What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Trek Graphic Novels
Star Trek: Alien Spotlight, Vol. 1
In the vast Star Trek universe, many diverse alien races abound, and now they finally get their due Presenting a collection of six tales set throughout the Star Trek galaxy, each by a different creative team and featuring a different Star Trek alien race.
Collected in the first volume are stories of the Gorn, Vulcans, Andorians, Orions, the Borg, and Romulans, and features guest-stars such as Captains Kirk and Pike, Spock, and many other familiar faces.
Collected in the first volume are stories of the Gorn, Vulcans, Andorians, Orions, the Borg, and Romulans, and features guest-stars such as Captains Kirk and Pike, Spock, and many other familiar faces.
152 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2008
2 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
John Byrne
2,955 books359 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
John Lindley Byrne is a British-born Canadian-American author and artist of comic books. Since the mid-1970s, Byrne has worked on nearly every major American superhero.
Byrne's better-known work has been on Marvel Comics' X-Men and Fantastic Four and the 1986 relaunch of DC Comics’ Superman franchise. Coming into the comics profession exclusively as a penciler, Byrne began co-plotting the X-Men comics during his tenure on them, and launched his writing career in earnest with Fantastic Four (where he also started inking his own pencils). During the 1990s he produced a number of creator-owned works, including Next Men and Danger Unlimited. He also wrote the first issues of Mike Mignola's Hellboy series and produced a number of Star Trek comics for IDW Publishing.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
John Lindley Byrne is a British-born Canadian-American author and artist of comic books. Since the mid-1970s, Byrne has worked on nearly every major American superhero.
Byrne's better-known work has been on Marvel Comics' X-Men and Fantastic Four and the 1986 relaunch of DC Comics’ Superman franchise. Coming into the comics profession exclusively as a penciler, Byrne began co-plotting the X-Men comics during his tenure on them, and launched his writing career in earnest with Fantastic Four (where he also started inking his own pencils). During the 1990s he produced a number of creator-owned works, including Next Men and Danger Unlimited. He also wrote the first issues of Mike Mignola's Hellboy series and produced a number of Star Trek comics for IDW Publishing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 9, 2012
This one is for those who enjoy old-school Trek.
I'm not going to get into old vs. new Trek debate, because i love both.
But the fact remains that there is certain something you can experience only from visiting Captain Kirk on the old Enterprise during his first mission. There where it all began.
When the space was the great unknown. Remember Spock, how he was when he served under Captain Pike? You can get a glimpse at how his first crew accepted him. And the beauty of it is that everything looks and feels authentic, just like then. I love that. Enterprise is just like it was then, and Klingon's, Romulan's and all the other races look like they did then.
Through various characters, both new and old, 6 different alien races tell their story. So you can take a trip through the memory lane and meet some known faces & places. And some new ones, also. The races include those from our Federation and also other Cultures. They all show us who they are and what shaped them to be like that.
March 20, 2019
I was honestly a little disappointed in most of the stories. The description made it sounds like there would be an inside look into these other alien cultures, but most of the chapters involved The Federation's interactions with them.
The standout to me was the Andorian chapter. I thought that was a neat look at Andorian culture.
The Romulan story was also pretty good.
The standout to me was the Andorian chapter. I thought that was a neat look at Andorian culture.
The Romulan story was also pretty good.
November 20, 2022
Fun idea that only occasionally works.
Stories that each focus on a different alien race.
Except only about half the stories do that.
Most are Star Trek stories where they encounter that race.
Doesn't fully live up to its potential, but a fun time waster and a nice mix of artists and writers.
and I think it was this project that lead to John Byrne doing a ton of Trek stuff, so that's a point in its favor.
Stories that each focus on a different alien race.
Except only about half the stories do that.
Most are Star Trek stories where they encounter that race.
Doesn't fully live up to its potential, but a fun time waster and a nice mix of artists and writers.
and I think it was this project that lead to John Byrne doing a ton of Trek stuff, so that's a point in its favor.
March 29, 2021
I don't get the appeal of the Borg, but to each horrifying cybernetic conquest their own.
I liked this spotlight alright, but I could have done with a little more from some sections. I thought the Romulan, Andorian, and Vulcan dramas were interesting. As someone who is not a huge fan of TNG, I didn't care for the borg stuff.
