Star Trek: Lower Decks #5 is written by Ryan North and published by IDW Publishing. Artwork is by Jack Lawrence, colours by Charlie Kirchoff and letters by Clayton Cowles.
Star Trek: Lower Decks #5 is available now, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
Suspicious after the Cerritos docks for its second baryon sweep in the same year, Mariner sneaks into a command meeting. There, the Department of Temporal Investigations tasks the crew with finding a time traveler who is rewriting Federation history at an alarming rate. Mariner finds her friends and tells them what’s really going on…only for the timeline to change around them! Obviously, something has gone wrong with Command’s mission, and per usual, it’s now up to Mariner, Tendi, Rutherford, and Boimler to save the day.
Review
It’s time for a brand new arc to kick off in IDW’s brilliant Star Trek: Lower Decks ongoing series and boy is this one a doozy. Ryan North is cherrypicking from a lifetime of Trek knowledge to pull together what could be Lower Decks’ very own First Contact moment…
This series might only be five months old but it’s already cemented itself in Trek history for its ability to mimic Lower Decks tone perfectly. The balance of Trek reverence and comedic storytelling is sublime and that have never been more apparent than in this issue. Lest we not forget this is the first ongoing series for Lower Decks and we’re now in a position where it’s up and running at full (warp) speed.
I particularly appreciated how this issue starts out with the U.S.S. Cerritos having a moment ripped straight from one of my favourite Next Generation episodes, “Starship Mine”. What better excuse to get an entire crew off the ship than a Baryon sweep. It instantly calls back to memories of 90’s Trek at its most lighthearted but adventurous. Something which Lower Decks – in all forms – has really tried to recreate in the modern era. Ryan North has somehow wholly tapped in to that and been able to translate it from screen to page without any devaluation.
Right across this issue that sensibility rings true and much of that is down to North’s characterisation of Mariner. Whilst some would argue that translating animation in to comic book form is “easy”, I would argue it is actually more difficult. The close relationship between mediums leaves little room for error. So it’s a ringing endorsement of North’s writing that I can hear the voices of Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noëll Wells and Eugene Cordero when reading the book. But it’s Mariner who has carries the weight of Star Trek: Lower Decks #5. It’s through Mariner we learn about the plan to send the Cerritos command crew on a secret mission. That means it’s then also up to her to get the lower deckers on board to help save the day. It’s all classic Lower Decks and ensures both the book and the TV series feel interchangeable.
I’ve been trying to carefully step around the plot to avoid spoilers. But I have to reference the fact that North is calling back to one of the greatest episodes in modern-Trek history, “Those Old Scientists”. That instantly gives you an idea as to the direction of travel for the story here. But the use of Krulmuth-B and the portal is tied neatly and authentically in to North’s story. In fact all the choices North makes this issue are pitch perfect. Just part of the reason why this series is so gosh darn lovable.
It helps that every artist who has boarded the Cerritos has had a knack for bringing its heavily stylised look in to comic. This issue we have Jack Lawrence on board alongside Charlie Kirchoff and Clayton Cowles. North’s story tees up a bunch of classic Trek callbacks for Lawrence and co. to render on the page, all of which look great. From the classic TNG-era Ferengi with their infinitely fashionable fur sashes to the Hirogen and the brilliant callback to Star Trek: The Animated Series with the Vendorians.
I’ve talked about this before, particularly in Trek book reviews. But it isn’t always easy to bring originality to the visuals. There’s so much predetermined design language in Trek never mind recognisable characters. But Lower Decks offers artists the chance to do something a little different. Here it feels like Lawrence is having fun with the liveliness of the series overall aesthetic. It feels like this book may have met its perfect match.
Coming out of Lower Decks #5 the final setting felt a little predictable. But only in the final panels before the big reveal. We’re leaving our heroes in quite the predicament and whilst I don’t want to predict where this story may end up. I have a feeling the wild ride of this arc may lead to a hilariously paradoxical conclusion…
Verdict
Star Trek: Lower Decks earns its first five-star review from me. No notes whatsoever. A brilliant story told through dynamic, lively artist which feels ripped right from the screen. Tonally and visually this is Star Trek: Lower Decks at its finest.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
