Review– ‘Star Trek: Defiant’ #5 Prepares For War

Kahless and the Red Path have taken the galaxy unawares, creating a horrifying vision for the galaxy and an enticing vision for the disenfranchised. In Star Trek: Defiant #5, Worf’s crew has the last pieces of the puzzle fall into place to stop Kahless before the Red Path sweeps across the galaxy.

Christopher Cantwell, Angel Unzueta, Marissa Louise, and Clayton Cowles close the first arc of the Defiant’s story, and prepare for the Day of Blood.

Commander Sela has come to Worf and his crew with crucial information. As Spock and Lore realize the Red Path may have a weapon even more terrifying than the Orb of Destruction, Sela gives the crew information on the incredibly advanced Romulan ships Kahless has stolen. Now, the crew is in a race against time to stop Kahless’s plan on Qo’nos before he commits genocide on his own people.

There’s a lot to get through in this issue. Cantwell has taken the standard plot set-up issue- which can often become plodding and exposition heavy- and creates an enjoyable read. The character dynamics continue to be a high point, with Cantwell mixing and matching the crew so everyone gets a moment, and they all get to have their own unique relationships within that dynamic. He also makes it tense throughout- whether it’s Spock and Lore surviving an explosion or Sela revealing the Romulan Bloodwings.

Unzueta and Louise continue to do great work. They strike a balance between photoreal and dynamic in their figurework- using the line art and colors both to do so. Too often in licensed books, new characters that have never appeared in live action stick out like sore thumbs. That’s not the case with X, the Orion medic that joined the crew last issue. It’s a great looking issue that captures the Trek spirit so well.

Star Trek: Defiant #5 is available now from IDW Publishing.