Star Trek #20 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 #20 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
Having revealed their true godlike identity, T’Lir is relying on Captain Sisko to help repair Kahless’ damage to space-time and save their species from extinction. Despite the Prophets’ eerie warning that Sisko is forbidden at the Pleroma—a meeting place for god-level species at intersecting space-time coordinates—he and his crew head to the Utopia Planitia Federation Shipyards for a retrofit to the Theseus in preparation to boldly take on the unknown. Meanwhile, a mysterious figure from Section 31 approaches Lily with a mission, claiming the Federation’s future is in her hands.
Review
For the second time this week writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing are melting my brain. As Star Trek hits its 20th issue the series is going where no one has gone before with weird and wonderful consequences. The “Pleroma” arc cements itself as the series’ biggest to date, stretching the possibilities of the long-running franchise’s premise and leaving us with a potentially calamitous consequences.
After the revelation that T’Lir, a trusted member of the USS Theseus crew, is revealed to be part of Trek history as a member of the Organian race. With all of existence seemingly on the line, Sisko is starting off this latest issue by getting a sleek new retrofit for his ship and that requires a trip to Utopia Planitia ship yard. It turns out in this version of the Trek timeline the ship yard is being commanded by none other than Star Trek: Picard’s Liam Shaw. We’ve seen characters from Lower Decks show in up this new continuity before and it’s cool to see Kelly and Lanzing continuing to pull from the Paramount+ era of shows. Shaw is just a grumpy and resistant with Sisko as he was with Picard so it’s funny to Sisko chooses to manage that behaviour in comparison to Picard.
With the refit underway the characters are given a moment to breathe and ruminate on the journey ahead. These moments have become of particular importance as the series looks to amplify the personal stakes. The crew has been through so much in under two years that it’s easy to get lost amongst the action. But with one eye always on the characters, Lanzing and Kelly are doing a great job of reminding us they’re “real” people with their own stories and their own motivations.
There’s also something for everyone. Seeing Crusher longing to be reunited with Wesley tugs at the heartstrings of The Next Generation fans whilst a glimpse of the relationship between Paris and Torres is aimed squarely at Voyager fans. Sisko calling out to Jake, Kasidy and Sarah plays to the Deep Space Nine fans and suddenly everyone is included.
Conceptually the “Pleroma” arc is taking a bit of time to wrap my head around. Even under the banner of Star Trek this story is breaking the mold. The idea of this pocket of existence outside of our universe which is more of a concept than a physical plane. Of course our fair writers choose to drop another Picard cameo as a character with ties to the much discussed Wesley Crusher decides to drop in and leave our crew with a rather dangerous threat.
Of course all this ultra-high-concept storytelling means Star Trek is visually off the charts at this point. Megan Levens has got to be living her best Trek life and it shows on the page. The refit of the Theseus looks great and follows the tradition of Trek refits. Likewise Levens is able to distill that concept of a place outside space and time and somehow make it work on the page. No small challenge if you ask me.
Verdict
Star Trek #20 is a book you’re going to want to sit down and concentrate on. Outside of some stellar character work, Lanzing and Kelly are crafting their most high stakes, huge scale story yet and it’s certainly going where no one has gone before.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
