Star Trek: Defiant #13 is published by IDW Publishing and written by Christopher Cantwell. Artwork is by Ángel Unzueta, colours by Marissa Louise and letters by Clayton Cowles. Main cover art (left) is also by Unzueta.
Star Trek: Defiant #13 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
Starbase 99 has been compromised. Worf and the Defiant crew are quarantined within, desperately trying to evade the infected as their parasitic counterparts flood the floors of the base. To make matters worse, one of the crew’s bounties is dead, another missing. Can the crew survive this raging parasitic invasion on the desolate starbase?
Review
If, like me, you grew up on Star Trek: The Next Generation then chances are you probably had nightmares, like me, about the penultimate episode of season 1, “Conspiracy”. The episode featured corruption at the heart of Starfleet, caused by a race of parasitic aliens who had infiltrated the very heart of the Federation in an attempt to start an invasion. Pure nightmare fuel. Particularly when confronted with the bugs themselves.
So here I am, almost four decades on from when “Conspiracy” first aired and confronted once again by these parasitic lice. Only this time it’s in the pages of Christopher Cantwell’s Star Trek: Defiant. The second part of Cantwell’s “Hell is Only a Word” arc lands in comic book stores today ready to turn stomachs and ruin sleep.
The issue picks up with some much needed backstory for Orion medic Nymira. We spend a little time with Nymira in a prison camp on Orion II. There’s no specific time period given which allows Cantwell some breathing space to flesh out her backstory further in the future. Regardless, the context adds an extra layer to Nymira. Given that she is currently the sole main character not pulled from already existing IP she deserves to a rich and vibrant history. Particularly when it shines a light on sides of her personality we’ve yet to see. These moments will play a key role later in the story so watch out.
Back in the present Worf and the crew of the Defiant are in a tight spot. We pick up with them right where issue #12 left off, following the reveal that the crew of Starbase 99 has been infected by the parasites. Despite a rather grim outlook, Cantwell is able to find a little fun and humour in the moment and I particularly enjoyed B’Elanna’s new ending to the classic “This Little Piggy” nursery rhyme. It strikes a nice balance between the action and Star Trek’s more typical sense of humour.
In fact, with the crew stranded on the base with no action taking place on the Defiant itself, issue #13 is one of the most action-packed outside of the “Day of Blood” crossover. Across some really inventive layouts from artist Ángel Unzueta, Cantwell explores what it means for this group to be backed in to a corner and left to fend for themselves. For Nymira this means confronting some of what she faced in the earlier flashback sequence. It’s a moment which causes her to hesitate and almost lose her life in the process. Once the crew is finally able to reach safety this will hopefully lead to more development for her character.
In a B-plotline to the issue, Sela comes face-to-face with her father and is forced to confront her recent actions. I’m really interested to see where Cantwell is planning to take her character. She’s played a key role in Defiant and in the “Day of Blood” crossover. Following the events of the Defiant annual it seems like Sela is perhaps more compassionate than she was ever portrayed in The Next Generation. But where that leads and how it might help the poor Defiant crew remains a mystery.
Despite effectively rendering itself as a bottle episode, Star Trek: Defiant #13 is still able to deliver a couple of big twists across both plot lines. I hadn’t anticipated meeting Sela’s father. Given what she knows of her mother the dynamic between these two will make for some interesting scenes. The bigger twists come on Starbase 99 and lead us in to a potentially catastrophic cliffhanger. Roll on issue #14!
Verdict
A surprisingly effective bottle issue for Star Trek: Defiant. We’ve got twists, action, humour and plenty of nightmare fuel in the shape of TNG’s parasitic aliens. What more could we ask for?
⭐⭐⭐⭐
