Advance Review — Gritty Artwork Tells Its Own Story In ‘Star Trek: The Last Starship’ #7
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
These are dark times for the Federation. Literally. This series gets a creative boost with a new artist at the helm. The dark story may feel a little off brand for Star Trek, but the artwork elevates everything.
Overall
9/10Sometimes all it takes is a change in artists to breathe new life into a comic book series.
While Star Trek: The Last Starship has had it’s ups and downs in the first half-dozen issues, Adrián Bonilla’s artwork has been consistently strong. In this latest issue, though, Hernan Gonzalez, assumes artistic responsibilities.
Like Bonilla, Gonzalez’ work is dark, relying heavily on shadows. While Star Trek is typically hopeful in tone and often even in color, this time period deals with the events after the Burn. With dilithium inert and warp drive largely impossible, the Federation has fallen apart. Only 42 worlds remain members — and Earth isn’t even one of them. To make matters worse, the villainous Emerald Chain is picking up more territories.
Gonzalez reflects this dire time in his illustrations. In addition to shadows, some of the characters, especially Captain Sato, seem more drained by the situation. A man of principles and hope, Sato now looks older than we saw him. Life is wearing him down.
It doesn’t help Sato that writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly have given him a Borg Queen and a facsimile of James T. Kirk on board. His relationship with both is complicated, to say the least. But the writers are holding out some hope for the captain — literally.
Deep Space Hope, the last remaining Starfleet outpost, may have found a way around the dilithium problem. Sato and the U.S.S. Omega go to investigate. Though since this is the beginning of a new story arc, don’t count on things looking up any time soon.
It looks as though Gonzalez is going to stick with the series for at least a few more issues. He’s a welcome addition to the team — especially if things are going to remain this dark.
Star Trek: The Last Starship #7 — written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, illustrated by Hernan Gonzalez, colored by Lee Loughridge, and lettered by Clayton Cowles — will be available Wednesday in comic book stores and on digital platforms from IDW.
