylistic or sloppy, he didn't take the time to clean up his lines and corners on Voyager. By that I mean corners are crisscrossed instead of sharp and there are seemingly superfluous scratchy-type lines in that made it seem too busy. Uyetake's lettering was on point - well placed and easy to read. With comics the artwork should be the story and the words should be the guide, and Uyetake accomplished that beautifully.

On the whole this is a decent issue. While it does have a good intro that helps you jump in running, you're definitely going to want to pick up issues 1 & 2 to get the whole story. I felt serious FOMO reading this with all of the references to the other 2 issues. So if you're going to read it that would be my recommendation. I would like to point out that, if you're familiar with the 7 of 9 character, you might pick up the subtext in this story alluding to 7 of 9's feelings about freeing the Borg in her attempt to aid the Vesh.

Score: 3.25/5