Star Trek: The Next Generation / Doctor Who: Assimilation 2 Volume 1 (Star Trek/Doctor Who) [Paperback]

I bought this out of curiosity being a fan of both shows but not really a big reader of graphic novels. I was extremely suprised by just how good a read this was. It captures both shows extremely well, you can hear the 11th Doctor, you can hear Picard and as for the quality of the artwork it's nothing short of beautiful. I also loved the flashback to an earlier Enterprise and an earlier Doctor which is presented in the style of a 1970's comic strip. Took me right back to my childhood. A brilliant concept which is executed beautifully. Counting down the days to volume 2 in January

Crossovers between two world-famous properties are nothing new. We've seen them happen many times over the years, where the most-impossible, dream-meetings that fans have wanted to see...have actually happened.

For instance, Disney & Final Fantasy crossed over to produce Kingdom Hearts, Marvel has actually clashed with the likes of DC and Capcom, Spider-Man has teamed up with Batman & Superman, Star Trek has crossed over with X-Men; among many more incredible tales. There's been tremendous success with franchises crossing-over, and last-year the latest `dream-pairing' finally happened.

Doctor Who and Star Trek. Two of the most popular science-fiction franchises to have ever emerged. There's been so much fan-art, fan-fiction & ace videos on YouTube envisioning of what such a meeting between the Time Lord and the USS Enterprise would entail.

And now, it's official. Star Trek: The Next Generation actually meets Doctor Who in Assimilation2, an eight-part story boasting beautiful artwork and fine writing, both of which pays equal respect to both franchises, and brings them together in a plausible, epic & logical setting.

It's the usual daily dose of adventuring for both crews of the USS Enterprise & the TARDIS. Then the Doctor, Amy & Rory bump into Commander Riker, Data and Doctor Crusher in 1941 San Francisco. Actually, the TARDIS and her crew materialises right in the middle of a simulation on board the Enterprise's holodeck! As the Doctor & his companions acquaint themselves with Captain Jean-Luc Picard & his crew, they soon find themselves ambushed by the ultimate nightmarish alliance of the Borg & the Cybermen.

While Assimilation2 may sound basic so far, it certainly doesn't feel cheap or lazy. It comes across as a genuine meeting between the two franchises, one that benefits from an abundance of rich character-interaction, the best being the Doctor's brilliant exchanges with Captain Picard, Data, Worf, Guinan, Riker & Beverly; all of which range from deep respect & admiration, to hilarious! (Check out the Eleventh Doctor's interactions with Worf & Data, and you'll see what I mean!)

Out of the whole-cast, it's the moments between Captain Picard & the Doctor that receive the most focus, not only due to them being the main protagonists of their respective universes, but also because there's real chemistry between the pair. The dialogue is excellent, and their feelings of the other come across flawlessly. Jean-Luc in particular with his natural suspicions of the Time Lord (& his erratic behaviour), yet also accepting the mutual respect and comradeship that soon develops between them upon meeting.

All the other characters - Will Riker, Data, Lt. Worf, Dr. Beverly Crusher, Deanna Troi, Geordi La Forge, Amy Pond, Rory Williams - are given sufficient focus to shine and once again show what colourful characters they are. Truthfully, I'd like to have seen more interaction between the Ponds & the Enterprise's crew (it only really picks up in the last few pages), but hopefully they'll be more of that in the next volume.

This creative team have produced a nice piece of work, all-in-all. Scott & David Tipton (along with Tony Lee) have written this crossover most plausibly, acknowledging both universes as separate parallels, and infusing enough intrigue to reel the reader in. For example, how the Doctor can know who the Klingons are when he's never even heard of them before and how the Cybermen can be logged in the Enterprise's databanks, which leads into an absolutely fantastic flashback between the Fourth Doctor and the original Enterprise crew (Captain Kirk, Mister Spock & Scotty!) It's all so skilfully woven, and pays equal respect to both franchises & their fan-bases.

Of course, this is only the first volume (volume 2 collects the remaining four issues), so you'll have to wait to discover the answers to certain questions - like how the Doctor can cross over to the Star Trek universe when all parallel worlds were sealed off from him, and just how the Borg & the Cybermen came into contact. But all the fine pacing, rich-character, action, excitement & a surprise twist at the end will CERTAINLY make you want to catch the next part.

The greatest-asset of the book is truly the beautiful, gorgeous artwork by J.K. Woodward. His painted illustrations are stunning, vivid and capture the atmosphere of both TV shows. It's like you're watching an actual televised crossover, with so many likenesses captured perfectly. Expressions, gestures, mannerisms, the humanity of Star Trek & Doctor Who shines through on every page, most notably through the likenesses of Patrick Stewart & Matt Smith, and the excellent imagery of the Borg standing side-by-side with the Cybermen (watch out for the Cyber Controller infused with Borg technology!). It's breathtaking and it's contrasted nicely by the Sharp Bros. artwork for the Tom Baker/William Shatner portion of the crossover (which is bright and colourful).

But is Assimilation2 absolutely essential? Not really, there are more `perfect' crossovers out there, but this is still a very recommended read. If you're a fan of both Doctor Who & Star Trek, than this is for you. Even if you're a fan of only ONE of the franchises (I must confess I'm much more of a Whovian than a Trekkie), you'll still be very satisfied with Assimilation2, and you won't be sorry you bought it. Roll on Part 2!

Well, they was fun indeed. If you like Star Trek and Doctor Who you are in for a bit of a treat. The world's of both programs join together as the Borg and the Cybermen form an alliance to destroy and conquer the universe. Something is very wrong as memories come to the Doctor, memories of past adventures that never happened yet have now. Memories of his adventure with Captain James T Kirk and their battle with the Cybermen.

An intriguing storyline and some beautifully rendered artwork join together to bring the world or Who and Trek alive. Each character is true to their on screen counterparts in looks and mannerisms, and speech patterns are so accurate you can hear the characters talking as you read.

Wonderful work and a pleasure to read and look at. A must for fans, but also for lovers of intriguing sci-fi stories.