Star Trek: Klingons - Blood Will Tell

Star Trek: The Original Series (IDW) #1

by Scott Tipton, David Tipton, David Messina (illustrator)

There are two sides to every argument, and this special collection looks at some of the most famous encounters between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire - from the Klingon perspective!

Star Trek fans are used to the Klingons responding with "swift and blinding violence," and now the creative team that brought you Angel: Auld Lang Syne will show us why. Also includes a cover gallery by series artist David Messina and variant cover artist Joe Corroney.

Genres: Star Trek, Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Fiction, Comic Book

168 pages, Paperback

First published November 21, 2007

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impressive artwork and good stories, but a bit too much blood, and some of the female characters were too scantily clad.

[Robotmatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d been interested in this miniseries, Blood Will Tell, for a long time. So when a used copy came in at my comic store I snapped it up. You may have heard of it as the series that featured a variant issue printed entirely in Klingonese. That issue is included in the collection and it is a neat bonus. The actual story of Blood Will Tell concerns Kahnrah, a flathead Klingon and his granddaughter K’ahlynn. The moon of Praxis has been destroyed and Kahnrah is part of the ruling council deciding whether or not the Klingons should unite with the Federation. While making this decision, Kahnrah teaches his granddaughter of the encounters Klingons have had with Starfleet in the past. Each issue (except the last one) tells a classic Klingon episode of Star Trek from the Klingons’ point of view, and while this sounds exceedingly dull (especially if you’ve just finished re-watching every episode of Star Trek Classic), it’s actually quite facinating. The story of the Klingon who would become Arn Darvin in the episode Trouble with Tribbles is especially good. Blood Will Tell fills in a lot of gaps in Trek mythology, explaining what the flat-headed Klingons are and why we saw them in the original series. (flat-headed Klingons led the Empire’s expansion through space, resulting in more of them being out on the fringes of the galaxy where the Enterprise was usually exploring.)

The art, by David Messina, is simple but extremely nice. It stays away from the hyper detailed “sketched off a paused DVD” art that many tie-in comics use, while still capturing the spirit of the characters. When Kirk appears for the first time, he is neither named nor in uniform, but you know it’s him the second you see him.

Blood Will Tell is one of the finer Trek comics I’ve read. My only real problems with it come from its rather quick ending. Once it reaches the last issue, the book seems to rush through its framing story. Although it still has time for a pretty sweet chase scene.

Blood Will Tell is highly recommended. It’s a fun original series story that also stays loyal to the Trek universe that is to come. It’s well worth your time to check out.

Order it here! http://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Kling...

[Excel Lifestyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Star Trek 6 companion piece showing the Klingon perspective of Original Series episodes. Lovely exploration of the Klingon viewpoint on the federation and possible peace. If you love Klingons or are a fan of The Undiscovered Country this is a great comic.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most fun things from now is when writers attempt to deconstruct fiction from the past. A lot of this occurred around the time of the Kelvin Timeline Star Trek movies, and to a lesser extent the last season or so of Star Trek Enterprise. In "Klingons: Blood Will Tell" we get revisions of the classic Star Trek episodes told from the point of view of the adversaries.
As Klingons were basic "black hat" villians mixed with Ming the Merciless on the original series, these episodes did not go very deep into Klingon culture and technology. That came later. The framing story, set just after the Praxis Incident as seen in the beginning of Star Trek 6: the Undiscovered Country, fills in much of the gaps and sets the stage as a member of the Klingon High Council must decide on voting to ask the Federation for help. To help him decide, he reviews all of the past encounters his people have had with the humans. From "Errand of Mercy" through "A Trouble with Tribbles" and "A Private Little War" through "Day of the Dove," we see how the Klingons began to evolve, embracing subterfuge and guile over might to effectively combat the humans under the constraints of the Organian Peace Treaty. (Do I know my Star Trek lore or what?!!!)
This is a fun book. At times reminiscent of The Final Reflection, John M. Ford's classic novel of TOS-era Klingons, this book folds in the canonical explanation for the more human looking Klingons as seen in "Enterprise" along with the Klingon culture seen in many other versions of Star Trek. The art is a little cartoony, at times but still good and original. Recognizable characters are still easily identifiable even if not named. The story, especially the framing story, is a little on the light side. The version of the first issue in the original Klingon language was a nice addition.
When this book first came out, I really hoped that they would have continued this with a TOS-era Klingon series (dare I say an adaption of TFR?!?!) But this was not to be. If you liked this, I heartily recommend Ford's 2 Star Trek novels - "the Final Reflection" and "How Much For Just The Planet?" as well as the Klingon rulebook he wrote from FASA's Star Trek RPG from the 80's.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series had a lot of potential. The idea of telling a Star Trek story from the point of view of the Klingons is an intriguing one. One I have seen done well in Keith R.A. Decandio's novels. Why I think those books work and this one doesn't for me is that the fifth chapter aside, we aren't really getting a new story. Instead they for for a Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead approach to some classic Star Trek episodes. But having the Klingon in the framing story a family member or close friend somehow connected to each and every encounter seems very forced and contrived. On top of that, by tying the story into the events of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, it means we know how the story has to end from the moment we start reading. Thus, the ending isn't half as clever as Scott Tipton seems to think that it is.

[Michael Lauck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the Star Trek The Original Series encounters with Klingons from the Klingon point of view as an official deals with events leading up to the movie Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The art is great; it has its own look but still is quite true to the look and feel of the show. It was a good read, another solid Star Trek comic from IDW.

