Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes #1-2
by William Hood
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Written by: Chris Roberson
Pencils by: Jeff Moy
Inks by: Philip Moy
Colors by: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover by: Various, multiple covers
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Carrying the assumption that these characters could ever exist on the same playing field goes hand in hand with the comic readers " suspension of disbelief" as it should, these properties shouldn't work together, but they are the peanut butter and chocolate of the DC/IDW stables, not sure why its good, but it is.
This is pure entertainment, not to be read too terribly much into (I know how strange that sounds, as I AM reviewing the thing) but, in the tradition of Star Trek, IDW has thrown Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the crew of the USS Enterprise (old school Shatner/Nimoy crew, not Pine/Quinto) into an interesting time/space shift dilema.
The first issue is mainly set up for the story, moving all the main players into place, with the Legion represented by Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, Chameleon Boy, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad and Shadow Lass, with both Kirk and company and Brainiac and company finding themselves on an Earth that isn't even close to right, as we as readers know that someone has tampered with the past, bringing rise to a dark 23rd Century and the Imperial Planets. This isn't Trek Earth, or Legion Earth. The creative team has taken both groups away from their respective comfort zones and set them up someplace familiar, yet different. Right century, way wrong Earth.
With Kirks contingent unable to hail the Enterprise for help and on the run from Imperial Planets security officers, and Brainiacs team also on the run for harboring a Durlan (Chameleon Boy), one of the enemies of this new empire, its only a matter of time before the two teams cross paths.
In the second issue, the story is primarily the characters figuring out just exactly what is wrong with their current situations. While the first issue was mostly setting up the characters and situation, this issue goes deeper into the story about just why things are the way they are.
I have been a Star Trek fan for as long as I can remember, and dabbled in Legion fandom know names and basic powers but I am far from a Legion follower. Writer Chris Roberson doesn't make any of the characters feel strange in any way. Both Trek and the Legion characters take on voices that fit with a familiar tone, and feel right if the reader isn't familiar with the characters. The story is paced well,has lots of action, a number of reveals, and manages to sprinkle in a healthy dose of excitement, a rare thing in these type of "gimmick" crossover books. This isn't a "have them meet, fight, join forces and make friends never to be seen again" cookie cutter book, at least not yet. It could come to that, but both teams are more explorers than warriors so that mode wouldn't quite work, and I hope Roberson handles them in such a way.
The Moy brothers are proving once again that they are quite adept at illustrating a wide variety of challeges with precision and style. The time bubble, the Enterprise, the bridge of the Enterprise, the 23rd century cities, both clean and devestated...really, they all look really good. Art teams can easily fall into over referenced, photo manipulated or traced work when dealing with an established, licensed, likenesses like Kirk and friends but the Moy brothers dodge that bullet, with everyone looking like they should, but not overly referenced. There is A LOT of tech and scenery and characters here and they all look exceptional, the art is only complimented by the colors. The colors are muted where they should be, bright where appropriate, one shot of a split screen Earth with muted colors on 
one side and brighter on the other was really beautiful.
All in all, fans of either property (or JUST Scifi fans) will definitely enjoy this story, with a good mix of both properties and sci-fi standards like time tripping, evil empires, conspirators and space action. The only real disappointing thing is that you can tell the action REALLY begins next issue, and I haven't anticipated a "next issue" this impatiently in quite some time.
Good stuff involving two properties that shouldn't work together.
Don't overlook this book.
Bill Hood is Creative Director for Dream In Color Entertainment. He can be reached at wjh1170@gmail.com
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