It’s no secret the Star Trek comics at IDW are some of the best ever, which is proven by the Eisner nominations, but also the quality. With the main series guided by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, the two embark on an annual issue that should please fans of all eras of Star Trek. That’s not an easy task, and for the most part, they pull it off.
This is a multi-faceted issue, featuring cameos from across Star Trek’s many shows and fitting in within the larger story unfolding in the series. The story picks up where we left off with Sisko and his new crew, which includes Data and Scotty. Relegated to a side character at most, Skotty gets featured much more in Star Trek Annual 2023, thanks to an engineering problem on the Theseus. It’s nice to see Scotty gets to enter a log catching us up at the start of the issue.
As you learn reading this special one-shot, the Theseus is unlike any other ship. It has advanced technology and, as we learn in this issue, ghosts in the machine. It’s hard to talk too deeply about it since the mystery drives your interest, but know it leads to Captain Kirk, Picard, and others showing up as the cover promises.
Hardcore Star Trek fans will appreciate the mystery, as it ties into things we already know and plays into the empathy and care so often attributed to the series. It also allows nods to nearly every show, including Strange New Worlds and its new cast. The conclusion leaves you with the series with a new idea that’s quite interesting and worth exploring again at some point.
Beverly’s snack game is strong. Credit: IDW
Rachael Stott captures the likenesses of the many familiar actors who played your favorite characters. This isn’t all photo-realistic drawings and cool-looking ships, though there is plenty of that, as Stott also plays a bit with cartoony moments. That includes Data’s cat Spot jumping up like a cartoon character. Starships look great, and we get plenty in two different double-page splashes.
The only weakness of this story is the danger and stakes never seem all that high. The mystery and not knowing is dangerous in some respect, but the heroes’ lives are rarely at risk. They’re certainly under attack, but how it’s conveyed–and how quickly things move along from danger–never allows the stakes to rise high enough to be exciting.
If you like to see Star Trek characters playing poker, wait until you see them playing Dungeons and Dragons as they do in this issue. It’s used to bookend the story and show camaraderie, but also please the nerds out there who love the game. The game itself is also a nice connection to the main mystery when you think about it.
Star Trek Annual 2023 proves Star Trek is in excellent hands under IDW in this new era of Sisko as captain of the U.S.S. Theseus. While utilizing the current cast in the comics, this one-shot is also a fun celebration of all Star Trek, from Kirk to Data and back again.
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