Star Trek: Starfleet Academy – Lost Contact #2 is written by Layne Morgan and published by IDW Publishing. Artwork is by Coralí Espuña, colours by Nora Serrano and letters by Neil Uyetake. Main cover art (left) is by Espuña.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy – Lost Contact #2 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
A massive transvectous ozone storm has hit S’Eekay II, stranding Jay-Den, Genesis, Tarima, and Kyle away from their teachers aboard the Athena! What was meant to be a routine survey simulation on an abandoned planet has turned deadly: An unknown life-form’s hunting them, they’re trapped in a mysterious force field preventing them from beaming out, and to make matters worse, the cadets have completely lost their ability to speak to one another…not that they were doing great at working together beforehand. Luckily, Genesis has a plan to get them out. Only no one is listening to her. And if the cadets all don’t grow into their Starfleet shoes fast, their first mission will become their last.
Review
We’re back with the cadets of Starfleet Academy today for the second issue of Layne Morgan’s Lost Contact. Our group of fearless young officers is stranded on S’Eekay II as an environmental storm has cut off contact with the U.S.S. Athena. Picking up right where we left off Morgan is using this second chapter in the 5-issue series to raise the stakes, focussing on the danger rather than hurtling forwards through the narrative.
Issue #2 of Lost Contact picks up right where we left off, handing the de-facto “Captain’s Log” to Gensis. Strike one for Morgan is continuing the character development seen in season one of the Starfleet Academy series. On the planet Genesis is working hard to coordinate the troops but everyone has their own idea about what should be top priority whilst contact with the ship is lost. Complicating matters further, the forcefield around this half of the planet has also silenced the cadets.
Being completely unable to communicate from within the confines of their space suits poses issues for the cadets and Morgan. For Genesis the issue is finding a way to communicate and lead effectively. Tarima knows sign-language but not everyone else can. Leaving everyone to frantically gesticulate and write in the sand. For Morgan it means that dialogue is really sparse during scenes on S’Eekay II which puts pressure on the narration and the art team to communicate what’s going on.
The sparse dialogue on the planet is likely why issue #2 puts a strong focus on events aboard the U.S.S. Athena with Captain Nahla Ake and War Academy leader Commander Zeeren Kelrec. Ake and Kelrec are at the emotional core of this issue, butting heads almost as much as their cadets as they search for the best way to support or rescue them. Morgan uses both strings of the story to explore the character’s approach to crisis management. Ake and Kelrec have experience on their side. But they also struggle to set aside their personal feelings towards the kids. Whilst the cadets are inexperienced and headstrong, setting them at odds until a leader naturally steps up.
All of this feels inherently Star Trek. On the ship they’re debating the merits of leaving the cadets to maintain the learning experience of the mission. On the planet the team silently debates the right course of action when faced with personal danger and an opportunity at first contact. Lost Contact #2 isn’t without action, particularly when Kelrec defies Ake and takes matters into his own hands. It accumulates in an explosive cliffhanger that puts several characters in danger as we had into the midway point of the series.
Espuña’s abstract approach to the artwork continues to be unique even amongst Trek’s more experimental books. Even the strongly defined bridge of the Athena is approached like a work of art rather than simply a starship interior. Espuña comes into her own when drawing events down on the planet’s surface. The alien landscape looks fantastic and is only elevated further by Nora Serrano’s colours. This issue is very purple across the board, feeling alien and distinctly not like any ship-based Trek story.
Verdict
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy – Lost Contact #2 is an emotionally-driven followup to a strong series debut. Its focus on raising the stakes, rather than hurtling forwards with the story, makes the book feels intrinsically Star Trek in an era when the franchise is struggling to define itself for a contemporary audience.
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