IDW follows up an adaptation of the Star Trek pilot with an adaptation of the seventeenth episode, "The Galileo Seven"; in the continuity of the 2009 J. J. Abrams film reboot. The goal must be to focus on the relationship between newly commissioned Captain Kirk and the officer here replaced in line for command, First Officer Spock. Kirk's rise to the captain's chair is highly unusual, and one of the focal points of the big screen adventure. The updated adaptation of "Where No Man Has Gone Before" in the first two issues addressed Kirk's friendships. From the film it looked as if McCoy was his only real, close friend; but Kirk was friends with both Gary Mitchell and Lee Kelso. Now, both are gone and he develops what could be a long-standing, close friendship with Spock.
The original story of The Galileo Seven addressed Spock's ability to lead and command based on logic. There is a conversation between McCoy and Spock, where the ship's doctor comments that here is an opportunity that Spock must have been eager for: to take command. That conversation takes on a greater significance in a revised continuity where Kirk leap-frogged his way over Spock. Mike Johsnon's updated script preserves the conversation nearly intact. In the light and new perspective of the reboot, Spock's respect for the position and logical assessment of Kirk's abilities that led him to that rank is incredible.
Like "Where No Man Has Gone Before", this updated story has a few minor tweaks. Checkov wasn't introduced to the series until the third season. His introduction was to adress the whole Monkees-Beatles phenomenon. Which explains Walter Koenig's hairstyle. With the classic crew assembled from the start, Checkov is at his navigator's station next to Sulu at the helm. In the original, The Galileo seven consisted or Latimer, Boma, Gaetano and Yeoman Mears joining Spock, McCoy and Scotty on the expedition. Boma wore a blue medical-science shirt, and Gaetano wore a yellow command-helm shirt the same as Latimer. The only redshirts aboard were Scotty and Mears. Here, Boma and Gaetano are newly appointed redshirts along with Yeoman Rand making her first appearance, replacing Mears.
Save for some minor coloring gaffe's by John Rauch, where redshirts and blue shirts get a little confused, the update follows the original script pretty closely. What continues to be impressive are the new sets. In the original episode, the bridge appears small and confined, with Commissioner Ferris always standing in a position where he is looking over Kirk's shoulder. That is still true on the more spacious bridge, but now it appears Ferris is supervising a much larger operation. While Kirk spars with Ferris on the bridge of the Enterprise, Spock fends off Boma, Gaetano and McCoy while trying to assist Scotty in repairs to the Galileo to lift off the planet's surface and return to the ship. The new and improved set for the shuttle Galileo is much more spacious than the original, with no hidden, off-camera back room.
This is a great story to update and adapt as a comic book. It has all the elements of a classic Star Trek story; and with the focus on logic versus emotion as qualities for leadership and command, it has that heightened drama and conflict between characters. Most of the original episodes featured characters TALKING VERY LOUDLY, or even BARKING at each other rather than using calm, rational inside voices. It is still interesting to read this story and hear a switch from William Shatner's and Leonard Nimoy's voices to Chris Pine's and Zachary Quinto's voices.