I think this would be a great place for Star Trek fans who aren't really sure about comics to tip a toe in... If you are familiar with the show, you will easily follow this story. It isn't tied into a bunch of backstory unique to the comic books, either. I got this from the library, but now I need to find a copy for my overflowing shelves!

[Lungkisser · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5. I thought these were all fantastic. Mostly stories about Kirk's interactions with the Klingons from the Klingon's POV, told with a framing story set before the Khitomer Accords.

Really, the only neg I have is that the cover arts are just awful. The comic art itself is fine, good even, but the covers would have made me not want to read it. Not sure what happened there.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute idea, retelling some classic Trek episodes from the Klingon POV, and the framing sequence is decent, but after a couple you kind of get what they're trying for and the grand resolution falls a bit flat.

Would much rather see stories focusing on a Klingon crew dealing with Trek style adventures and how they would react differently.

[Patrick McWilliams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fits nicely into gaps in canon. Great ending. I loved seeing the variations of ridges and uniforms all at once. Felt really seamless. Hope to see more of that in later seasons of Discovery.

[Jorge Schumacher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Roteiro bem fraco. Além disso, quem não assistiu a série clássica da TV dos anos 60, simplesmente não conseguirá entender a história direito.

[Juan Sanmiguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review here

http://oasfis.org/Event%20Horizon%20A...

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Telling some of the original Star Trek episodes from the Klingon perspective is a great idea. However, these droned on and on. They are filled with so much unnecessary exposition.

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enlightening. This graphic novel originally hooked me because it promised to explain the Klingon Forehead change. I was a little sad that it was just glossed over and not really given in detail. But this book still gets five stars. As always with graphic novels part of that is the art.

This book has amazing art.

Story, even though I didn't get an in depth story about the Klingon Make up change this book does re-tell four classic Trek episodes from the Klingon perspective. I give it five stars just for the brilliant retelling of "The Trouble with Tribbles." One of the best episodes.

The whole Novel ties together through a framing device. The Klingon high counsel is voting ask for help from the Federation. It comes down to the vote of one Klingon.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally read July 2009: Fun, if a little silly. Some insights on the Klingons, but mostly a lot of warrior posing and sneering villainous stuff. Definitely make sure you watch all the original series episodes with Klingons first (I feel confident the internet can tell you which episodes these are).

Re-read March 2011: I'd recently re-watched the TV episodes this was based on so gave it another read. It's a nice idea. It's also enjoyable and quick, I read it in the car on the way home from the beach. I think I liked it more the second time. But it's pure genre stuff, not really for unestablished Trek fans.

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not as familiar with the original series as I am with The Next Generation, so I was a little reluctant to start this storyline. But, reading about a chapter in the federation/Klingon war from a Klingon's point of view was fascinating! I was compelled by the story of the arrogant assumptions that lead to war. The Klingon culture of honor and victory has always intrigued me; I imagined them as futuristic Spartans. As I read this graphic novel I again saw the parallels to the Spartan culture. I was also engaged by the idea of a dual Klingon race half created by man! Who knew?

[Noah Soudrette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this is the second Star Trek miniseries in IDW's new Trek line of comics, and they're off to a good start. While I am not a huge fan of Klingons, I really enjoyed this graphic novel, as it gives the Klingon perspective on their encounters with humans over the history of the series. IT also does an excellent job of portraying a Klingon culture composed of both ridged and non-ridged peoples, as well as putting into perspective famous Trek institutes like the Treaty of Organia. Over all, this is a very solid and very fun book. Recommended to any Trek fan.

[Jean-Pierre Vidrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent idea! The Klingon stories from the original Star Trek series retold from the point of view of the Klingons themselves, shedding much-needed light on the race that would become honorable warriors as the franchise continued, but seemed like one dimensional villains for so long.
The narrative here ties them together in a sort of flashback form: a high-ranking Klingon official reviewing their history in order to decide their future. A nice little connection with the events of Star Trek VI, that was.

[Mikael Kuoppala · Rating 4 out of 5]

A panorama of the key points in Klingon history up to the events depicted in the beginning of "The Undiscovered Country." A lot of the stories are actually familiar ones, only told from the Klingon perspective, offering not that much new ideas. The point of view approach has been executed well though, and as a whole this book is a gem.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever been curious on the other side's point of view?
Focusing on the Klingon side in several situation, this book will have you going through it in one go, feeding you the Klingon culture and giving you an insight into one of the most critical points in time for that civilization as it hangs in balance of survival after the explosion of Praxis. A great read, no question about it.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fun read for a trek fan. The art was a bit hit or miss, and you really won't be able to follow it if you're not familiar with Star Trek, but for fans, it's worth reading.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

It helps to be familiar with the Star Trek episode "A Private Little War."

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a slapped together graphic novel, but it still has it's good points.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good enough, but definitely not for those lacking a deep knowledge of TOS.
See my whole review here: http://noflyingnotights.com/?p=10965

[Philip Athans · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great idea, well executed, Blood Will Tell recounts classic Trek stories from the Klingons' point if view, adding some cool new details along the way. Trekkies everywhere will dig it.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea behind this and would probably have really enjoyed it if I had seen the relevant TOS episodes or Star Trek VI.

Recommended to fans.

[May]

it's always fun to see things from a different perspective!