Star Trek: The Next Generation: Hive #3 Review


We are gods, Locutus. The universe is our’s.” ~The Borg Queen

It almost feels like two months since the last installment of this Star Trek epic. Hive has pretty much everything a Next Generation fan could want. It takes place after Nemesis, it’s written by series co-producer Brannon Braga, Captain Picard is the primary focus, and most of all, the Borg are the main villains. Speaking as a longtime fan of the show, this series has been truly fantastic and plain fun. References, fun Star Trek action, the return of Data, and who doesn’t like Seven of 9? I’ve been anticipating this third issue, for Picard and Data would make an assault on the Queen while in the past we’ll learn even more of the situation. This issue was fantastic in every sense of the word, Next Gen fans need to be reading this.

Here’s the official description from IDW:

The Borg story to end all Borg stories warps towards it thrilling conclusion! In the far-flung future the Borg Queen faces off against the Borg KingÖ an ancient Locutus! The stakes have never been so high, as the fate of the Enterprise – and the entire galaxy – hang in the balance!

This one starts out with the Borg-controlled Seven of Night as she accesses the Enterprise’s computers and relays them to the Queen. It’s chaos as the Borg cubes start to take down the Federation ships. Meanwhile 500 years into the future Locutus and Data make their assault on the Queen. Brannon Braga was the right guy for the job. Being co-producer of the show, he understands the characters like no other. The interactions feel so natural, this is just like watching an episode. From Dr. Crusher’s “You do have that effect on women” to Data’s “I’m not sure one could ever be ready for this scenario” the script is at its finest. 500 years in the future is where the big thing happens, Locutus and Data make an assault on the Queen. If this was a graphic novel, there could have been more time for dialogue between her and Locutus, the conversation they could have had about the situation would have been amazing. But, what we got was still memeranble.

Joe Corroney’s art doesn’t fail to impress. It’s simple, but detailed. The characters look good, and there’s a really nice page of the Borg Cubes shooting down the Federation vessels. If its one minor complaint I have with the art, it’s that the blood on some of the characters looks a little strange and unrealistic. I do like how the art captures the Queen’s always smug expression, it makes her look completely without a heart or soul. As the Borg takes the main spotlight, sadly these aliens called the Voldranall are washed away as just plot devices. It makes sense, (they were just undeveloped versions of Species 8472) but I would have liked to see more of them, they did have a pretty cool design. There are three covers, all of which are great. The main one shows Locutus taking on the Queen, pretty standard and accurate to what’s inside. The second one is definitely something Next Gen fans will want to pick up, showcasing Picard as if he were lifted straight out of an episode. The third cover is the weakest of the bunch, but still solid, showing Locutus, Data, Seven, and the Queen in Mt. Rushmore with an incredible-looking Borg Cube above it.

Overall, Hive #3 moves the series boldly. Lots of good stuff here, especially the pretty unexpected ending. The writing is at its best, Next Gen fans will very much enjoy it. Hive looks to be one of the greatest Star Trek stories ever, I’m disappointed it’s ending with the next issue, I’m going to miss the cast.

4.5/5

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