The current two-part story in Star Trek: Lower Decks #4 has high stakes: The entire universe may be wiped out! Just another day for Federation business and just another solution-heavy issue of exploration! Writer Ryan North and artist Jack Lawrence aim to resolve things while lacing this tale with plenty of comedy. The question remains, however: Is it good?
Star Trek: Lower Decks #4 picks up where we left off, which ends up also being the first joke in the issue. The engineering crew thinks fast to avoid death, and in Ryan North’s excellent footnote, he links storytelling, cliffhangers, and capitalism. More or less.
So begins an adventure involving mysterious aliens outside our universe, the transference of the crew’s minds into the computer, and fast thinking to save everyone. Similar to the last issue, it’s impressive how much the creative team stuffs into a single issue. Sure, there’s a lot of talking and not much action, but a lot is happening.
Love that footnote.
Credit: IDW
The main conflict involves aliens who take over the bodies of two of the crew, and they’re not happy that their universe was attacked. In the last issue, the crew didn’t know they were attacking anyone, but alas, their relationship isn’t on solid ground. Ultimately, the question of whether two universes can coexist is raised, leading to a climax in which every life in the galaxy could be eradicated.
That last bit ends up being a major bonding element to close out the issue. If you love these characters, you’ll enjoy their chat about the lives lost during this mission. They can’t always save everyone, but they can certainly appreciate each other.
The footnotes continue to add even more to the issue, with extra nerdy bits for the Star Trek super fans. Sometimes, they don’t add comedy so much as commentary, but they’re welcome.
Overall, this issue’s comedy didn’t work for me, with jokes either falling a bit flat or otherwise not quite working. The reveal of robot bodies made of mugs and planters, for instance, is more neat to look at than funny.
Lawrence’s art is spot on, with the likenesses of the crew and interior of the ship. Considering how easily he makes tricky things make sense, like a protective shield warding off a competing reality, he pulls off the impossible.
While the comedy in Star Trek: Lower Decks #4 might not be consistently strong, the issue impressively balances its high-stakes narrative, sci-fi exploration, and character moments with smart storytelling and solid visual work. It’s a solid read for Star Trek fans who appreciate clever details and character-driven moments.
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