Arc four of the acclaimed Star Trek ongoing comic series continues here in the collected paperback! Benjamin Sisko faces the gods themselves on their home the Pleroma. Acclaimed writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly along with Star Strange New Worlds comics artist Megan Levens (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Starsigns) welcome you to the thrilling brand-new chapter of the Eisner-nominated Star Trek flagship series!Benjamin Sisko has begun imagining an end to his journey and is looking forward to establishing a normal, human life. But unfortunately for Captain Sisko, his next test has been a member of his crew this whole time… T’Lir, the crew’s former science officer, has returned to the U.S.S. Theseus bridge with a shocking revelation and a plea. Kahless’ attempted war with the gods has altered the very fabric of spacetime, threatening the destruction of several godlike species. Already, anomalies are beginning to form across the galaxy. Their only the Emissary of the Prophets, Benjamin Sisko, and his valiant crew of Starfleet’s finest. In the follow up to Star Trek, Vol. 3: Glass and Bone, Volume 4 collects Star Trek issues #19-24 and the 2024 Annual by writers Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing with artists Megen Levens and Rachael Stott.
Kahless' war with the gods has altered space-time irrevocably. T'Lir reveals a guilty secret to the crew and Data must face down Lore in order to save his comrades.
As the story arc draws to a close, there are some fine ideas, with plenty of Easter Eggs for 'Star Trek' fans and some beautifully realised art panels. The writers have really captured the idea of 'Star Trek', realising it on a big stage.
My months-long forced absence from this story (i.e. my public library stopped providing access for a while as they were canceling one service and taking a while to pick this up on another*) reeeeaally seemed to help me enjoy this volume more than any of the prior. I mean, RIP [classic redacted Star Trek characters]. Ok, my enjoyment was probably also enhanced seeing as this featured a more intellectual fight rather than the bloody, physical fight we got in Day of Blood (yawn).
I assumed all along that our all-star cast of characters were not going to be defeated by the "inevitability" of it all. Still, I really enjoyed what I assume are all these peeps [mostly?] defeating impossible odds? Maybe? (I need to read of wins vs. hopeless odds here in my reality as the leaders of my country destroy any slender bit of goodness about our [now former] country selves.)
For the first time I'm very excited to read the next volume in the series!
*My public library used to provide access via the Hoopla app, which reading comics on was not, exactly a pleasure. Now they provide access via Kindle and I have to say, that's a slightly better reading experience. For 100%, I'm still too cheap to buy these things that I can read in a matter of moments so I'll take what I can get.
Another Star Trek volume that's just as much an intellectual journey as a thrilling adventure. In this one, T'Lir reveals their godhood and urges Benjamin Sisko and crew to journey to the Pleroma (a spacetime location where god-like beings can manifest and mingle) for reasons I never quite understood. Sisko himself being on a mission for the prophets (more gods) is pulled in multiple directions. Another wrench is thrown into things when Data's evil brother, Lore, storms the god-castle.
Ultimately, a lot happens in Pleroma and most of it is head-spinning. This series has generally felt like catnip for Deep Cut Fans, but up to this point, I've been able to play along. Pleroma was maybe too much of a challenge for me.
Sisko and the Theseus crew head beyond the universe to discuss the latest goings-on with some interdimensional gods. You know, normal day on a Starfleet ship.
This could have been a whole load of wink-wink nudge-nudge continuity pulls turned into a story, but it instead continues the utter respect for the Star Trek canon while telling a compelling story that both addresses what came before and sets up what's going to be the final arc of the series as well. Great art from Megan Levens, a heartfelt reunion for Doctor Crusher, and the inclusion of the annual which checks in with Data and his wayward brother make Pleroma probably my favourite arc of both this and Defiant thus far.
-1 star from the rating because IDW has inexplicably stopped collecting these issues in hardback, switching midstream to paperback only.
The mystery of T'Lir's identity is finally revealed as Captain Sisko and the USS Theseus go head-to-head with a pleroma (namedrop!) of godlike beings across the Star Trek universe... when I started this storyline, I didn't expect a certain antagonist to make a play against this entire battering ram of gods, but it pays off and sets up what will almost certainly be an astonishing continuation to the story!
A big improvement after the weak Glass and Bone arc. I enjoyed exploring the pantheon on Star Trek gods although the volume of cameos was a bit much at times. Good story and some nice trippy art. I’m excited for more Lore!
The crew of the Theseus head outside time and space to confer with all the Godlike beings that have appeared throughout Star Trek history for the most part. Oh, and Lore's on his way to make things even worse. It's good stuff. Kelly and Lansing have definitely done their Star Trek homework.