Talking Star Trek Comics with IDW at NYCC '22! Return of Sisko, Picard Resurrection and More!
Comic Con: never a happier way to lighten your wallet. Truly, a magic time of year.
What started as a simple hello to Sean Von Gorman (of Comics) turned into me doing press for the whole booth of Star Trek comic artists through publisher IDW!
Having mostly only seen the original series (and having been a year since my last viewing), I felt a bit out of my depth. However, the fellas at Star Trek's IDW Comics division made me feel right at home. Not to mention some killer exclusive reveals!
My circuit began with artist Joe Eisma, an Eisner Award-nominated, New York Times Best Selling author. He is co-creator of the comic series Morning Glories through Image Comics, and is now on IDW's panel of artists for Trek!
When asking about his early Star Trek memories and his favorite series, he had this to say:
Eisma became involved with Trek through his working relationship with IDW editor, Heather Antos. The two had previously worked together, when she had approached him to collaborate on Issue #400.
According to Eisma, Wheaton was quite pleased with his work.
Eisma revealed a new, non-Trek related project with Antos, entitled Blood Oath, a vampire story set in Prohibition-era America.
As for direction for Trek, Eisma feels horror is an untapped avenue worth exploring.
Star Trek is indeed rife with potential for a horror story in space, or on a strange new world.
After my chat with Eisma came JK Woodward, a chill yet eccentric one. Shades inside all day, baseball jersey, sweet patch jacket and all. No wonder the others describe him as a rockstar. I mean this sincerely.
Woodward designed the standard and New York Comic Con-exclusive covers for Star Trek, Issue #400, a beautiful collage of all of the many crews of the multiple series painted in the number 400. Above them are the Enterprises from each series pictured.
With his portfolio handy, he said "Let's look at some Star Trek stuff, I suppose!"
The first piece he showed was from the Gary Seven origin story. Gary Seven was a character who first appeared in the original Star Trek episode, "Assignement Earth." The episode, he tells me, was intended as a backdoor pilot for Seven's own series, though was not successful.
"The most recent thing I did, lemme show ya that, from an upcoming Star Trek series, entitled, Simply Star Trek, because it has everything Star Trek in it."
Woodward then produced a stunning piece with an even more stunning revelation:
"This is it, this is the cover for [Simply Star Trek] Issue #2, we're bringing back Captain Sisko. And we're also in this issue bringing back Worf."
The cover depicts Captain Sisko of Deep Space Nine and Worf shaking hands, referencing a painting from the US Civil War.
Woodward got his start in comics through his work on the show CSI: New York, in which he would provide likeness sketches for criminals used in the series. This was his first break into comics, he says.
"It was my first job in comics, I introduced myself as a painter, and they said 'if you're able, we think you'd be perfect for CSI: New York.' I think I worked on that for just one year."
His work here would get him noticed by the editors for Star Trek comics.
"They figured if I could paint Gary Sinise, I could paint Captain Kirk!"
Now the hard question: favorite series for Woodward?
While DS9's Captain Sisko may be returning in comic form, don't hold your breath on his screen portrayal. Woodward doubts actor Avery Brooks will reprise his role at any point. He said, "As far as I know, he has no interest, but he's done his bit, and that's alright."
Woodward has met the cast many times, through being a live painter on the Star Trek Cruises for several years, alongside cast members of all series. When asking about it, he remarked:
Paradise, truly.
We closed out by Woodward announcing a new horror series of his, called Behemoth, about mutant youths who get picked up by the government for a project of the same name.
"Issue one is out now!"
My third interview was with Sean Von Gorman (of Comics), artist on his own series The Pedestrian and Ghost Planet. We first became acquainted when DMC of Run DMC left my print of Meth Wiz, my original, on a table next to Von Gorman (of Comics)'s at NYCC 2021.
Apparently, upon finding it, Sean and DMC's crew apparently enjoyed it, with Von Gorman (of Comics) tagging me on Instagram.
When not promoting his work on Star Trek, he was found in Artist Alley, promoting Ghost Planet with Jeff Burandt. I caught up with him there at this year's NYCC, prompting a later hello at the IDW booth. Which brings us to the present…
He was introduced as Sean Von Gorman (of Comics) in our video interview, so I had to know the reason behind the name.
The name has, according to him, helped him brand himself. So much so, he says "It's gonna be on my tombstone." While I hope that's not soon, I'm holding you to it, buddy!
Speaking of branding, he had a sweet mini cardboard cutout of himself on the interview table. Class act in my book!
He was approached by Heather Antos as well, and was asked to contribute artwork to the comics. According to Von Gorman (of Comics), he had sent some of his work and was brought onboard shortly after.
