Star Trek #19 is written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing. Artwork is by Megan Levens, colours by Lee Loughridge and letter by Clayton Cowles. Main cover art (left) is by Levens. The book is published by IDW Publishing.
Star Trek #19 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
Acclaimed writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly along with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds comics artist Megan Levens (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Starsigns) welcome you to the thrilling brand-new chapter of the Eisner-nominated Star Trek flagship series! Benjamin Sisko has begun imagining an end to his journey and is looking forward to establishing a normal, human life. But unfortunately for Captain Sisko, his next test has been a member of his crew this whole time… T’Lir, the crew’s former science officer, has returned to the U.S.S. Theseus bridge with a shocking revelation and a plea. Kahless’ attempted war with the gods has altered the very fabric of spacetime, threatening the destruction of several godlike species. Already, anomalies are beginning to form across the galaxy. Their only hope: the Emissary of the Prophets, Benjamin Sisko, and his valiant crew of Starfleet’s finest.
Review
It’s time to begin a brand new arc in Star Trek this week. Following on from “Glass and Bone” we’re heading in to the “Pleroma” arc with connections to The Original Series aplenty as well as some intriguing new developments for members of the U.S.S. Theseus’ crew. As the series hurtles towards the completion of its second year in print it really feels like the dominoes are falling and suspense is building for something even bigger.
We pick up the story with a flashback to the planet Organia, originally introduced in the original series episode “Errand of Mercy”. Writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing even resurrect a character from the past, Organian leader Ayelborne originally played on the series by John Abbott. Here we meet Ayelborne alongside his daughter Tandela as the two have a very existential discussion about mortality and absolute power. Crucially Kelly and Lanzing are making a statement here. Our crew has dealt with inter-species war and a wannabe-god in Kahless. But with this new arc there’s a god-like threat on the horizon.
But there’s more at play here. Millions of years ago Organian’s transcended the need for a corporeal form. Originally existing as humanoids the race evolved to become powerful beings composed of pure energy and thought. One of their abilities allows them to temporarily control the body of another humanoid following a simple touch. Which brings us to the revelation that T’Lir, serving as ensign aboard the U.S.S. Theseus is in fact Tandela, permanently incorporated in to the body of a Vulcan at the moment of their birth. In addition to sending the Theseus on a new mission, the revelation injects a health dose of conflict between the crew. The idea T’Lir hid their true self and the analogies it raises about identity give this new arc its ethical and moral core. It ties back any form of larger scale storytelling and action back to Gene Roddenberry’s original principals of Star Trek.
In fact the idea of morality is on the minds of several crew members. Not just following the loss of Data. But following the events on Tzenketh Dr. Crusher is also considering her place in the universe and the loss of her song Wesley. His decision to join The Traveller back in The Next Generation wasn’t handled with a great deal of emotional weight. But here Kelly and Lanzing are putting a heavier spin on it which adds new depths to Crusher and seems to signal a larger role for her in this arc. Sisko is also grappling with his place as The Prophets seem to have their own intentions which relate to the Organians and apocalyptic Pleroma. As they try to take him back to their celestial temple, Sisko needs to make a decision about whether he wants to return with them or stay with his crew and his family. The deeply personal connections to the existential threat feels inherently Trek. It continues to make this incarnation of the comic book a real contender for the franchise’s best.
Little is revealed about the Pleroma other than its apocalyptic nature. Kelly and Lazing are continuing to hold their cards close to their chest, teasing out the details as and when necessary and ensuring the journey is worth following. There is still a tantalising cliffhanger to Star Trek #19 that builds on tensions within the crew. With Lily Sato haven’t disobeyed ordered on Tzenketh and confronted Sisko about T’Lir she has been very much on the outside of Sisko’s circle and her actions have caught the attention of a certain black ops team within Starfleet. But more on that later…
Megan Levens steps in to the hot seat for Star Trek this month bringing her experience from Strange New Worlds to this cross-franchise mash up. Overall the issue is more contained, focussing on facial expressions to convey the emotions of the story. Backgrounds are, accordingly, more sparse so as to not pull focus. But when more of that Trek spectacle is required then Levens brings that scale and scope with gusto.
Verdict
The first chapter of the “Pleroma” arc poses some interesting questions for Sisko and the Theseus crew. A deeply personal story but with an apocalyptic threat from a god-like species with ties back to The Original Series.
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