Star Trek: Lower Decks #1

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2022) #1

by Ryan North, Chris Fenoglio (Artist)

The hit Paramount+ animated series makes its comics debut with Eisner-winning comics writer Ryan North (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl) at the helm! Soon after leading her crew on a planetary expedition aimed at building bridges and advancing Federation technology, Captain Freeman begins to suspect that the planet and its people are not all what they seem… Meanwhile, the crew in the lower decks take to the holodeck, enjoying some much-needed recreational time—until a bloodthirsty visitor decides to join in on their games.

Genres: Star Trek, Comics, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Vampires, Humor

43 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2022

About the author

Hi, I'm Ryan! I was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in 1980 and since then have written several books. You can read my Wikipedia page for more, or check out my author site at RyanNorth.ca!

I'm the author of the webcomic Dinosaur Comics (that's the comic where the pictures don't change but the words do, it's better than it sounds and I've also done crazy things like turn Shakespeare into a choose-your-own-path adventure, write a comic for Marvel about a girl with all the powers of a squirrel, or mess up walking my dog so badly it made the news.

I'm working on more stuff as we speak, hopefully it's good

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Star Trek: Lower Decks might be the perfect series for a comic tie-in: viewers are already used to the characters being drawn, and it tends to be more light-hearted and more episodic than most of the currently-running series in the Star Trek franchise. This was an issue #1, which means we got a lot of set-up, and most of it hasn’t paid off yet. But it was still a fun trip to space with our favorite animated space explorers!

[ShamNoop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryan North on a Trek comic? Yes.

[Francine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

I didn't grow up with Star Trek (never watched any of the series, though I did see the last few movies), but I am a big fan of the Lower Decks cartoon! It's super accessible and I really love these characters. So I was happy to pick up this comic from my secondhand bookstore.

This comic is about an AI Dracula, birthed by the lower decks crew while messing around on the holo deck. A silly premise, yes, but Lower Decks was always silly, and I think it fits the mood of the show.

Not a spoiler: vampire Boimler hot. There, I said it.

Anyway, I'm definitely picking up more from this series! And might do a cheeky rewatch of the show while I'm at it.

[Proflover · Rating 5 out of 5]

North does an excellent job of keeping the feel of the show, with the inclusion of some narrative asides and public domain references that Dinosaur Comics fans can clearly connect to his voice. I don’t read many comics, but the writing and art are a solid extension of Lower Decks content.

[River · Rating 5 out of 5]

This show translates so well into comic form, it’s just like an extra episode and I’m loving the clever editor’s comments in fine print! Well worth the money.

[Sophie Bojo · Rating 5 out of 5]

this made me incredibly happy
i loved how i read it in the voices of all the characters
i will cry when this show ends and hope these continue 🖖🏻

[Paul Stanis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I anticipated, Lower Decks is a great fit for comics.

[The Void Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Book Review: Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 by Ryan North and Chris Fenogilio**

This comic is a spectacular addition to the Star Trek universe, particularly for fans of the Lower Decks animated series. Authored by Ryan North and illustrated by Chris Fenogilio, it brilliantly captures the spirit of the show, blending humor, adventure, and Starfleet's core principles.

**Story and Plot:**
The narrative continues the show's tradition of focusing on the "lower deckers" — the unsung heroes of the USS Cerritos. North's writing is sharp and witty, delivering a story that’s both entertaining and true to Star Trek's essence. The plot is engaging, filled with references to classic Trek episodes, and peppered with laugh-out-loud moments. The pacing is excellent, ensuring that readers remain hooked from start to finish.

**Illustration and Artwork:**
Chris Fenogilio's illustrations are vibrant and dynamic, perfectly complementing North's storytelling. The character designs are faithful to the animated series, yet they bring a fresh and lively energy to the comic format. The artwork captures the diverse range of emotions and actions of the characters, from frantic space battles to quiet moments of introspection. The attention to detail in the backgrounds and starship designs further immerses readers in the Star Trek universe.

**Character Development:**
The characters retain their distinctive personalities from the animated series. Mariner's rebellious spirit, Boimler's eager-to-please attitude, Tendi's infectious enthusiasm, and Rutherford's tech-savvy brilliance all shine through in this comic. Their interactions are delightful, adding depth to their relationships and providing readers with a deeper understanding of their motivations and growth.

**Final Thoughts:**
Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 is a must-read for fans of the series and Star Trek enthusiasts in general. It successfully blends humor and adventure, capturing the essence of what makes Lower Decks so beloved. The combination of Ryan North's clever writing and Chris Fenogilio's stunning illustrations makes this comic a standout entry in the Star Trek franchise.

If you loved the first issue, you're definitely in for a treat with the upcoming second installment. It's a fantastic start to what promises to be an exciting and entertaining series. Highly recommended!

Happy reading 🚀

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this comic.

The story (Dracula in space - but sciency!) is goofy, but the stakes are high: as befits an episode of Lower Decks. The art is, well, Lower Decks -y. The jokes? Every page is packed with 'em.

Add deep cut Trek lore, an Anna Karenina gag that feels like it was created specifically for me, and a running commentary across the bottom of most pages, and you get a real treat. I smiled. I chuckled. I laughed out loud. I felt happy and good the entire time I read this comic.

