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Star Trek: New Frontier #16.5
Star Trek: New Frontier - Turnaround
The most dangerous experimental vessel in the galaxy—a prototype time ship—has vanished and it appears that the man who stole it is none other than Starfleet Admiral Edward Jellico. Only Mackenzie Calhoun and the crew of Excalibur have a hope in finding him before the ship, intended purely for scientific exploration, is used to disrupt the space-time continuum!
136 pages, Paperback
First published October 14, 2008
About the author
Peter David
3,691 books1,377 followersaka David Peters
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 6, 2018
The New Frontier comic is truly a part of Peter David's excellent New Frontier series. He doesn't stint in giving us a look at the many different members of the Excalibur crew, who have now spread across the galaxy on three different ships and one starbase. This is a nice look at how they're all doing.
However, the New Frontier comic is also a fun story, about a time ship and what happens when Admiral Jellico rather surprisingly steals it. There are lots of twists and turns and an ending that both feels very final and that promises we might see more.
However, the New Frontier comic is also a fun story, about a time ship and what happens when Admiral Jellico rather surprisingly steals it. There are lots of twists and turns and an ending that both feels very final and that promises we might see more.
June 12, 2019
The humor in the story is bound to get anyone laughing. Well, anyone that understands sarcasm. It is unfortunate that I'm not more familiar with the characters.
The Daystrom Research Institute has invented the Shunt Drive, a device that bends time to allow for instantaneous travel. Its first application is in the ship named Paradox, but the test fails - the ship travels through time alone, but remains stationary. Jellico is one of the four to witness this. He soon turns on the others and assumes control of the ship for reasons as yet unknown.
The Daystrom Research Institute has invented the Shunt Drive, a device that bends time to allow for instantaneous travel. Its first application is in the ship named Paradox, but the test fails - the ship travels through time alone, but remains stationary. Jellico is one of the four to witness this. He soon turns on the others and assumes control of the ship for reasons as yet unknown.
February 9, 2020
I'm way behind in my reading of this series, but at least I'm now caught up on the New Frontier comics. The other plus is that the comics are written by the same writer of the novels, Peter David.
So who is this novella for? I would argue for New Frontier compeletists and David fans who enjoy his snarky style of dialogue (which is very similar to Joss Whedon's). There are some underlying plot threads here that I assume are resolved in the novels. Morgan Primus' final fate Robin Lefler's, umm.., situation.
I am aware that David went back to the animate series and introduced M'ress and Arex into what some would call the Memory Beta canon (9https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/M...). As someone who watched the animated series, terrible animation and all, growing up this is a much appreciated acknowledgement of something that some Trek fans seem to act like never existed.
The negative? Without handing out spoilers it is how the menace to the Excalibur and everyone else comes into the picture, because nah I'm a bit tired of this tripe being pulled out of the hat.
So who is this novella for? I would argue for New Frontier compeletists and David fans who enjoy his snarky style of dialogue (which is very similar to Joss Whedon's). There are some underlying plot threads here that I assume are resolved in the novels. Morgan Primus' final fate Robin Lefler's, umm.., situation.
I am aware that David went back to the animate series and introduced M'ress and Arex into what some would call the Memory Beta canon (9https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/M...). As someone who watched the animated series, terrible animation and all, growing up this is a much appreciated acknowledgement of something that some Trek fans seem to act like never existed.
The negative? Without handing out spoilers it is how the menace to the Excalibur and everyone else comes into the picture, because nah I'm a bit tired of this tripe being pulled out of the hat.
May 25, 2018
Highly enjoyable read with New Frontier's first comicbook outing, art by Stephen Thompson, with scratchy portraits differing from the perfect images of my head, Thompson! The man also draws a mean star-ship or six and the technical aspects, the architecture, are solid, accomplished. Peter David is on top form as well here. The story is full of plot twists and comedy elements, major New Frontier revelations which another writer might save for the books. Ideal for new readers too. It avoids the over-heavy sequential aspects that burdened later New Frontier books: yet achieves the balance over five parts as its serials were David really gets cooking. Highly recommended, only 99p on Kindle too.
