Star Trek: The Next Generation: Hive #3
Story by Brannon Braga
Script by Terry Matalas & Travis Fickett
Art by Joe Corroney
Ink Assist by Matt Fillback & Shawn Fillback
Colors by Hi-Fi
Lettering by Shawn Lee
Edited by Scott Dunbier
Covers by Joe Corroney, David Messina & Ilaria Traversi
IDW Publishing
Release Date: December 19, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Hive #3 is the penultimate chapter in this 4-issue mini series that spans the Star Trek: The Next Generation era and beyond. The Federations in trouble, the Borg are everywhere and it ends with a pretty big shocker.

Once I started reading this, I realized just how much writer Brannon Braga loved time travel. Too much. Too much to the point where it hurts the story. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad, it’s just not good. While reading this issue I felt no sense of urgency, danger, or, well…anything. It felt like I was reading an old episode of TNG. The comic DOES have some good, true to character dialogue, but it’s just not firing on all cylinders. And as I stated, it does end with a pretty big shock ending, so I have high hopes for the next issue.

Joe Corroney does a good job on the art duties in this issue. Again, it’s good, but not great. I would rather have someone like Gordon Purcell drawing this, but Corroney does a fine job. He’s GREAT at drawing ships and technology, and there’s a lot of those things in this issue. He’s also a rare artist who can draw a space battle that you can actually follow.

Hey, every book can’t be a winner. I’d give this an A for effort, but I’m afraid I have to be honest and give it a C-. As for this series, unless it takes a drastic turn next issue, I’d wait for the trade. If you’re a die hard Trekker, of course you’ll want this, if you’re not, you might want to try something else that looks interesting to you.