Advance Review — Kirk Is Back In ‘Star Trek: The Last Starship’ #2, But It’s Just Not Enough

Captain James T. Kirk is the ideal against which all other Starfleet commanders are measured against. From his heroic deeds in battle to his stirring speeches to motivate the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise to his exploits with the ladies, no other Star Trek captain — and there have been some great ones since him — have been able to eclipse his legend.

So bringing him back from the dead seems at once a risky move as well as an obvious one. After all, the galaxy needs saving once again, and who better to do it?

That’s the premise behind Star Trek: The Last Starship, which is now on its second issue. Set hundreds of years after Kirk died in Star Trek: Generations, Starship presents a new Starfleet crew in the aftermath of The Burn, the catastrophic galactic event that caused every active warp core to explode, killing trillions.

To save the day, Starfleet cobbles together the U.S.S. Omega, with some help from Agnes Jurati, the Borg Queen from Star Trek: Picard. It’s Jurati who wants Kirk back, though we don’t yet know why. Now, Kirk is resurrected but spends most of the issue confined because the Omega’s commander, Delacourt Sato, finds his predecessor to be reckless.

Writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly understand that Kirk’s legacy is complicated, so bringing him back is likely to be viewed differently by various members of the crew. They also know Kirk well — including his love of the classics and his hatred of the Klingons, who killed his son. Lanzing and Kelly show off both of those aspects of their leading man in this issue, which is welcome, since he only made a cameo in the premiere.

Sidelining Kirk for most of this issue as well, the writers are able to introduce us to the rest of the Omega’s crew. There are a few standouts, including a Vulcan-Romulan spy and a Ferengi doctor who is high most of the time. Building a crew that we care about is necessary for a long-term story. But the writing team needs to factor in more of Kirk if they are going to give readers what they want.

Artist Adrian Bonilla presents us a younger-looking version of the captain. This is a Kirk from the end of the original series or even the first feature film. Yet, he has all his memories from what came after. Bonilla’s visuals are a bit muddy. Much of the story is sent in shadows, reflecting this dark period for the Federation. Still, it feels a bit too moody for Trek.

It’s still early in the series, and the creative team, though experienced, is working on balancing the characters. These guys know what they’re doing, so expect — or demand — more of Kirk soon.

Star Trek: The Last Starship #2 will be available in comic bookstores and on digital platforms on Wednesday from IDW.