Von Gorman (of Comics) revealed, as well, his cover for Star Trek: Picard, Issue #3. This is his first cover for Star Trek, which he is thrilled about.
"This is the Age of Diamond variant, which will be out November 2nd," pictured below.
Von Gorman mentioned this will be the first time he will do a second piece for a licensed property.
"Usually I'm asked to do it once, then never again. I don't know, sometimes they prefer a house style, and it's not everyone's cup of tea."
Of the cover, he remarked:
"It's just sort of a timeless Picard serious image. And it's actually going to be the last issue before the new season of Picard."
No Trek fans need tear his heart out, as he values all starship captains in their own ways:
We also get some insight on the (potential) end of Jean Luc Picard, and his thoughts on the philosophies woven throughout Trek:
“Spoilers! Jean Luc Picard essentially dies. He’s suffering from a long-term illness ... He has his death scene, you can enjoy his death, or, he was resurrected. Based on your own interpretation, either Jean Luc Picard resurrected in a borg, or that’s a new character. And based on your own personal philosophies, if you download your thoughts, and memoires, and personal experiences into another body, is that really you? So you either enjoy it as this is more Jean Luc Picard, or this is a new character.”
Star Trek has always been rich in philosophy, since the original series. Questions of morality and philosophical dilemma are what made it speak to so many for decades.
I then ask him about his start in comics, a strip called Sock It To Me through his college newspaper. The series followed a character based on Von Gorman (of Comics) and his drinking, smoking, disembodied sock puppet roommate and their adventures.
"After college, I went forward with those characters. And at the time, I had seen people create their own comics, so I thought 'You know what? Maybe I'll put it together and make my own book.' And that's exactly what I did."
Von Gorman (of Comics) mentioned he may revisit the series, as a great deal wasn't published.
As for what direction he thinks Trek as a franchise should head in? He believes they're on the right course.
"I'm very excited for what I get to do with their comics. I'm very excited for what Trek in general is doing with their comics. I'm a big fan of Discovery, I'm a big fan of Strange New Worlds, so much so to the point that I'm wearing my John Fluevog Star Trek boots."
He then showed his indeed sweet and classy pair of leather boots, which are on sale now, as he says.
While signing off and sifting through his cover art papers, he found another cover, for Star Trek: Insurgents #2, out in December. The cover features a new captain.
"This is a brand new character, brand new adventures, and no one is safe in this book."
Foreboding words indeed…
Rounding out my Trek talk was Lower Decks artist, Chris Fenoglio. He had his page in Issue #400 to show me, a mashup of all the series' characters in the Lower Decks style.
To be fair, they came out great! The amount of love that went into this piece is clear. Every character is brimming with personality, and the Easter eggs are a-plenty. How many can you find?
While his piece should please most fans, a small yet vocal crowd were less than impressed. When asking craziest fan reactions to something he has made, Fenoglio commented that this piece generated some controversy for portraying Tom Paris flirting with the Borg Queen.
Perspective is everything, friends.
Fenoglio got involved in Lower Decks after the Trek editor put out a call for art submissions for Star Trek comics. After his "realistic style" drawings were passed on, he asked if there may be a Lower Decks book in the works. His samples, in his more cartoonish style, impressed.
"So she went to bat for me, and I'm super excited! I couldn't believe it was real life, and now I'm on Issue 3, and it's still like 'wow!'"
Prior to Trek, Feniglio tells me he worked on X Files: Origins, a comic where protagonists Mulder and Scully are middle schoolers, two Goosebumps stories, and a Star Wars miniseries. Truly, a man with some skin in the game.
"One was Vader's Castle, and one was the third series in that, I don't remember the name. But this is by far the biggest thing I've ever worked on."
As for early Trek memories, Next Generation holds a spot in his heart. He shared a worm-related horror story of his own, in fact! From the Season 1 episode, "Conspiracy."
Fenoglio likes where the franchise is going, as new series are broadening the fanbase.
"All of these different series are all speaking to different audiences within the same universe."
For Lower Decks' unique place in Trek, and in animation in general, Fenoglio commented:
Star Trek Lower Decks #2 is out, so keep an eye out! He says "It's, like, the best comic you ever read," so it must be good!
After my press rounds with these fine gents, Sean Von Goramn (of Comics) gave me a press swag bag, as a thank you for the interviews! Can you believe that?
In it were new and upcoming relases from IDW, including Earth Dividers: Kill Colombus, Crashing #1, Star Trek #400, Star Trek: Lower Decks #1, Sonic the Hedgehog, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #1, and Godzilla vs Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #5.
The people at the IDW booth were class acts, and I'm glad to see the franchise with such a bright future. Thank you, Star Trek crew! Y'all knew how to do your press!
