Review: Star Trek #19

Star Trek issue 19 is a rare quiet issue in this series. Full of exposition and completely lacking in action the issue still set up some interesting new motivations and conflicts for the new ark. The seemingly Vulcan ensign T’Lir reveals himself to be a mythological all powerful entity Tandala. His mission is to travel to a place beyond space and time known as Pleroma to save his lost species. The trip will have the added value of saving reality from the orb of destruction.

The issue shows how the crew handle this revelation and this new mission. Sato is angered by the duplicity of her friend and the revelation that she can’t truly trust those around her. Sisko points out that her own duplicity in attacking the Tzenkethi jeopardized their last mission. She remains upset throughout the issue and takes the time to chide T’Lir further before Section 31 uses her vulnerability to recruit her to their cause. Sisko finds the mission to Pleroma as a great calling and is frustrated that the Prophets don’t see the value of his work. The Prophets wish Sisko to rejoin them immediately but Benjamin feels there remains more to accomplish. The notion that hanging with The Prophets is a bit unimportant and dull seems unexpected. But it is nice for the readers to have a pretext to spend more time with this great character on the Theseus.

Beverly feels empowered by the mission and for some reason concludes it will bring her closer to seeing Wesley Crusher again. Wesley is a similarly mythological being as a Traveler but why Beverly feels he is on Pleroma is not clear. Montgomery Scott deals with all of this in his usual practical way and counsels T’Lir to cherish every moment.

The art by Megan Levens feels like a step down from the massive alien specifies and environments of the prior arc. We are meant to feel awe at the views of Pleroma and the destruction of the Orb, but this far it is artistically rendered as a purple blob. The best part of comics is the unlimited visual opportunities and thus far the art feels very limited. Similarly the colors here by Lee Loughridge service the story but feel empty. Kelly and Lanzing are a proven writing team and we are sure to get a massive conflict coming from this mission, here’s hoping the art can improve enough to keep up.

Writing: 4 of 5 stars
Art: 2.8 of 5 stars
Colors: 2.5 of 5 stars

Overall:
3.1 of 5 stars

Writers: Colin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing
Art: Megan Levens
Colors: Lee Loughridge
Publisher: IDW Publishing

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.