Review: Discovery #6 - Lethe

Lethe, Discovery's sixth episode, is probably my favourite to date. It feels a little more self contained than previous episodes thanks to the Sarek and Burnham plotline, and that part of the episode adds to the overall Star Trek continuity in a surprisingly impactful way. Continue below for spoilery thoughts.

Latest Discovery pins from Fansets

Fansets have released a second wave of Star Trek: Discovery pins, including several members of the crew, and a pin of the ship itself. Continue below to check them out, plus the latest Episode Pins.

So following the previous release of the USS Shenzhou, the USS Discovery joins the MicroFleet range in this wave:

TNG coins from Perth Mint

Perth Mint have released two new Star Trek: The Next Generation coins to mark the series' 30th anniversary. This month the main TNG crew are all presented on a two ounce silver coin - As ever this has a face value in Tuvalu dollars, two dollars for this coin, and Queen Elizabeth II can be found on the other side.

Cliff Eidelman's unused music for Star Trek: Discovery

Composer Cliff Eidelman, best known to Star Trek fans for his music for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, has released a new EP based on music he composed for Star Trek: Discovery. Into the Unknown includes four tracks, two of which were composed early in the production of the series, and the other two which Eidelman continued to work on later, based on the ideas he had started to develope. You can find Into the Unknown on Amazon and iTunes, or right here via Spotify:

Latest Star Trek Mega Construx figures

Mattel obtained the Star Trek construction toys license in 2016, launching an impressive range of TOS Mega Bloks sets ready for the 50th anniversary. Since then Mega Bloks has become Mega Construx (with Mega Bloks now the name of the bigger bricks for younger builders), and Star Trek releases have been popping up now and then.

The latest of those brings us new Star Trek micro action figures in the new Mega Construx Heroes line. Like the previous Kubros range, this series brings together various characters from different licenses. Mattel recently previewed series two, revealing it will include Amok Time versions of Kirk and Spock.

Already out (since August), is series one, which includes Picard and a Borg drone. Continue below for lots of images of those:

Boldy Go: IDIC part 1 preview

Out this week is issue thirteen of IDW's Boldly Go comic, which is the first issues in a new six-part mega-multiverse crossover story, IDIC.

The story, written by Mike Johnson, and illustrated by Josh Hood, is set to bring together several different alternate timelines. This first issue focuses primarily on a reality where Pike remains in command of the Enterprise, Spock (or Simon) plays up his Human side, and Kirk is a Klingon! All of which you can get a taste of in the preview below.

The book is available in four different covers. The A cover, featuring a fractured multi-reality Kirk, is by Tony Shasteen. The B cover, featuring a multitude of Uhuras comes from Tana Ford, with colour by Triona Farrell. One retail incentive cover is a photo of Jaylah, and another inspired by the Star Trek Beyond poster, is by Yoshi Yoshitani.

Discovery Klingon designs revealed in John Dickenson concept art

Concept artist John Dickenson has posted a huge gallery of his work from Star Trek: Discovery on his ArtStation profile. His work on the series appears to be primarily focused on the Klingons, having developed the look of new ships, weapons, and locations. His artwork gives us the best look yet at some of the new Klingon designs, and also reveals some mysterious new designs that either didn't make the cut, or are yet to be seen. Continue below to check out some of the highlights, and see a whole load more on ArtStation.

UPDATE: Dickenson has now removed his original posting. I've been in touch and understand he's just seeking clarification on what he should be putting online yet, but hasn't asked me to remove this post. However to play it safe, I have removed the more mysterious "new" stuff below. I'm going to keep up the artwork relating to already aired episodes for the time-being (with consent), awaiting feedback from the powers that be about what can and cannot be out in public yet (so stuff might disappear or reappear once I've got more updates).

