After 31 Years, Star Trek Voyager's 5-Part Sequel Is Finally The 10/10 Adventure Janeway Deserves
Warning: contains spoilers for Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming 1-5!
After 31 years, Star Trek: Voyager’s five-part sequel gives Captain Janeway the 10/10 adventure she deserves. The skipper of the USS Voyager, Captain Janeway, kept her crew safe as they traveled through the distant, and dangerous, Delta Quadrant. Janeway and her crew fought off the likes of the Kazon, the Hirogen and, of course, the Borg.
While Kate Mulgrew ultimately played Captain Janeway, actress Genevieve Bujold was the first choice. She even filmed a few scenes before abruptly quitting.
Brought to vibrant life by actress Kate Mulgrew, Captain Kathryn Janeway has taken her place next to other Star Trek icons such as Captains Kirk, Picard and Sisko. For seven seasons, Janeway had the unenviable task of ensuring that Voyager made it home safely, a mission she accomplished in a grand fashion. After Voyager’s return, she was promptly promoted to Admiral, retiring a few years later. However, in the wake of the attack on Mars, Janeway is called back into service, as seen on Star Trek: Prodigy.
Voyager’s homecoming, while definitely a cause for celebration, signaled the end of the show, leaving many loose ends in the process. What happened after the end credits rolled has driven fan speculation since Voyager’s ending in 2001. Later Trek shows did provide updates on Voyager’s crew, but still left some gaps. Last year, IDW Publishing pulled back the curtain on Voyager’s final mission, and gave Janeway one of her best adventures yet.
Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming Continued the Ship's Story
Species 8472 Attacked Voyager Right as She Returned Home
Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming, a five-issue miniseries published by IDW in late 2025, was written by Susan Bridges and Tilly Bridges and drawn by Angel Hernandez. Set immediately after “Endgame,” the final episode of Voyager, the series follows the ship as it is attacked by Species 8472 at what should have been its finest hour.
Homecoming writers Susan Bridges and Tilly Bridges were also consultants on Star Trek: Prodigy.
One of Voyager’s deadliest foes, Species 8472, feeling threatened over the technology future Janeway gave the ship in the finale, breaks their agreement with the Federation, commandeering the ship and declaring war. Species 8472, using their shape-shifting abilities, had infiltrated Starfleet, making their victory all but assured. However, Species 8472 underestimated not only dissension within the ranks, but Janeway as well.
Meanwhile, 8472 is building a device that can open a portal to the Federation big enough to allow their fleet through. In a mirror of her actions in Voyager’s premiere, she destroys the device, stranding the crew in Fluidic Space. Janeway then forges an alliance with a group of Borg also stuck in Fluidic Space, as well as a rogue faction of Species 8472. The alliance Janeway brokers stops the invasion, saving the Federation once again. Voyager then returns home, for good this time.
All of Captain Janeway's Best Qualities Are on Display in Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming
Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming was a fantastic send-off for the crew, and an epic adventure that reminded fans of why Janeway was one of Starfleet’s finest. Voyager faced countless situations where they were outgunned, and Janeway got them through these encounters every time. Janeway tried to reason her way out of a fight, preferring words to weapons. Yet, when hard decisions needed to be made, she was not afraid to do so. Every one of these qualities is on display in Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming.
During Voyager’s time in the Delta Quadrant, Janeway had to create alliances. Being far from home, help and resources from Starfleet were non-existent, forcing Janeway to rely on natives of the Delta Quadrant. She convinced Neelix, a member of a Delta Quadrant race, to join the crew early on. Janeway is persuasive and diplomatic, and the creative team behind Homecoming show this repeatedly: she brings together disparate factions to fight for the greater good. Renegade Borgs and members of 8472 sat down together for the first time thanks to Janeway.
Finally, Homecoming showed just how inspiring a leader Captain Janeway was to her crew. Voyager had just made it home, the culmination of seven years of a dangerous trip. Species 8472 tried to steal it away from them, which could have demoralized the crew, but Janeway rallied them successfully. She convinced them to keep fighting, and never give up trying to get home, just as she did for seven seasons on Voyager.
Star Trek: Voyager Fans Need to Read Homecoming
Star Trek: Voyager expanded the franchise’s lore in unique and creative ways. It opened up the Delta Quadrant, and gave fans icons such as Seven of Nine, the EMH and Captain Janeway. Janeway had an uphill battle on many fronts, but she came through it successfully, forging a legacy that lives on for centuries. Homecoming was the perfect adventure for Janeway, and a must-read for fans.
The collection edition of Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming is on sale August 16 from IDW Publishing!