Advance Review — ‘Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming’ TPB Picks Up Where The Series Left Off
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
It wasn’t happily every after for the crew of the U.S.S. Voyager — at least not at first. This limited series, collected for the first time, tells the story of how things nearly went off the rails as soon as the ship returned to Earth. Some great illustrations and a definitive resolution for each character are among the highlights.
Overall
8.5/10Star Trek: Voyager had one of the most definitive endings of any of the franchise’s series.
Having defeated the Borg, Captain Janeway and her crew finally made it back to Earth after seven years of being marooned in the Delta Quadrant.
While that conclusion may not have screamed for a second helping of endings, IDW decided to throw caution to the wind and augment that coda. The result is a largely successful limited series now collected into a trade paperback.
But don’t think of Star Trek: Voyager — Homecoming as an extended epilogue. It is a supercharged episode or two in and of itself. Just as Janeway and the team are about to relax, the ship is attacked by the evil Species 8472. Even in space, there’s no rest for the weary, it seems.
Credit writers Susan Bridges and Tilly Bridges for a brisk pace throughout the book. It’s been 25 years since Voyager was on the air, but even those of us who were just causal fans can easily get caught up in the intrigue, romance, and danger. The five-chapter story does feel slightly bloated at times; some editing would have made things a bit tighter.
Artist Angel Hernandez is the real star here. His characters look like the actors portraying them (well, the way they looked over two decades ago anyway). Even the occasional characters like Tom Paris’ father and Boothby are instantly recognizable. And Hernandez’ menacing depiction of the alien invaders in a high point.
Another memorable section, courtesy of the Bridges, is an extended ending (think The Lord of the Rings) where each character gets a sense of revolution the TV show never afforded them. That alone is worth picking up this book.
Star Trek: Voyager — Homecoming TPB — written by Susan Bridges and Tilly Bridges, illustrated by Angel Hernandez , colored by Charlie Kirchoff, and lettered by Neil Uyetake — will be available in comic book stores and on digital platforms on Wednesday from IDW.
