The first all-original outing in the reboot series actually does pretty well.

After six issues of retelling classic TOS stories, the crew of the Enterprise dives into an adventure directly impacted by Nero’s interference with the timeline. That’s a good thing: this series can go a long way with episode retellings that vary from the originals in ways that remind us that this isn’t the same universe, and the occasional completely new plot besides. And, really, it’s nice that the cliffhanger of this issue, unlike previous ones, really leaves me wondering what will happen next – but it also will require solid explanation, and I suppose I might not like what I get next month.

There’s some Kirkian heroics and playing fast and loose with Starfleet directives, and some nods to ENTERPRISE thanks to the Vulcan designs. (These days, between this series and STAR TREK ONLINE, it seems like Vulcan ship design doesn’t evolve even a little between the 22nd and 25th centuries.) It feels like Trek, if not quite as classic Trek as previous issues: the flavor is, admittedly, a little more DS9 or ENTERPRISE than TOS, though not necessarily in a bad way.

The next issue could make or break my faith in this series long-term. Keep your fingers crossed.