Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation²

Plot

On stardate 45635.2 (falling between the stardates of The Next Generation episodes "The Outcast" and "Cause and Effect"), the Federation planet Delta IV comes under attack from a combined force of Borg and the Cybermen who were first seen in "Rise of the Cybermen". This prompted a planetary evacuation.

Meanwhile, the TARDIS, with the Eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond, and Rory Williams inside, somehow crosses between universes and lands on the holodeck of the Enterprise-D. Though confused at having new memories from this universe, the Doctor meets with the ship's captain, Jean-Luc Picard, and they soon discover the Borg/Cybermen alliance. However, the Cybermen quickly turn on the Borg, prompting the Borg to ask Picard for assistance, to which he reluctantly agrees. Among the new memories the Doctor recalls is how his fourth incarnation encountered an earlier generation of Cybermen alongside James T. Kirk and his Enterprise.

The Enterprise crew begins work on adding gold to its weapons, since it is effective against Cybermen, while the TARDIS goes back in time to retrieve a vital piece of Borg technology that had been lost to the Cybermen. A strike force led by the Doctor and Picard then infiltrates the Cybermen's main vessel and, with the help of the Enterprises gold-enhanced weapons, defeats the Cybermen. The Doctor and his companions return to their own universe aboard the TARDIS; meanwhile the Borg, intrigued by the Doctor, decide to investigate time travel.

Reception

Joey Esposito of IGN described the series as "a crossover that genre fans have been awaiting for decades". Reviewing the first issue, he predicted that the "near-photorealistic" artwork would prove controversial among readers. He rated the issue 7 out of 10.

Paul Mount of Starburst was negative in his assessment, stating in his review of issue 7: "If IDW are tempted to cross-pollinate these two sci-fi giants again, they might want to take a bit more time to come up with a story which makes the writing, drawing and reading of it worth the effort, because this just has the stink of a lazy vanity project about it, and fans of both franchises were undoubtedly expecting and deserving quite a bit more."

References

References

1. Patrick, Seb. (2012-02-14). "''Doctor Who'' and ''Star Trek'' Meet in Comics Crossover". [[Wired (magazine).
2. Ryan, Maureen. (2012-02-14). "''Star Trek'' and ''Doctor Who'' Come Together in Crossover Comic". [[The Huffington Post]].
3. Thill, Scott. (25 May 2012). "Exclusive Preview: Comics Assimilate ''Star Trek: TNG'' and ''Doctor Who''".
4. Esposito, Joey. (22 June 2012). "''Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation²'' #2 Preview".
5. Esposito, Joey. (31 May 2012). "''Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation²'' #1 Review".
6. Mount, Paul. (24 October 2017). "Comic Review: ''Star Trek: The Next Generation / Doctor Who – Assimilation²'' #1".
7. Mount, Paul. (24 October 2017). "Comic Review: ''Star Trek – The Next Generation / Doctor Who – Assimilation²'' #5".
8. Mount, Paul. (24 October 2017). "Comic Review: ''Star Trek: TNG/Doctor Who – Assimilation²'' #6".
9. Mount, Paul. (24 October 2017). "Comic Review: ''Star Trek: The Next Generation / Doctor Who – Assimilation²'' #7".