The Brutal Truth Of Evolution — Reviewing ‘Star Trek’ #15

Often, Star Trek is all about moralistic explorations of the human condition, complicated made-up scientific techno-babble, or big bold action. Not to mention all the exploring strange new worlds, seeking out new life and new civilizations, and boldly going where no one has gone before.

Sometimes, though, it’s about all of the above, but also fighting against and alongside space dinosaurs. Star Trek #15 is one of those times. A bold adventure from Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, Marcus To, Lee Loughridge, and Clayton Cowles.

I cannot ever tire of stating how much I truly love everything about this title. That’s not a surprise to anyone who knows me since I’ve been a huge Trek fan since my earliest days (thanks to my parents for making Trek a regular family viewing).

There are plenty of artists one can turn to to bring stunning new worlds and civilizations to life. Truly near the top of my list would rest To’s name. I spent numerous months gushing about his work over on the fantastic side of the Marvel Comics X-Line, and the artwork continues to get better. I have numerous pieces of commissioned artwork on my walls, but the only one from a current comic working professional happens to be from To.  So yeah, I’m a big fan.

Just gazing at these pages will show why. There is a vast depth, weight, and extraordinary energy to anything To creates. We’re visiting a world and species that was never seen on the TV screen and was only mentioned once. Yet it’s so well-thought-out here that one would assume it’s a place we’ve been before. Can’t even imagine how much work it takes to create all these vistas, various alien races of all shapes sizes, and colors while also making sure they all are expressive in relatable and readable ways. Yet, it seems so simple the way that it’s presented on these pages each month.

Alongside the unknown are the franchise characters we know, and love. Each of them is rendered in ways that call back to the actors/on-screen depictions while also allowing uniqueness. It allows the artwork to avoid that uncanny valley sort of aspect that pure photocopied style depictions can bring. Cannot forget to note just how fluid and massive, also ordered chaotic, the action scenes feel.

Loughridge has done such an amazing job helping create the lush and open feeling across the various artists who have graced this series. A palate of colors that carry their signature style while also subtly, or not so subtly, shifting to match the art’s energy. Plenty of vary medium or neutral tones that allow a sense of grounding or reality, right next to the far more vibrant and popping colors needed for science fiction. It’s not just the colors of the wide-open space or the ships or elsewhere though.

One element that always catches my eye in a comic is the stark contrasting realistic depictions of day and night. Allowing the darkness/shadows to take control and present a situation that isn’t pitch black but is common for spaces where light is at a premium beyond the natural light of the night sky. It feels cool and welcoming yet oppressive and scary at the same time.

If one is going to have a ton of dialogue and interplay between characters around action scenes, tapping a letterer like Cowles is paramount. They of course didn’t have to go far since this book has been a home for Cowles the whole time. All the emotions and nuance needed to sell the character’s voices is found in each of the words. Personality is booming out of the bubbles and boxes, as they flow through the pages like a perfectly executed orchestration. Small tweaks here or there to bring tone or volume out clearly, and little personalization like the uniform colors/rank pips in caption boxes bring visual flair.

Also flexing their creative muscles are Jackson and Lanzing, who allow their pure love for this franchise to explode on every page. Just like To, they are working to create whole new sections of Trek that have never been explored before. Balancing this mid-size crew of mostly beloved characters, alongside all the new Tzenkethi characters and even a bevy of Romulans to boot.

This is a big old action issue with fights against another more aggressive group of large dinosaur-like beings known as the Sha’zol. Yet, there is plenty of room for the characters to discuss everything from evolution to battle rituals to how their societies deal with things. The Tzenkethi are testing Starfleet and the Romulans, both in battle and also in philosophies. We even get one of my favorite scenes of this issue, which happens to be between the two members of the USS Voyager crew present for this mission.

For seven years, the crew of Voyager tried to get home from the Delta Quadrant in the franchise entry named after their ship (and their journey). All they could think about was home, as they braved various dangers and traveled thousands of light years together. Becoming more than a crew, becoming a true through and through family who had no one but each other in the whole of the quadrant. Yet, we’re presented here with an understandable view of the conclusion of that journey which is refreshing.

Honestly, we haven’t seen much of the Voyager crew since the show ended (other than Seven of Nine and Janeway, with a bit of Chakotay and Tom sprinkled in). So we haven’t had room to explore how some of the crew, like Harry Kim, would feel. It’s natural that coming home was not all it was cracked up to be, especially since no posting or space would feel the same as the tight-knit family atmosphere that was created on Voyager. Finding the space to give one of the best friend duos of the franchise room to explore their truths, as they wait to enter a dangerous battle together again, speaks to the massive strengths of this series.

That cliffhanger though…well played. Did not see that one coming at all.

Wherever this creative team, and anyone else that hops on board at any given time, want to take us, I’m there.

Star Trek #15 is now available from IDW Publishing.