I was a little let down that they stuck with the sexualizing and objectifying the Orions in this book. Sure, they're sexy, green space seductresses. . . This spotlight is supposed to be exploring more depth into these alien races, though. And for the Orions, they didn't. It was a story about Pike and a sexy sidekick.
I liked this spotlight alright, but I could have done with a little more from some sections. I thought the Romulan, Andorian, and Vulcan dramas were interesting. As someone who is not a huge fan of TNG, I didn't care for the borg stuff.
I was a little let down that they stuck with the sexualizing and objectifying the Orions in this book. Sure, they're sexy, green space seductresses. . . This spotlight is supposed to be exploring more depth into these alien races, though. And for the Orions, they didn't. It was a story about Pike and a sexy sidekick.
April 1, 2011
Welcome Return to Old School ‘Trek’ Makes ALIEN SPOTLIGHT Worth A Look
Let me get this straight right out of the gate: I have absolutely no problem with the new version of STAR TREK (2009) making its way around the world compliments of JJ Abrams and his crew. As a long-time Star Trek fan, I welcome (almost) any addition to the universe created by Gene Roddenberry, and I find it refreshing that the last movie inspired so many fans to once again embrace their ‘inner geek’ so openly at the box office even though the franchise long ago ran the risk of beating a dead horse. Or a dead Klingon Targ. Or a dead Gorn. Take your pick. However, there’s still something remarkably endearing to the various incarnations of Star Trek that came before, and I’m hoping that the kind folks at IDW Comics continue to bring us the welcome visits to “where no one has gone before” that they’ve been providing since they picked up the rights to produce comic books within the established continuity of Paramount Pictures’ juggernaut franchise.
STAR TREK: ALIEN SPOTLIGHT (Volume 1) is a stunning visual treat for the eyes and the best form of imaginative candy for the brain. Published in 2008, this graphic novel compilation collects six tales from the Star Trek universe with each chapter specifically focusing on a specific alien culture mostly unique to Trek’s true origins, “TOS” (aka “The Original Series,” for those in-the-know). Specifically, these writers and artists concern themselves with tales regarding the Gorn, the Vulcans, the Andorians, the Orions, the Borg, and the Romulans. (The Borg were first seen during STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION’s television run; otherwise, the remaining five species were first explored in the original TV show.) Besides some absolutely stellar artwork and characterization, what works best in these stories is the fact that each one tries (and, for the most part, succeeds) in exploring what distinguished these species culturally from humans … what makes them different, what makes them ‘tick’, what makes them worthy of having a narrative with a decidedly alien focus.
No credible review would be complete without a quick plot summary, and I’m sure serious Trek aficionados will appreciate a rundown. “The Gorn” is set in the timeframe before STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, when Captain Terrell, Commander Chekov, and the crew of the Reliant crashlanding a shuttlecraft on a Gorn-occupied planet. “The Vulcans” is set in the timeframe of the starship Enterprise’s Captain Christopher Pike facing his crews discomfort over having the first Vulcan officer in Starfleet – Mr. Spock – serving aboard his ship. “The Andorians” revisits the days of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION and focuses almost entirely on Commander Sharad – an Andorian serving within Starfleet who returns to his homeworld only to find himself an outcast for embracing the ideals of the Federation. “The Orions” takes us to a time when Christopher Pike has been promoted to Fleet Captain, and is serving out his days mostly in an ambassadorial capacity; his visit to the infamous world, Babel, treats him up to an uneasy alliance with a beautiful but deadly Orion assassin. “The Borg” takes place (somewhat) during Captain Jean Luc Picard’s cinematic adventures, with the Borg further attempting to assimilate mankind; this time out, their weapon is a temporal weapon that allows the Collective the ability to manipulate time. Lastly, “The Romulans” re-visits characters and situations previously postulated from the original series excellent episode, “Balance of Terror”; this chapter serves as a prequel to events unfolding in that episode, and it is a must for fans of Old School Star Trek.
The artwork is terrific. Colors are intense, and they lift these stories off the page. The writing is particular strong; the only story that lags a bit focuses on “The Borg,” and that’s mostly because there was a wealth of material plugged into what was a single-issue tale, one that could’ve easily been expanded upon into several issues or, perhaps, even a stand-alone novel. The strongest tales here are, arguably, those centered around the Romulans and the Andorians, and that’s largely because those two one-shots visit the worlds in question. I would imagine that it’s a rare occasion for a writer to visit these alien worlds – neither Andoria or Romulus has been given great exposure in any incarnation of Star Trek – so I can only guess that these writers were thrilled to do so in this graphic format. Not often do you get to play in a universe as vast as Star Trek, and clearly these storytellers took great advantage to spin yarns worth all of the ink. Established characters get great screen time here, and lesser or new characters make splendid additions. Quite frankly, the simple lines of costumes and sets have never looked better than they do in his magnificent IDW production.
