REVIEW: Was PICARD'S ACADEMY Issue 3 Better Than We Expected?

Image: IDW Publishing.

DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Over the past two months I’ve been reading and reviewing Picard’s Academy issues 1 and 2. You can read my review for issue 1 here and issue 2 here. I absolutely loved issue 1 but was a little disappointed with issue 2 so I was worried about the newest issue. However, there was no need to fear as I loved this issue. 

WARNING! THE REST OF THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS!

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Ok, now that the spoiler warning is out of the way let’s get into the review. So, this issue follows Picard and his team as they prepare for their evasive maneuvers exam. As we’ve seen in previous issues, Picard really hates working on teams, and this team especially as it contains his arch nemesis, Resh, and two of the biggest class clowns Starfleet has ever seen. The team, of course, contains the only two people who tolerate Picard and even consider him a friend, Doq and Marty. Picard, of course, doesn’t consider them friends as he is a “lone wolf” who can solve all his issues alone. That obviously isn’t true and he begins to learn it in this issue. 

After he and his team fail the practice exam his arch nemesis confronts him in probably one of the most epic fist fights I’ve ever seen (it contains Betazoid mind reading which is AWESOME. They do a really good job with these panels), Picard ends up getting saved by Doq and Marty who clean his injuries and help him to open up for probably the first time in his life. The whole sequence is very heartwarming and we get to learn more about Doq and Marty’s life and challenges too. The issue ends with the team lining up to take the exam. 

I loved this issue. It really felt like a nice warm hug. It was really nice to see Picard lowering his hard outer shell and finally starting to open up to his friends. I’m honestly really surprised Doq and Marty tolerate Picard as he’s a real a**hole to everyone around him, including them. However. they do and they’re really helping Picard grow. 

I love this whole series. It takes issues that we all face in everyday life: insecurity, pressure to succeed, and loneliness, and applies them to an out-of-this-world scenario (literally). It makes the comic heartwarming and relatable. I highly recommend this series. 

Issue 4 gets released January 3rd so stay tuned for my review! Picard and the team will be taking on the Evasive Maneuvers exam!