Reflections Right Or Wrong Mirror New Star Trek

by Vince Brusio

The attraction of “the road not taken” has fascinated creators for years in that it is a wormhole for plot possibilities. Anything can happen and often does when someone veers from the straight-and-narrow, and it is this kind of off-road racing that moves writers Scott and David Tipton to write about strange highways lit up by rear view reflective starlight in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Through The Mirror #1 (MAR180393). Continuity and chaos collide in this new comic from IDW Publishing that’s a follow-up to the smash-hit mini-series Mirror Broken. Read what Scott and David have to say about their new space saga in this PREVIEWSworld Exclusive interview.

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Through The Mirror #1 (MAR180393) is in comic shops May 2.

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Vince Brusio: As this is a follow-up to Mirror Broken, the question is will the temperature be raised even higher? After all, it wouldn’t be a stretch. Tensions are escalating everywhere, and art often imitates life. Drawing lines in the sand, excluding people from mixers, shouting at people instead of talking, these are the kinds of behaviors that are actually sideshows to see on our busy city streets and talking head programs today. Might we see that same kind of animosity in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Through The Mirror #1 (MAR180393)?

Scott Tipton: Well, the thing is, unlike Mirror Broken, this series primarily takes place in the original Star Trek universe as created by Gene Roddenberry, which is certainly idealized, if not an outright Utopia. So you won't see as much of that kind of aggression in the main stories. But in each issue's backup story, set firmly in the Mirror Universe, things will be as ugly and hostile as ever.

David Tipton: I would add that you will see in Through The Mirror how the Mirror characters continue their plans for profit and power, and they will have a new plan to achieve that.

Vince Brusio: This story arc follows on the heels of a six-issue series that depicted the mirror universe versions of the Star Trek: The Next Generation characters. In regards to that first series, there was a lot of wind behind its sails, including a Free Comic Book Day issue which previewed the story arc. With all the attention that was focused on that first series, might we recognize in “Through The Mirror” something as having its roots in “Mirror Broken”? Questions unanswered? Unresolved issues?

David Tipton: Mirror Broken left off with Picard and his crew more in charge of their destinies than where they were at the beginning. But there remained many difficulties for them ahead. What will their role be in a Terran Empire that remains surrounded and blockaded by the Cardassians and the Klingons? In Through The Mirror, we’ll see some of their solutions to the problems they face.

Vince Brusio: J.K. Woodward is said to have commented that Mirror Broken was tying itself to Deep Space Nine stories to "smooth over the continuity and tie it all together." Do those same kind of plot logistics also occur in this new story arc? Is DS9 still a foundation?

David Tipton: I think what J.K. was thinking about here is that we know from Deep Space Nine what happens later on in the Mirror Universe. And Through The Mirror, just like Mirror Broken, will continue to fit into that Mirror Universe continuity that runs from the original Star Trek all the way to Deep Space Nine.

Vince Brusio: What is a core premise from this storyline that you think is open to so many different interpretations for writers?

Scott Tipton: I think people are always fascinated with the idea of "the road not taken," or even more extreme, "There but for the grace of God…" There's just something so perversely intriguing about taking these beloved characters and showing what could have happened to them without the proper moral upbringing or emotional support, or just a much, much worse turn of luck. And especially since the original material is so rich and fleshed-out, there are so many different left turns you can make in a decent person's life to make everything go to hell.

David Tipton: I think that some of the ongoing interest in the Mirror Universe comes from the contrast between the values people normally associate with Star Trek and the “might makes right” ideology of the Mirror Universe.  Also, for writers, the Mirror Universe provides a little more freedom in terms of what can be done: stories and characters can turn out in ways very different than what happens in the Prime Universe.

Vince Brusio: With so many issues advanced solicited in the March PREVIEWS catalog, you’re pretty boxed in to what you have to deliver for each issue. Does that mean the whole story arc is finished? Or are you still making tweaks as the months roll over? Where do you stand with production on the creative fronts as “Through The Mirror” is revealed to the public with multiple covers shown?

Scott Tipton: The entire story arc is certainly done and decided, yes. But in order to meet a weekly schedule, all of the art is coming in at once for all five issues, so there's lots of fine-tuning to be done to make certain everything fits together as neatly as possible when the issues roll out every week in May. We've been writing Star Trek for a few years now, but it's no exaggeration to say this has been the most productive work period of our careers, getting these scripts out and off to the six artists (who are all outstanding, by the way), and now working closely with our editor Sarah Gaydos to get them all ready to be released to print. It's been just a touch stressful and an absolute joy.

David Tipton: Agreed. Thanks to Sarah and to all the great artists working on Through The Mirror!

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Vince Brusio writes about comics, and writes comics. He is the long-serving Editor of PREVIEWSworld.com, the creator of PUSSYCATS, and encourages everyone to keep the faith...and keep reading comics.