Space is often described as “the final frontier” in the Star Trek franchise, but anyone who’s a fan of Trek can tell you that isn’t true. The galaxy is always expanding, whether it’s new quadrants in Star Trek Voyager, the far future in Star Trek Discovery or the recurring threat of the Mirror Universe. Star Trek #25 by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Liana Kangas, Lee Loughridge, and Clayton Cowles takes that to a whole other level.
Following events of Star Trek #500, the mad android Lore detonated a bomb that destroyed existence as we know it, forcing Benjamin Sisko and the crew of the U.S.S. Theseus to flee into fluidic space. There they encounter a race of interdimensional creatures that Tom Paris and the rest of the Voyager crew ran into during their time in the Delta Quadrant. The only problem: these interdimensional beings are also being affected by Lore’s actions, and they want out – no matter who they have to kill.
Lanzing and Kelly deliver a character-driven tale, focusing on Paris as he has to lead the crew of the Theseus against a threat that’s far more powerful and intelligent than they are. Their gift for character work is on display: Paris is agitated, given that the universe just blew up and his wife B’Elenna might be dead while he and his daughter are trapped in a hellish alternate reality. Sisko even tells him that no matter what, the Theseus crew has to represent the best of Starfleet, and Paris gets his chance later in the issue.
IDW Publishing
Star Trek #25 is also a new frontier of sorts for Kangas, who takes on art duties from Megan Levens. She still keeps the semi-photorealistic elements from Levens’ run, but with a highly expressive outcome. A moment where Paris is slapped got a good laugh out of me, as his head seems to jerk from side to side. When it comes to the creatures assaulting the Theseus, Kangas goes for pure nightmare fuel – they feel like a hellish fusion of bone and fungi, and the fact that Loughridge gives them a rust red coloring resembled dried blood doesn’t help. Neither do Cowles’ haunting, pitch-black word balloons.
What really cements the idea of a new “final frontier” is the last page – it’s a major whammy, and proof that Lanzing and Kelly will pull from any and all eras of Star Trek when it comes to this comic. Though eyes may be on the upcoming Lore War crossover, Star Trek #25 is a reminder that the world of Star Trek has many more frontiers left to explore.
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