So first up one of the new Klingon ships is the subject of many of the images; I imagine this is one of the more popular of the new designs, as it has a distinctively familiar Klingon sort of silhouette. Below you can see several different iterations of the design:

IDW's Star Trek comics for January

IDW have released their January solicitations, which include two new Star Trek comics, plus an omnibus book. Continue below for the details:

Boldly Go #16 - IDIC, part 4
Written by Mike Johnson, with art by Angel Hernandez.

"I.D.I.C." Part 4 of 6! The epic voyage through the Star Trek multiverse continues, as the villain behind it all is revealed... and their vendetta against Captain Kirk threatens to end all realities!

This book will be offered in at least four covers, with the regular one, featuring a myriad Spocks, from Angel Hernandez. The B cover is by Mike Martin, and is part of a series inspired by Funko Pop! vinyl figures, which will run across multiple IDW titles this month. There's a variant cover by Yoshi Yoshitani (not yet revealed). Plus a retail incentive photo-cover.

Discovery renewed for second season, plus episode 7 trailer

CBS have officially announced Discovery will be continuing into a second season.

Hailing all frequencies: Season 2 confirmed! Thanks for watching—we can’t wait to bring you more #StarTrekDiscovery!

A post shared by Star Trek Discovery (@startrekcbs) on Oct 23, 2017 at 9:23am PDT

A rather bland business case type statement has also been released:

In just six episodes, Star Trek: Discovery has driven subscriber growth, critical acclaim and huge global fan interest for the first premium version of this great franchise,” said Marc DeBevoise, President and Chief Operating Officer, CBS Interactive, referring to the fact that Discovery set new CBS All Access records for subscriber sign-ups in a single day, week and month. “This series has a remarkable creative team and cast who have demonstrated their ability to carry on the Star Trek legacy. We are extremely proud of what they’ve accomplished and are thrilled to be bringing fans a second season of this tremendous series.

They've not yet announced dates, but talking to The Hollywood Reporter a while back, co-creator Alex Kurtzman suggested a second season would likely not arrive until early 2019.

Meanwhile, the current season continues, and here's the trailer for the seventh episode, Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad:

Latest Star Trek uniform replicas and inspired clothing

Whether you're going for a run, chilling after your bath, or commanding a starship, there are new Star Trek clothing options just waiting for you. Continue below to check out all the latest.

First up, something I feel is sure to be popular, the "Disco" T-shirts seen in the latest episode of Discovery, while Tilly and Burnham were running around the ship, are already available on the Star Trek Shop, complete with Starfleet deltas on the sleeves. UPDATE: And belatedly they've added a female cut version too:

Review: Discovery #5 - Choose Your Pain

More Captain Saru please. This is my main thought by the end of Discovery's fifth episode, Choose Your Pain. Lot of plot points progress, and perhaps that is where I am struggling most so far with Discovery; it is so serialised I don't think I could so far point at one episode in particular and go that was great, just as an episode. But as each character arc unfolds, and as we learn ever more, the series becomes that bit more satisfying, and spurs us on to the next set of reveals - The series as a whole is proving great indeed. More thoughts on all that below, spoiler laden as ever.

Eaglemoss updates: Glow in the dark Defiant, shuttles, new ships, and more

Lots of Eaglemoss Starships Collection news today, including previews of newly released and forthcoming issues, updates on the two spin-off series, and lots of nifty little video.

But we'll start with a look at the just released latest bonus issue in the series, the rather glorious glow in the dark USS Defiant. This is of course a repaint of the the regular constitution class model (no less than the fourth release, following the regular edition, mirror universe, and SS Yorktown), but one I certainly welcome, as the interphase-style glow is a fun novelty.

Discovery #6: Lethe previews, and news round-up

Episode six of Discovery, Lethe, will be with us soon, and as usual CBS have released an assortment of images and video to tease what's to come. Continue below to check out that, plus a look further ahead in the series, and some bits from the previous episode too.

