Star Trek is experiencing something of a renaissance, with great new shows and a new in-continuity comic series. The first issue is a natural progression of Deep Space Nine, and now Star Trek #2 takes that a step further as fan-favorite Worf enters the narrative. In the new series, Captain Sisko is on a mission to stop a terrible genocidal weapon from being used again, but the Klingons stand in his way.
This issue does a few things well, each of which is a staple of good Star Trek storytelling. One involves diplomacy and using your words to win a battle. Another is the crew not entirely trusting each other fully and then proving that trust may not have been there at first, but it’s earned. Finally, it also captures the wonderment of strange alien cultures and the weird unexplainable things that make Star Trek great sci-fi storytelling.
All those things make this a jam-packed issue with a lot to think about while also progressing Sisko’s quest to another likely strange chapter in the next issue. Data fans will adore the character’s writing here as he’s logical and tempered, which juxtaposes well with Sisko, who seems to rush into things. Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly also have a great handle on Worf. He’s the right parts of honorable, ornery, and thirsty for battle.
The writers also litter in moments for the new crew, who never take up too much of the focus, but pop at logical times. I can’t say they have a ton of character development, but there’s enough here, so they aren’t lost, and you’ll be interested to see more of them.
This issue also has good data pages, which help flesh things out and add creative angles to the story. They add a lot to the overall package.
While this series is billed as new-reader-friendly, this issue pays off much more for the longtime and of the shows. Not only does it feel like a classic midseason episode, but it pays off for fans of Sisko, Worf, and Data. If you’re going into this series blind, you’ll lose the nuance of what makes these characters’ scenes so good. The general plotting and writing harken back to great Star Trek, connecting dots to Klingon culture and history.
Art by Oleg Chudakov with colors by Lee Loughridge is good, with glorious spaceship shots and strong likenesses to the actors who played these characters. Much of the issue has characters standing around talking–this is Star Trek, after all–but you’ll be right there with the characters as they fight for what they believe in. One downside, though, is that the wow-factor scenes are not hitting an impressive visual aesthetic. They’re sort of like floaty ghosts and not something to be in awe of.
IDW’s Star Trek continues to be as strongly written as an episode of TNG or DS9. Considering the many years of varying degrees of quality Star Trek comics, it’s hard to believe, but it’s a comic you can’t put down especially if you love these characters.
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