Look, I get it: this isn't a masterpiece of the form. It probably won't win an Eisner. But y'know what? ST:LD vol. 1 understands the assignment. It's very funny. It's breezy. It's a good time. If you're looking to get your Lower Decks fix now that the series has concluded, you've come to the right place.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a great addition to the Star Trek canon! Star Trek: Lower Decks is a must read for fans of the TV series, but can also be enjoyed by anyone who has never seen an episode.

Volume 1 contains three distinctive stories, of which I personally especially enjoyed the first and third one. The second story is a bit sad and in my opinion not for a younger audience.

The comic is very funny without losing depth plotwise. My personal highlight were the witty comments at end of each page!

A huge thank you to IDW Publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Adri Holt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Next Generation will always be my favorite series of Star Trek. However, I do try to give the more recently released Star Trek shows a chance. I finally gave Lower Decks another chance after reading this fun little graphic novel about the characters of the USS Cerritos. Lower Decks humor reminds me of The Orville and I do love me some funny science fiction. I like how Lower Decks has new content but also references the older series of Star Trek and acknowledges Star Trek’s history thus far. Can't wait to see what the next volume will be like.

#ThxNetGalley #RyanNorth #StarTrekLowerDecksVol1SecondContact

[Rob Vitagliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best compliment I can pay to this book is that it feels just like an episode of the series. The art is spot on for the show, and the dialogue is even easier to read with the characters voices in mind than usual. I'm not the biggest fan of the series, personally, while it's fun and lighthearted and it has plenty of jokes and callbacks to other Trek, it honestly just feels like filler until Strange New Worlds comes back on Paramount+. The $6.99 price tag is a bit shocking on this one as well, so I actually read it on the Comixology app. Not bad for what it is, but not one I would have run to the comic shop to get.

[James Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lower Decks is a pretty funny Star Trek series and this book does them justice. When you put them in a holodeck reality then it's pretty sure that something odd is going to happen and it does.

Dracula. They call up a Dracula program which, as expected, doesn't go exactly the way they thought it would. (This is not the only program they run.)

It turns out it's not a bad idea they did that, though, and there's a neat outcome for them and for Dracula, both. It's pretty funny throughout.

[Rachel McCurtain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just like an episode of the show but with wonderful, snarky commentary from the author. Those comments made me laugh out loud. And in typical LDS fashion, there were so many fun Easter eggs for the Trekkies out there. The art work was fantastic and I made me feel like I was in an episode. While I am sad the series is ending, I am excited to have discovered these and can't wait to read more.

[Malcolm Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great addition to the Lower Decks franchise with a fun story featuring a malfunctioning holodeck (why do they even still have these death traps?) and a planet where all is not as it seems (when does it ever?). With artwork that matches the show this felt like a feature length episode. Also filled with extra bit and pieces scattered throughout with phases set on fun.
Ideal for fans for the animated show.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just like another episode. The great part about animated shows in comic form they look just like the TV show. This was a tribute to previous Trek episodes with a sentient holographic Dracula who was brilliant! And the two races on the same planet trope. If you love the TV show you will love this too.

[Travis James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute graphic novel.

The first *Lower Decks" graphic novel is excellent. Child friendly ("Lovelace", however? Lol), but stays true to adult fans of this voluminous franchise. This definitely gets five *****'s!!!!!!!!!

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lower Decks is one of my favorite Star Trek shows, and Ryan North is one of my favorite comic book writers. It is a match made in an occasionally broken holodeck. The tone is the same as the show, with the addition of North's commentary on the bottom of the pages, and it works so well together.

[Michael M Khorshidianzadeh]

Lower Decks is hilarious and fun!

I love Star Trek Lower Decks. The series is a lot of fun and this comic capitalizes on that fun spirit! Its like reading an episode of the show or looking at storyboards.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was looking forward to reading this and was not disappointed. Love the TV animation, enjoyed the comic book. A great Christmas pressie thanks J. Looking forward to reading the next book ‘Warp your own way’!

[Michelle Attilio · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Lower Decks, you'll enjoy this! It's another great story about our favorite crew that does not fail to entertain! The version I read is the compilation of the 3 comics making up the full story. It is zany, funny, and completely on brand for the Lower Decks crew.

[Shreks Cumdump · Rating 3 out of 5]

read like a lower Decks Episode but felt kinda short

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing read.

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the series so much DAMN FUN. I especially love the “fine print”.

[Jennifer Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg Mariner!

Boomlier just wanted to follow in Picard's footsteps.
Of all the programs to take from Enterprise D.
Artwork is awesome and the writing is great.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing, I laughed out loud several times while reading it. Can't wait for the next one!

[Sara G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading it felt like watching an episode of the show, which is exactly what you want and therefore worth five stars. LLAP.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally I just wait for the library to get this type of stuff, but I had a moment of weakness the other day. LOL, still, no regrets as this was a ton of fun.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is outstanding. Hilarious, Trek in its core and a love letter to the TNG-era. I meed more, now!

[Columbo Magnum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!!!