What I found most endearing about this first volume – besides the fact that the title automatically implies that a second volume is on the way – is the fact that, much like Roddenberry himself expressed so eloquently with his TV show, differences between races are not so very distinct when measured against circumstances. Every race in the galaxy has honor. Every race experiences love and hate in its own way. Every race has triumphs and losses, and, when we’re searching for the core message at the heart of these morality plays, it follows a very simple precept:
“We’re all human.”
Let me get this straight right out of the gate: I have absolutely no problem with the new version of STAR TREK (2009) making its way around the world compliments of JJ Abrams and his crew. As a long-time Star Trek fan, I welcome (almost) any addition to the universe created by Gene Roddenberry, and I find it refreshing that the last movie inspired so many fans to once again embrace their ‘inner geek’ so openly at the box office even though the franchise long ago ran the risk of beating a dead horse. Or a dead Klingon Targ. Or a dead Gorn. Take your pick. However, there’s still something remarkably endearing to the various incarnations of Star Trek that came before, and I’m hoping that the kind folks at IDW Comics continue to bring us the welcome visits to “where no one has gone before” that they’ve been providing since they picked up the rights to produce comic books within the established continuity of Paramount Pictures’ juggernaut franchise.
STAR TREK: ALIEN SPOTLIGHT (Volume 1) is a stunning visual treat for the eyes and the best form of imaginative candy for the brain. Published in 2008, this graphic novel compilation collects six tales from the Star Trek universe with each chapter specifically focusing on a specific alien culture mostly unique to Trek’s true origins, “TOS” (aka “The Original Series,” for those in-the-know). Specifically, these writers and artists concern themselves with tales regarding the Gorn, the Vulcans, the Andorians, the Orions, the Borg, and the Romulans. (The Borg were first seen during STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION’s television run; otherwise, the remaining five species were first explored in the original TV show.) Besides some absolutely stellar artwork and characterization, what works best in these stories is the fact that each one tries (and, for the most part, succeeds) in exploring what distinguished these species culturally from humans … what makes them different, what makes them ‘tick’, what makes them worthy of having a narrative with a decidedly alien focus.
No credible review would be complete without a quick plot summary, and I’m sure serious Trek aficionados will appreciate a rundown. “The Gorn” is set in the timeframe before STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, when Captain Terrell, Commander Chekov, and the crew of the Reliant crashlanding a shuttlecraft on a Gorn-occupied planet. “The Vulcans” is set in the timeframe of the starship Enterprise’s Captain Christopher Pike facing his crews discomfort over having the first Vulcan officer in Starfleet – Mr. Spock – serving aboard his ship. “The Andorians” revisits the days of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION and focuses almost entirely on Commander Sharad – an Andorian serving within Starfleet who returns to his homeworld only to find himself an outcast for embracing the ideals of the Federation. “The Orions” takes us to a time when Christopher Pike has been promoted to Fleet Captain, and is serving out his days mostly in an ambassadorial capacity; his visit to the infamous world, Babel, treats him up to an uneasy alliance with a beautiful but deadly Orion assassin. “The Borg” takes place (somewhat) during Captain Jean Luc Picard’s cinematic adventures, with the Borg further attempting to assimilate mankind; this time out, their weapon is a temporal weapon that allows the Collective the ability to manipulate time. Lastly, “The Romulans” re-visits characters and situations previously postulated from the original series excellent episode, “Balance of Terror”; this chapter serves as a prequel to events unfolding in that episode, and it is a must for fans of Old School Star Trek.