March 30, 2018
I guess this was New Frontier's version of a Mirror Universe cross-over. I've read some New Frontiers books in the past but I am not as familiar with the characters that were on the TV shows. Despite this, the story wasn't that bad if you can deal with the feeling that you are coming to a story part-way through a series.
March 11, 2026
I would rate it higher but I hate the Mirror Universe - it's just such a handwave as to say why there is someone not behaving as normal and the point of the original episode is lost. However I liked seeing these characters in comic book form and reading this so soon after Missing in Action was to its benefit as all the minor characters were very familiar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2017
New experimental time ship is stolen by a rogue Admiral.
Recover or destroy the ship before irreparable damage is done to the fabric of the space-time continuum, yaddah yaddah yay.
Other clichés happen somewhere in the middle.
Recover or destroy the ship before irreparable damage is done to the fabric of the space-time continuum, yaddah yaddah yay.
Other clichés happen somewhere in the middle.
May 13, 2011
This 2008 5-issue comic series takes place between the novels "Missing in Action" and "Treason." The events in it are referenced in later books (indeed, at least one reveal here is a major one).
The story is relatively straightforward -- it could fit into a normal New Frontier novel without any trouble (indeed, consider it a NF "A" plot -- a real NF novel would include a couple of other threads, including a fleshing out of the Lefler scenes, and more on the background of the antagonists).
The main problems with the book are twofold:
1. The artwork is awful. Stephen Thompson makes a valiant effort to draw the "actors" (as well as non-actor) characters, but too much of it is muddy and difficult to follow who's who -- which is particularly a problem given the tale's plotline. Further, he fails to convince when trying to portray non-humans who people have spent a dozen novels picturing in their heads; his Kebron is okay, but my image of Burgoyne is quite different.
2. David's writing is fine, and there's some good by-play between the players (the strength of his writing), but inner dialog is, of course, missing (thought balloons being so 70s), and thus much of the characterization. There's never any question that it's Peter David writing this -- everyone is presented spot-on, and the humor quotient is high without ever interfering with the drama -- but it's still hurt by the clumsy art.
Is this skippable? Well, nothing here is required for the most recent books in the series (any of the key events are referenced back in the books). It's still a ripping/gripping yarn, worth reading, even with the art.
The story is relatively straightforward -- it could fit into a normal New Frontier novel without any trouble (indeed, consider it a NF "A" plot -- a real NF novel would include a couple of other threads, including a fleshing out of the Lefler scenes, and more on the background of the antagonists).
The main problems with the book are twofold:
1. The artwork is awful. Stephen Thompson makes a valiant effort to draw the "actors" (as well as non-actor) characters, but too much of it is muddy and difficult to follow who's who -- which is particularly a problem given the tale's plotline. Further, he fails to convince when trying to portray non-humans who people have spent a dozen novels picturing in their heads; his Kebron is okay, but my image of Burgoyne is quite different.
2. David's writing is fine, and there's some good by-play between the players (the strength of his writing), but inner dialog is, of course, missing (thought balloons being so 70s), and thus much of the characterization. There's never any question that it's Peter David writing this -- everyone is presented spot-on, and the humor quotient is high without ever interfering with the drama -- but it's still hurt by the clumsy art.
Is this skippable? Well, nothing here is required for the most recent books in the series (any of the key events are referenced back in the books). It's still a ripping/gripping yarn, worth reading, even with the art.
December 4, 2013
The graphic novel Star Trek: The New Frontier: Turnaround by Peter David, illustrated by Stephen Thompson, is the 26th chapter of the New Frontier series (aka what I like to call Star Trek: The Prime Time Soap) and the concluding part of what can be best described as the Mirror Universe Trilogy (not an official title). The first two parts can be found in the Mirror Universe anthologies Obsidian Alliances and Shards and Shadows.
