There’s a single question that runs throughout Star Trek: Defiant #27: “What matters?” That doesn’t just cover Sisko’s quest to free all of reality from Lore’s grasp, but why some people may not fall in line. Some people have actual lives in this new timeline, and they obviously balk at the idea of having to give it up. But some, even if they haven’t touched Kahless’ reality-restoring bat’leth, still know that there’s more to the world than Lore…and are willing to fight for it.
I give Christopher Cantwell credit for infusing this level of drama into such an epic storyline. Most comic book fans tend to write off alternate universes or timelines as simply a thought experiment, but Cantwell is putting some actual thought into how people would react. For Tasha Yar, who’s dead in the mainstream timeline, Sisko is basically asking her to give up her life. For Beverly Crusher, challenging God is akin to suicide, despite the fact that her mainstream counterpart faced off against more terrifying things. It provides a unique kind of conflict, especially since Lore War is hurtling toward its end.
Cantwell also follows up on a disturbing thread that Star Trek #31 introduced: the fact that Lore’s kidnapped some of the Star Trek universe’s best minds and forced them to oversee the universe, literally pulling out their brains to do it. Not only does this introduce even more fan favorite Trek characters (in a rather horrifying way) but it lets Davide Tinto tap into his horror roots. Just seeing these men and woman hooked up to machines, in a state of death, is a horrifying image and Tinto doesn’t shy away from it.
IDW
In fact, don’t think that Star Trek: Defiant #27 would work as well as it does without Tinto’s artwork. Throughout the issue, he establishes a recurring motif of characters recalling the world that was with the world that now is, putting those characters in the center. The action is also pretty intense, as Worf and Kahless find themselves facing off against Shaks. Not only is it pretty damn intense, but it also makes use of the steely blue color scheme that Lee Loughridge’s been employing throughout Lore War. The same is true of Clayton Cowles’ lettering, from the captions offering insight into Sisko’s mind to the bright red that denotes Klingon speech.
The ending of the issue even helps underline the importance of their mission, especially as it leads to an emotional reunion between Worf and his son Alexander. It helps show that no matter what, our heroes have something to fight for. Worf believes in his son, and that’s enough for him to help Sisko; Tom Paris also has a personal stake as his wife B’Elanna is one of the minds under Lore’s torment. It’s that personal state that makes Star Trek stories great, and I’m happy that the creators involved understand that.
Star Trek: Defiant #27 delivers moments both personal and philosophical, as the Lore War storyline hurtles toward its end. However it all shakes out, it’s looking like this will be a Star Trek story to remember – and I hope future Trek comics can match its scope.
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