We've Seen the New Star Trek Series Launching In a Month, And It's Great. (Advanced Review)

A new Star Trek series launches in a little over a month, and judging from its first issue, it will be fantastic. 2026 is the 60th anniversary of the venerable franchise, with celebrations the world over. IDW Publishing, who has held the rights to produce Star Trek comics for 20 years, will be getting in on the festivities with a brand-new title that takes fans beyond the final frontier.

As previously announced here on ScreenRant, IDW is set to launch a new, adjective-less Star Trek title. Following the adventures of Captain Seven of Nine aboard the Enterprise NCC-1701-G, the book will be written by Christopher Cantwell and drawn by Dennis Menheere. Star Trek spins out from the events of Picard’s third season, which introduced him and Doctor Crusher’s son Jack. In the series finale, Jack joins Starfleet, serving under the newly minted Captain Seven. It was intended to be a setup for a television series that never materialized.

Star Trek fans were disappointed that Seven’s adventures came to such an abrupt end, and IDW is rectifying this mistake with its newest offering. IDW has raised the bar for Star Trek comics, and its latest title is another feather in their cap. Star Trek builds expertly on what came before, all the while charting a bold new path. IDW’s last two series to bear the name expanded the possibilities of what a Star Trek comic can achieve, and the new entry continues this tradition.

Seven of Nine Takes the Lead in Star Trek's First Issue

Seven of Nine's Enterprise Crew is Diverse, and Contains Some Familiar Faces

In the first issue of Star Trek, fans are reintroduced to Captain Seven of Nine, as well as the crew members introduced on Picard, such as Jack and Sidney “Crash” LaForge. Furthermore, Alexander, son of Worf, signs on as the Chief Medical Officer, a nod to the excellent Sons of Star Trek miniseries. Cantwell and Menheere have also created a number of exciting new characters to round out the crew of the Enterprise. Fans of the previous Star Trek comic will also find a familiar face.

Captain Seven and the Enterprise’s crew are faced with a totally new mission, one that could have major consequences for the Federation and the galaxy as a whole. A totally new area of space, called the “Epsilon Corridor” has been discovered, and the secrets it contains could change the course of galactic history. The Corridor is also full of danger, including spatial distortions and relativistic time dilation. Starfleet charges the Enterprise with exploring the Corridor, as a possible prelude to colonization.

Star Trek #1 is a grand, cosmic adventure, but also one that does not lose sight of the people behind it all. Cantwell and Manheere explore Seven’s relationship with Raffi. The Enterprise’s new mission comes with a heavy cost, one that will most certainly take a toll on the lives of the crew. This gives Star Trek #1 an aura of melancholy, and Manheere’s art perfectly captures the pathos the crew is experiencing.

Star Trek #1 is a Great Debut, and Promises Great Things to Come

While fans are attracted to Star Trek’s space battles and cool special effects, the underlying premise of the franchise is to explore aspects of the human condition, and IDW’s new title does just that. The Epsilon Corridor brings with it a great potential to reshape the galaxy, for either better or worse. The Federation is eager to begin settling the Corridor. In fact, the Federation is almost too excited to get started, which does not sit well with Seven, allowing Cantwell and Menheere to interrogate Star Trek’s ideals.

There is a lot going on in Star Trek #1, but Cantwell and Manheere confidently guide the reader through it all. There is a plethora of new faces in Star Trek #1, and each gets a tantalizing introduction. The creative team also brings readers up to date on the characters introduced in Picard, and introduces a shocking new status for a franchise legend. What caused this new status will be one of the central mysteries driving Star Trek, as will the treasures and pitfalls of the Epsilon Corridor.

IDW is Ensuring Star Trek's 60th Anniversary Is Still Great

Unfortunately, Star Trek’s 60th anniversary has been a letdown for fans. Paramount canceled Starfleet Academy and scuttled all in-progress Trek projects, leaving the franchise’s immediate future uncertain. Yet companies like IDW have arrived to fill in the gaps, giving fans epic stories that utilize the Star Trek franchise to its full extent. The publisher’s past offerings have reached across the mythos, uniting generations of characters into one adventure. IDW’s new Star Trek book takes it a step further, and the result is nothing short of extraordinary.

Star Trek #1 is on sale September 23 from IDW Publishing!