Review: ‘Star Trek: Defiant’ #2 Lives Up To Its Title
by Tony Thornley
The rogue crew of the USS Defiant are already up and away on their clandestine mission to save the galaxy. Star Trek: Defiant #2 shows how far they’ll be willing to go to do that.
Christopher Cantwell, Angel Unzueta, Marissa Louise, and Clayton Cowles show us a much darker side to the Federation and its universe than we’ve seen before.
Worf, Spock, Torres and Ro are headed deep into Orion space, ready to find Kahless’s Red Path at any cost. While we learn in flashback how they freed Lore from Section 31, they also prepare to face the one of the most treacherous and violent races in galaxy. If they survive though, they’ll be able to take the battle right to the Red Path…
This was a great damn issue. Cantwell delivered exposition via action, as Spock and Worf discover a new twist to Kahless’s weapon. A philosophical query from Spock is just as engaging as a battle with Section 31. The plot is complicated, but in a way that drew me in, rather than confused. Best of all, it’s completely true to the characters, giving the action and schemes the depth that drew me in.
Each character gets their moment to shine too. Torres and Ro are great counterpoints to each other- their journey literally mirrored each other, creating an intense amount of conflict between them that you know will come to common ground. Worf is conflicted but determined in a way that is unique to him.
Meanwhile, Spock is quietly and confidently in control, exhibiting a level of competence that’s believable for such a legendary character. Lore only barely gets to scratch the surface but his new status quo is fascinating, especially for the megalomaniac that he was.
Unzueta’s pencils are just as much a draw for the issue as the story. He’s able to make the characters nearly photoreal, but still create a sense of motion. His action is laid out and paced well, with several action beats that are executed so well that I laughed out loud. He makes the horrific effects of the Klingon weapons come to life which Louise adds to with her color art. She gives the line art depth and creates a sense of place that matches the source material.
Star Trek: Defiant #2 is available now from IDW Publishing.
Overview
This issue continues to show what this line and story could do. It’s faithful to the spirit of the universe, but a wholly unique story. I can’t wait for more.
