Advance Review – James T. Kirk Comes To The Rescue *Again* In ‘Star Trek: The Last Starship’ #3
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
Bringing Jim Kirk out of mothballs may seem like a stunt, but he’s truly the hero the galaxy needs after the Burn has decimated the Federation. What’s best about this issue is that we see Kirk’s deep insights into the Klingons – something that was barely hinted at during Star Trek’s original television run and movies.
Overall
8.5/10When Klingons are involved, it’s always best to call upon Captain James T. Kirk.
As depicted in Star Trek: The Last Starship, Earth and the Federation are reeling from the effects of the Burn, the galaxy-wide disaster that rendered all dilithium internet and caused wrap cores to explode. That tragedy lefts trillions dead and crippled transportation across the vastness of space.
To make matters worse, an extremist Klingon cult known as the Black Path, has taken advantage of the situation and attacked the U.S.S. Omega.
Writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly know how to amp up the drama. And they also know that Kirk is the hero the Federation needs. That’s why they resurrected him with the help of Agnes the Borg Queen from Star Trek: Picard.
With the support of Captain Sato, Kirk takes command of the Omega and combats the Klingon assault on his ship. With his deep knowledge of the Klingons, he also recognizes that this attack is cloaking a far more aggressive move by the renegade aliens.
While the Kirk we know from the original series and the first several movies never demonstrated these intimate insights into the enemy, it’s not difficult to think that Kirk would have intensely studied his foe. Lanzing and Kelly have demonstrated that this beloved character can still show growth decades after he first his the small screen.
Artist Adrian Bonilla draws a younger Kirk. This isn’t the pudgy demoted admiral from the movies, but rather a svelte, good-looking young man with a lifetime of memories and experiences. It’s easily recognizable as actor William Shatner in his prime.
Bonilla depicts a chaotic galaxy still reeling from the unimaginable impact of the Burn. The panels are intentionally messy, though sometimes they feel a bit rushed.
At the end of the sixth feature film, Kirk and the Enterprise crew joke that, once again, they saved the galaxy. That self-congratulatory tone aside, it’s easy to understand why Kirk is needed once again here.
Star Trek: The Last Starship #3 will be available in comic book shops and on digital platforms Wednesday from IDW.
