by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor

It’s time to boldly go where no one has gone before, as Captain Benjamin Sisko and the crew of the Theseus plan to embark to the Pleroma! Can our favorite Starfleet crew get to the gathering of the god-level aliens? Get ready for a big issue, because Star Trek #20 from IDW Publishing is now available!

Official 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.

Creative Team:
Writers: Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing
Artist: Megan Levens
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Clayton Cowles

In the aftermath of the “Day of Blood”, Captain Sisko has found himself at a crossroads. The Bajoran Emissary has been called back to the wormhole, but “The Sisko” believes that there is still work to be done on his current plane of existence. His belief ends up coming to fruition, as Ensign T’Lir revealed that they were actually the last of the Organian race. With a little help from the Theseus crew, they hope to recruit the advanced god-like alien races to aid in bringing the Organians back. In order to break the barrier and enter the space known as the “Pleroma”, they are going to need a bit of help. 

Sisko and crew head out to the Captain’s old space station stomping grounds…the shipyards at Utopia Planita!? The crew are greeted with a “welcome” from another fan-favorite character, as Commander Liam Shaw makes his debut. After a little bit of convincing, Shaw agrees to let the crew proceed with their retrofit of the Theseus, enhancing the ship with a new engine called the “Lardashiev Drive”, a cool new exterior design (those nacelles are dreamy), and enhanced tech to break past the galactic barrier. Meanwhile, Lilly continues her off-ship adventures, which seem to be taking her down the Section-31 rabbithole. Is this part of a plan by Sisko, or has the Ensign fallen in with a bad crowd? With the refit of the ship completed, the Captain and crew embark on their mission and enter the unknown…only to be met with a very familiar face! When a Traveler makes an appearance, you know things are going to get interesting…

One of my favorite things about the ongoing Star Trek comics from IDW is how they are being extremely intentional with their storytelling efforts. Nothing seems like it’s just a story for the sake of a story, but each aspect is strategically crafted to add to the journey of our favorite characters. The inclusion of Commander Shaw was a big moment for this chapter (and a win for fans), and I felt that this character was integrated in an organic and exciting way that complemented the narrative. Lanzing and Kelly really understand how to capture the voices of our heroes, and that makes the story that much more entertaining as you turn the page. Leven’s designs for this issue get a real chance to shine (especially with the retrofit of the ship), and Loughridge’s coloring takes center stage as the crew cross into uncharted territory. The sequence of retrofitting the ship was one of my personal highlights of the issue, as the two-page spread did a lot to explain the thought behind the upgrades. Star Trek has always been about pushing boundaries and exploring the unknown, and this chapter perfectly captured that concept. If you aren’t reading Star Trek and Star Trek: Defiant from IDW, you are missing out on one hell of a ride. 

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Star Trek #20 – 5 surprise cameos out of 5. 

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