Review: Discovery #4 - The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry

The rather grandly named The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry leaves me once again curious about a lot of things to come in Discovery, but most of all, am I meant to like these characters or not? I say that not because I dislike any of them or the story being told, but because this series seems quite determined to make every character super ambiguous about whether they are are a nice person and how they are playing others (with the possible exception of so-far always excessively pleasant Cadet Tilly). Continue below for my thoughts on this and other aspects of the fourth episode.

Blurb for second Discovery novel, and other Dayton Ward updates

The blurb for the second Discovery novel, which we now also know will be titled Drastic Measures, has been released by StarTrek.com. Written by Dayton Ward, the book is due out in February, and as the blurb reveals, will focus on a key moment from Star Trek history: The Tarsus IV massacre.

It is 2246, ten years prior to the “Battle at the Binary Stars,” and an aggressive contagion is ravaging the food supplies of the remote Federation colony Tarsus IV and the eight thousand people who call it home. Distress signals have been sent, but any meaningful assistance is weeks away. Lieutenant Commander Gabriel Lorca and a small team assigned to a Starfleet monitoring outpost are caught up in the escalating crisis, and bear witness as the colony’s governor, Adrian Kodos, employs an unimaginable solution in order to prevent mass starvation.

While awaiting transfer to her next assignment, Commander Philippa Georgiou is tasked with leading to Tarsus IV a small, hastily assembled group of first responders. It’s hoped this advance party can help stabilize the situation until more aid arrives, but Georgiou and her team discover that they‘re too late—Governor Kodos has already implemented his heinous strategy for extending the colony’s besieged food stores and safeguarding the community’s long-term survival.

In the midst of their rescue mission, Georgiou and Lorca must now hunt for the architect of this horrific tragedy and the man whom history will one day brand “Kodos the Executioner”….

Mirror Broken #4 preview

This week see the release of the fourth issue in the TNG mirror universe comic, Mirror Broken. Captain Picard's coup continues in the story written by Soctt and David Tipton, and illustrated by J.K. Woodward.

Woodward also provides a ship-tastic main cover for the book, while George Caltsoudas continues his character study B cover series, with Geordi La Forge for this issue. A third, retail incentive, cover comes from Jen Bartel. Continue below for a five page preview.

Boldly Go #12 preview

Out this week is the twelfth issue of the Kelvin timeline comic Boldly Go, the second part of a story featuring both Garth of Izar of TOS origin, and Eurydice, a character from previous nuTrek comics. The book is written, as ever, by Mike Johnson, with Megan Levens stepping in to illustrate this story.

This book is available in four covers, with the A cover, featuring an isolated Kirk, by George Caltsoudas. Tony Shasteen produced the B cover, coloured by J.D. Mettler, with Kirk again featured, this time with Sulu pointing a phaser at him. Meanwhile Scotty is the focus of two retail incentive cover, a photo cover, and a portrait by Cryssy Cheung.

Continue below for a five page preview.

New Visions: What Pain it is to Drown preview

Out this week is What Pain it is to Drown, the eighteenth issue of New Visions, John Byrne's TOS photo-comic series. The issues sees the Enterprise suffering from a sever case of rising damp! Unusually for New Visions, this book is available in two covers; the regular one featuring the submerged Enterprise, and a convention exclusive cover featuring the shadow of Byrne himself on the bridge. Continue below for a five page preview.

New Discovery starship concept art and prop photos

StarTrek.com have updated their "Database" section (a mini Star Trek encyclopedia), with a bunch of new entries about things from Star Trek: Discovery. Among the new lists are several of the ships seen so far in the series, and a number of props, with many featuring previously unseen concept art and photography. Continue below to check out the new images:

Five of the Federation starships that took part in the Battle of the Binary Stars have concept art on their listings, given us out best look yet at the new designs. As you can see below there are quite a variety of configurations, each sporting different nacelles, saucer designs, and so forth. The USS Yeager NCC-1437, the first seen here, stands out most to me, as it appears the bridge module is right at the front of the ship.