The artwork is simply spectacular but the story is uneven. The backstory is rushed through and too many loose ends were left dangling at the end to be a truly satisfying story. Among the things I am happy with here is that we finally get to see the first meeting of Cmdr. Soleta of the starship Spectre--late of Starfleet, late of the Romulan Star Empire now independent agent--and Capt. Mackenzie Calhoun since Soleta was tossed out of Starfleet for covering up the fact her biological father was a Romulan. Complicating the reunion is the presence of Adm. Ed Jellico, one of the people who spearheaded Soleta's dismissal. We also finally have the meeting of both the mainstream and Mirror Universe crews--but not everyone survives the experience. As a special bonus we get to see vacation photos of the family Lt Zak Kebron.
Next up is the novel Treason
The artwork is simply spectacular but the story is uneven. The backstory is rushed through and too many loose ends were left dangling at the end to be a truly satisfying story. Among the things I am happy with here is that we finally get to see the first meeting of Cmdr. Soleta of the starship Spectre--late of Starfleet, late of the Romulan Star Empire now independent agent--and Capt. Mackenzie Calhoun since Soleta was tossed out of Starfleet for covering up the fact her biological father was a Romulan. Complicating the reunion is the presence of Adm. Ed Jellico, one of the people who spearheaded Soleta's dismissal. We also finally have the meeting of both the mainstream and Mirror Universe crews--but not everyone survives the experience. As a special bonus we get to see vacation photos of the family Lt Zak Kebron.
Next up is the novel Treason
October 11, 2014
This isn't just a throwaway story: it links into the ongoing storyline from the novels, so you'll be a bit confused if you miss this out. At the same time, you need to read to properly understand this book. The tricky thing is that if I tell you which book it is, that will give away part of the plot! So, the best option is to read all the previous New Frontier stories, since they're worthwhile on their own merits anyway.
The artwork is ok, although a few of the characters look a bit odd. In particular, I thought that Kalinda was bald. Also, it looks as if Mueller's scar swaps sides, but Shelby also appeared to have a similar scar, so I think it's just the way that the artist emphasises cheekbones; that then means that you can't clearly recognise Mueller's distinctive feature, which is a pity.
When I reached the end of the story, it felt as if everything had been wrapped up. I only remembered one of the dangling plot threads when I looked at the cover gallery:
The artwork is ok, although a few of the characters look a bit odd. In particular, I thought that Kalinda was bald. Also, it looks as if Mueller's scar swaps sides, but Shelby also appeared to have a similar scar, so I think it's just the way that the artist emphasises cheekbones; that then means that you can't clearly recognise Mueller's distinctive feature, which is a pity.
When I reached the end of the story, it felt as if everything had been wrapped up. I only remembered one of the dangling plot threads when I looked at the cover gallery:
April 13, 2012
Okay, so I don't particularly care for the art in this at all. To understand this fully you have to read the New Frontier story out of the mirror universe book.
It's the same old same old in the New Frontier universe. Mac and Shelby try to have a marriage being on different stations. Soleta continues to control her Romulan ship. Robin tries to pick up where Si Cwan left off...and gets a surprise. Then Jellico steals a ship, a ship that travels through time and things start getting interesting.
"Who here misses the days with Kebron hardly ever spoke?"
It's the same old same old in the New Frontier universe. Mac and Shelby try to have a marriage being on different stations. Soleta continues to control her Romulan ship. Robin tries to pick up where Si Cwan left off...and gets a surprise. Then Jellico steals a ship, a ship that travels through time and things start getting interesting.
"Who here misses the days with Kebron hardly ever spoke?"
May 7, 2013
I'd forgotten how much fun the New Frontier gang is. Peter David is the best, as always!
April 26, 2012
I've never been a huge fan of the "New Frontier" book series, but this was really, really good.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews