It’s Elementary Dear O’Brien — Reviewing ‘Star Trek Annual 2024’ #1

Things have always been complicated for the Soong brothers. Now their tense sibling issues are poised to threaten reality itself.

Threads from the Day Of Blood and beyond are weaving together in Star Trek Annual 2024 #1, setting up the future of the line. Another piece of the puzzle from Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Rachel Stott, Charlie Kirchoff, and Clayton Cowles.

There are few things that turn me into the much used “Leonardo DiCaprio pointing at the television” meme, and the whole of the Star Trek franchise sure is one. Generally, Easter eggs or “remember this?” stuff doesn’t move the needle any for me. But, bring in characters or concepts or other things from the past in really fun and creative ways (that builds rather than just points) and I’m all in.

Kelly and Lanzing have done this the whole time they’ve been handling Star Trek (not to mention the precursor Star Trek: Year Five series). Using this offshoot of the franchise to create a real connected web, finding ways to bring in all the toys into one shared box. Putting characters together who either have never met in live-action or spent many years apart.

Such as Chief (Starfleet Academy Professor) Miles O’Brien getting to once more hang out with old pal Data (and another surprise friend I won’t spoil) and his trusty cat Spot. Throw in some big science and mystical stuff alongside the family issues of the Soongs, with a dash of some Sherlock Holmes, and we’re really cooking here. It’s really smart to use the space of an annual to not only flesh out Data’s story without taking from the ongoing main series, but also build the new oncoming threat.

Playing within the margins of the live-action continuity while also showcasing things that the shows never have, can, or will gives the series such great weight. Even more so is the deep character development chops that the duo has cultivated for years

Stott is one of those artists that just brings a real spark of joy to anything she is drawing. Hitting that sweet spot where the characters resemble themselves but avoid the pure uncanny valley photorealism that hits many live action property licensed books. Plenty of illuminating depth and weight mixed with a hint of whimsy and a bit of a sharper edge. Allowing action to just glide across the page as smoothly as possible, allowing quieter moments to resonate similarly.

There is a darker tinge to the story, what with Lore’s plans and Data’s struggles, and we feel that on the page. Both from the way that Slott depicts things, but also the color palette that Kirchoff employs. Plenty of pops of more vibrant lighter tones since this is a sci-fi story with all kinds of gizmos and ‘alien’ worlds or vistas to behold. All of it with heavier shadows and darker elements sprinkled throughout, as they travel through criminal empires and forgotten worlds and end up near a black hole.

Every bit of the aforementioned struggle from Data just really hits, boosted by the emotional essence that Cowles pours into every word. Giving them that spice and boost to allow character’s tones, emotional currents, and personalities to shine. Shifting things so that volume increases or decreases appropriately, and overall make each word hit with the power it’s meant to.

Star Trek: Annual 2024 #1 is now available from IDW Publishing.