Comics bits: Discovery, Waypoint, and Mirror Broken updates

A few Star Trek comics updates today. First up, artist Tony Shasteen has posted a little tease of his upcoming work on the first Discovery comic, giving us our first look at the interior art from the book:

Discovery episode 5 trailer, and episode 4 stills and videos

The trailer for the fifth episode of Discovery, Choose Your Pain, is in the wild - Check it out below, along with a collection of stills and clips from this week's newly released episode, and other updates about the series.

Review: Discovery #3 - Context is for Kings

Discovery's third episode, Context is for Kings, finally introduces to the USS Discovery itself, and my main takeaway from meeting ship and crew is to wonder if this air of mystery will continue; I kind of hope so, as it certainly has me intrigued right now. Continue below for spoiler fills thoughts on the episode below:

New trailer and details for Star Trek Timelines Discovery event

Disruptor Beam have announced the details of the new Star Trek: Discovery "mega-event" Discovery: A New Anomaly, in Star Trek Timelines. The four-part adventures will run through October. They have released this snazzy new trailer, narrated by John de Lancie (Q), and featuring such pleasing images as the USS Discovery in spacedock, and among a fleet of the other Star Trek hero ships.

New Eaglemoss starship models on display at New York Comic Con

Eaglemoss currently has lots of stuff on display at the New York Comic Con, including lots of starships from Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection and new spin-off Discovery collection. Continue below for a look at several new models on display, including Discovery's USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery, and the latest in the XL size series, and shuttles.

First up, our first look at the painted USS Shenzhou (not final mind you - I hope that deflector gets it's distinctive purple glow), the first ships in the Discovery series, due early next year (mages via Figures.com)

Discovery behind the scenes: USS Shenzhou

Now Discovery has begun, the creative teams that bring this latest chapter of the Star Trek universe to life are just starting to share some of their work on the series. Continue below to chhek out some of the work that went into the USS Shenzhou, including concept art, behind the scenes photos and video, and details from the bridge, ready room, user interfaces, spacesuits, and more:

Let's start with the main location on the Shenzhou, the bridge, as beautifully illustrated here in concept art by Ryan Dening (which was shared on Twitter by Art Director Matt Middleton):

Star Trek Online launches season 14: Emergence

Star Trek Online have launched their fourteenth season of content, Emergence, which sees a new suite of content based around a colony world of the Lukari and Kentari, and Captain Geordi La Forge, voiced by LeVar Burton, helping them get set up. Continue below for more details, after this trailer:

Discovery episode titles, previews, and Context is for Kings round-up

A roundup of previews and clips from forthcoming and the most recent Discovery episode below. But first, new episode titles!

Thanks to new Canadian TV listings, we now know episode five will be Choose Your Pain, and episode six will be Lethe. Additionally CBS have today announced the season will be split a little later, with the first block now running up to episode nine (rather than eight), which will be available from the 12th of November. The remaining six episodes will resume from January.

More imminently, here's a trailer for next week's fabulously named The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry:

Book bits: Discovery novels and comics, scheduling, non-fiction, and more!

Lots of books bits today, including updates for Discovery novels and comics, scheduling updates, non-fiction books, and a journal. Continue below to check them all out:

First up, a little nugget regarding IDW's first Discovery comic: The series, written by Kirsten Beyer and Mike Johnson, with art by Tony Shasteen, is set to be the first of several miniseries based on the series; with this one filling in the backstory of T'Kuvma. Until now though it has simply been referred to as Star Trek: Discovery; annoyingly indistinct from the series as a whole. Well good news folks, the Amazon listing for the series omnibus book (due in May), now lists it with a title! The Light of Kahless.

IDW have also recently released a promo video for their Star Trek comics, which includes the first look at a comic-book rendition of the USS Shenzhou:

Clips from Discovery episode 3: Context is for Kings

CBS have released two clips and several new promos for Discovery ahead of the latest episode (3: Context is for Kings) release today. Continue below to check them out. First up there are two clips, the newest one introduces us to Cadet Tilly, Burnham's roommate on the Discovery (via TV Line):