The artwork is terrific. Colors are intense, and they lift these stories off the page. The writing is particular strong; the only story that lags a bit focuses on “The Borg,” and that’s mostly because there was a wealth of material plugged into what was a single-issue tale, one that could’ve easily been expanded upon into several issues or, perhaps, even a stand-alone novel. The strongest tales here are, arguably, those centered around the Romulans and the Andorians, and that’s largely because those two one-shots visit the worlds in question. I would imagine that it’s a rare occasion for a writer to visit these alien worlds – neither Andoria or Romulus has been given great exposure in any incarnation of Star Trek – so I can only guess that these writers were thrilled to do so in this graphic format. Not often do you get to play in a universe as vast as Star Trek, and clearly these storytellers took great advantage to spin yarns worth all of the ink. Established characters get great screen time here, and lesser or new characters make splendid additions. Quite frankly, the simple lines of costumes and sets have never looked better than they do in his magnificent IDW production.
What I found most endearing about this first volume – besides the fact that the title automatically implies that a second volume is on the way – is the fact that, much like Roddenberry himself expressed so eloquently with his TV show, differences between races are not so very distinct when measured against circumstances. Every race in the galaxy has honor. Every race experiences love and hate in its own way. Every race has triumphs and losses, and, when we’re searching for the core message at the heart of these morality plays, it follows a very simple precept:
“We’re all human.”
July 29, 2020
The artworks make known characters utterly unrecognizable, the basic tone of those comics is one of xenophobia within the Federation, the Borg comic makes no sense at all (honestly, people, ever heard of temporal logic?) and the Romulan comic includes a style that was often used to caricature Asians. Though it’s not clear if the Praetor is supposed to be the Romulan version of asian, the style he’s drawn in has a racist background and therefore should have no place within Trek comics.
August 27, 2018
I remember when these spotlights came out but never got to read all of them until now. Quite interesting. I love how they took the stories from various points of the Star Trek chronology. The Romulans in particular was one of my favorites as Balance of Terror has always been one of my favorite episodes. Highly recommend for any Star Trek fan!
January 22, 2025
Although the Gorn and Vulcan stories have been retconned by Strange New Worlds, both are interesting and bring a classic Trek feel in their own ways. The Orion story is a little fan-service-heavy, but that's somewhat expected when the Orions are involved. The art in the Borg story is easily the best in the collection, although the plot is a little convoluted.
January 24, 2022
3-3.5. Pretty good. Art is inconsistent, with some I loved and some less so. Same with the stories, some I liked and some less so. Some cool art in here though, some cool concepts, some fun callbacks. Overall a slightly boring "pretty good".
May 10, 2019
Borg; brilliant
Everyone else; meh
Everyone else; meh
July 24, 2019
A mixed bag with wildly uneven art and story telling. I particularly enjoyed the Pike/Orion story and the Next Feb Borg tale.
August 28, 2020
My only complaint is that it's too short. Great art and stories. Recommended for Trekkies.
September 25, 2023
I absolutely love the stylistic variety among each of the stories. Also, not all end as you might think. This was an excellent collection among what can often be mediocre miniseries.
January 25, 2010
The hazard for me with any short story collections is the hit and miss nature of the stories. The Andorian story gave some nice insight into the race and its culture, but for me the surprise was John Byrne's well crafted Romulan tale which seemed to take its flavor from Diane Duane's books and the TOS series and not the later incarnation set forth by TNG. The Orion and Gorn tales added nothing to what we already know about those races.
November 25, 2012
This is a perfect example of a wonderful Star Trek anthology. Each of these shorts center around one prominent Trek species, but that is the only thing they have in common. The approaches are varied, original and interesting, some offering epic tales of cultural development and others centering around one incident or character to represent the species and their culture. Every single story is good, and a couple of them are completely ingenious. More of these, please!
May 15, 2014
Una gradevole raccolta di storielle sulle razze aliene di Star Trek, decisamente interessante, con la chicca della storia di John Byrne sui romulani che si può considerare un prequel di uno dei miei episodi preferiti: "Balance of Terror" tradotto come "La Navicella Invisibile".
October 15, 2024
I like the concept of stories featuring the various alien species in the Star Trek universe. Overall the stories were entertaining. Some showed a different side of one not previously seen. Others accentuated what was already known.
April 27, 2012
This was an absolute joy to read, and I recommend it to anyone who loves not only science fiction but Star Trek as well.
August 16, 2017
fiction, science fiction, star trek, comics, graphic novels, idw
April 5, 2018
If you've ever enjoyed any Next Gen, then you'll probably like this. I have only recented gotten into the Star Trek universe so it seems pretty cool to me. With a few exceptions, these stories are more about other Alien races rather than any particular famous crew members.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews