Is this a worthwhile extension to the re-imagined franchise or simply a waste of time?  Read on to find out.

The official description from IDW:

The origin of STAR TREK’s greatest villain continues here, in this all-new mini-series overseen by STAR TREK writer/producer Roberto Orci! Witness the never-before-seen outbreak of the legendary Eugenics Wars and behold Khan Noonien Singh’s brutal rise to power, as the secret history of the future is finally revealed!

It’s always a perilous prospect when a creative team endeavors to lend details to an already established antagonist.  What makes these types of journeys difficult is the need to humanize something that might not be understandable at all.  In the end though the people behind this mini-series know full well who they are chronicling and the resulting piece of fiction reflects those facts rather than attempting to rationalize them.

Mike Johnson handles the weight of the narrative by illuminating the truth of what this man has done. A superior warrior with a mind to match, tells of an alternate history before his Federation tribunal.  The scribe capitalizes on the inherent emotions following the conclusion of Star Trek Into Darkness, by implementing enough references and layers to make this a treat for devoted followers.  There were some short comings, as some of those very nuggets failed to provoke the correct response.  In the end the bulk of this dark saga is plainly written, as the author makes use of his primary character’s absolutely distinct persona.

The art by Claudia Balboni carries the text in a way that highlights the inner strength of the talent.  She instantly nails a cadence that doesn’t undermine the cinematic interpretation but instead highlights it in a unique but concrete way. David Messina lends his abilities to the beginning, yielding a sense of familiarity in a piece that’s certainly a bit different than your standard intergalactic affair.  In short: the illustrations are both functional and practical when it comes to these proceedings.

Star Trek: Khan #2 is an engaging romp into madness, as we slowly but surely peel back the layers of this psychopath.  Recommended.

4/5