Hooked On A Feeling — Reviewing ‘Star Trek: Sons Of Star Trek’ #3

What if stepping through the proverbial looking glass into a worse alternate universe actually presented the chance for something better?

While battling a siege of Breen soldiers, this is the possibility that Jake, Nog, and Alexander find themselves facing in Star Trek: Sons Of Star Trek #3. Things are heavily pondered, and lives are put at risk in this penultimate chapter from Morgan Hampton, Angel Hernandez, Nick Filardi, and Clayton Cowles.

Dipping into alternative universes is nothing new for the characters that inhabit the world of Star Trek. Having a god-like being or some cosmic anomalies fling a person or their whole crew into this situation is far more common that most beings in the universe would like. Being the children of prominent movers and shakers in the galactic realm it’s actually surprising that this is a first for the trio of characters we’re following.

Hampton taps into each of their pasts, struggles, and family connections when placing the characters on the board in respect to their desires to leave. It makes perfect sense for Jake and Alexander to be on far opposite sides of the board with Nog hovering in the middle. Jake’s connection to his father and others is strong, and while he isn’t sure what his personal path might be he wants to go back there. Alexander on the other hand, has a horrible relationship with his mostly absentee father and took part in a murderous cult and has plenty of blood on his hands.

Nog takes most of the spotlight in this issue, noting that the weight of being the only Ferengi in Starfleet as well as his connections to ‘heroic’ officers is heavy on his shoulders. While this new universe is caught in a terrible war, with Starfleet struggling to survive, Ferengi are plentiful in the organization and his brains and contributions outweigh the stories he could tell of Sisko and others.

While this franchise is sci-fi and has all the ships and other stuff, people and character beats are what keep us all coming back. Hampton easily taps into that and balances both sides quite masterfully. Giving us some good action with Alexander the Breen hunter, as well as the Nog stuff and some surprising beats with Dukat. I love that Jake points out how his Dukat was a monster, while this Dukat is very much the opposite. In many respects, this Dukat is actually far more like Sisko, which is something the evil Dukat inaccurately tried to claim at times.

Other universes and paths are funny that way.

On the artistic side, Hernandez taps into both aspects so easily as well. Bringing a lot of wide scale and personal level details in many scenes, while pulling back and letting details fall to the wayside to really focus at times. As the characters move from space to space in the ship, the motion of the scene makes sure we too feel like we’re moving. Both because of the kinetic energy but also the attention to making sure each room or space feels unique, rather than just a copy of another, as it should be.

A heavier hand can be felt at times making sure that there is an overwhelming feeling of dread, even around the more melancholy character moments. Which is natural, what with the Breen doing their best Predator impression currently. We feel that also in the colors as Filardi gives many elements (like the uniforms) the higher vibrancy that we expect, slipping a lot of shadows or darker tones throughout to keep that weightier feeling. Pairing nicely with the more neutral very metallic spaces of the ship that bring a more cold and sterile feeling of a sort.

This is a Starfleet ship built in a universe that has been in a demoralizing war for some time, after all.

Character focused pieces generally mean that characters have a lot more to say, unless it’s those more stoic type characters. With the captions and dialogue, it’s on Cowles to bring the spark to make sure it not only sits well on the page but carries the emotional or developmental depth. Never a question of whether that will happen with Cowles. Not only is that always achieved, but it comes with other distinct visual qualities that bring a pop and funness to everything.

Star Trek: Sons Of Star Trek #3 is now available from IDW Publishing.