Star Trek: Lower Decks returns this week with a new creative team, but all the same humor and heart we’ve come to expect. Issue #7 delves into Captain Freeman’s past, revealing she may not be so different from her overly rambunctious daughter, Beckett Mariner. It’s a story that plays with Star Trek lore and offers a new kind of sci-fi adventure. What more could you ask for?
It’s obvious writer Tim Sheridan understood the assignment with this series right off the bat. Not only is it humorous, but he finds creative ways to explore areas of Star Trek you never thought possible.
Case in point, Beckett having a field day all over the ship, turning highly serious and sometimes dangerous things into physical activities for fun. That’s how the issue opens, which gets her in trouble with her captain and mom, prompting an impromptu flashback. I’d argue this opening is a little long, but longtime fans are going to want to see the main characters even if it’s not the main adventure.
That seems dangerous.
Credit: IDW
It’s in the flashback where the issue really gets going. After a nice comedic transition, we get to see how Captain Freeman, aka Carol Freeman, was just as chaotic good as her daughter. She may be a mom, but her family is away, and she’s trying to live it up, so to speak. The last thing she wants is an iconic Star Trek character with a stick figuratively up their bum ruining things. Enter one of the most divisive TNG characters ever.
Not only is this TNG character a good throwback to a specific era of Star Trek, but she also acts as a good foil to Carol. Something’s definitely up with them adding a supernatural twist to things. Throw in a major alien villain to the Federation, and we have ourselves high stakes and plenty to dive into going forward.
Art by Robby Cook is accurate to the show with an extreme sense of dramatic flair. A few double-page layouts are particularly clean and nice to look at, a departure from the previous story arc.
A major win for this issue is Carol’s fellow lower decks team, who are all well-designed and different from each other. Sheridan pulls off a nice dynamic between them, and there’s even a Brad Boimler lookalike that mimics the main cast. We’re only one issue into this, but I could see this group sustaining their own series thanks to the art and writing.
Star Trek: Lower Decks #7 is a strong start for the new creative team, capturing the show’s humor and heart while diving into a fun, character-driven story. Sheridan’s writing and Cook’s art make this a must-read for fans, offering a clever exploration of Captain Freeman’s past. It balances nostalgia with fresh ideas, ensuring a great experience for both long-time fans and newcomers.
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