Sons of Star Trek #3 is written by Morgan Hampton and published by IDW Publishing. Artwork is by Angel Hernandez, colours by Nick Filardi and letters by Clayton Cowles. Main cover are (left) is by Jake Bartok.
Sons of Star Trek #3 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
In a—SNAP!—turn of events, Q Jr has kidnapped three of Starfleet’s eldest sons and transported them to an alternate reality. By way of a bold maneuver with Lieutenant Jadzia at the helm, the U.S.S. Avery crew finally avoided being turned to shrapnel by the Breen…for now. But the crew now face a new challenge: The infamous Curzon maneuver has left them sitting dead in space, and the Breen have already begun infiltrating the ship. To make matters worse, QJ’s powers have stopped working. It’s do or die for Jake Sisko and the crew of the Avery—for real this time.
Review
2024’s surprisingly stirring Star Trek series, Sons of Star Trek, is back today with the penultimate chapter in its four-issue run. Last month we left our four heroes: Jake, Nog, Alexander and Q Jr balancing on the edge of a knife as Breen invaders had boarded the USS Avery.
This issue picks up with Nog in a moment from his past which illustrated his isolation within Starfleet. Morgan Hampton has done a marvellous job of taking each of these characters and fleshing them out well beyond their live-action appearances. Whilst the book is a classic Trek ensemble piece, each issue as put focus on a different character. With issue #1 is was Jake, last month it was Alexander. So it feels right this issue would shift to the first Ferengi in Starfleet and his journey certainly leads to unexpected places.
Due to the Dominion War falling towards the end of Deep Space Nine’s seven-season run on TV there was little time to reflect on how enlisting during a time of war impacted Nog. Hampton’s story is undoubtedly rooted in the character’s history. His feelings of loneliness aren’t new. But the richness in the Sons of Star Trek storytelling allows each of these characters to flourish beautifully. In many ways Hampton has given them the agency to command their own stories, something each craves in the pages of the book itself.
Elsewhere, with the ship infiltrated by Breen soldiers the supporting cast of Sons of Star Trek has plenty to do. Q Jr has temporarily lost his powers, something the final issue is destined to pick up with as the focus shifts again. Jake is now integrating himself with the crew, as is Alexander to a certain degree, as their confidence grows and they overcome their demons. There’s also plenty to do for legacy Star Trek cast who appear in the book. Dukat, Jadzia, Tuvix and Shaw all have memorable and poignant roles to play as the story builds towards its inevitable conclusion. There’s also a fun cameo from a much-loved member of The Next Generation crew who became a staple of 90’s Trek television.
There’s plenty of opportunity for artist Angel Hernandez and colourist Nick Filardi to shine this month. Exploring the interior of the USS Avery opens up opportunity to see new spaces but also to deliver a sometimes claustrophobic experience of the battle against invading forces. My usual bug bear of artists slavishly trying to create recognisable models of actors is a distance memory in Sons of Star Trek. Hernandez somehow makes completing the task look effortless.
Verdict
A tense and electrifying penultimate issue of IDW’s Sons of Star Trek. The series continues to impress with its combination of powerful storytelling and imagery.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
