Fresh from IDW Publishing, the adventures of the brave crews of Star Trek are back — this time with a prequel series set in the years during Star Trek: The Next Generation. A highly respected but obsessive scientist, Dr. Leah Brahms, has gone missing in the territory of the Talarians, an aggressive, territorial, and xenophobic race known for killing intruders on sight.
The Federation tasks the crew of the USS Resolute, led by Captain Solano, to find the scientist before she and her findings fall into enemy hands. Sadly, the USS Resolute is a science vessel unfit for combat, and it doesn’t take long for the Talarians to take notice. Star Trek: Resurgence #1, written by Andrew Grant and Dan Martin, with art by Josh Hood, colors by Charlie Kirchoff, and letters by Neil Uyetake, kicks off a five-issue miniseries tying in with the upcoming Telltale video game of the same name.
In true Star Trek fashion, the plot of this issue kicks off with plenty of subterfuge, intrigue, and hidden agendas. Grant and Martin are clearly well-versed in the franchise. They stay true to the comparatively realistic and adult tone grounded in the mundane politics and international dealings of contemporary life, despite being in the same genre as the more fantastical Star Wars. Given the setting, closer to the era of Star Trek: The Next Generation, there is an air of maturity in the narrative. It’s tense without being too dark or angsty, though the premise alone makes it clear that the stakes are high, potentially involving military action.
Star Trek: Resurgence #1 wastes no time establishing a sense of suspense, urgency, and conspiracy as the reader discovers the Federation’s true motives. The stakes are also revealed in a slow but nicely paced manner, as is the build-up behind the threat and mystery of the Talarians and Dr. Brahms’s discoveries and nature. While it doesn’t have a lot to offer in terms of action or momentum, Star Trek: Resurgence #1 is an intriguing slow burn.
Hood’s art style is at its best when bringing the exotic, interstellar locales and the expanse of space to life. Unfortunately, his character designs aren’t as well crafted. Characters’ facial expressions can be stiff and almost unnatural. This is evident in smaller panels, especially tight close-ups and panels shared by two or more characters. However, in panels with more space, the characters look more natural, aided by ample room for movement, cinematic angles, and careful composition.
Colorist Charlie Kirchoff has a more subtle hand to accompany Hood’s linework, especially in the more cinematic and atmospheric scenes. The interior of the USS Resolute is rendered in cool, indifferent blues, highlighted by gentle swaths of turquoise and gold light. These light, upbeat colors contrast with the deep, sparkling blackness of space. The planets the crew of the Resolute explores are especially eye-catching. Kirchoff’s deceptively sweet pastel tones create an ominous atmosphere on the planet where Dr. Brahms is stranded. The colors pair nicely with Hood’s line art, balancing out the more awkward body poses with a sense of depth, making for a cohesive visual experience.
Although the art stumbles at times, Star Trek: Resurgence #1 is a gracefully structured issue full of interstellar intrigue. Grant and Martin clearly have a lot of respect for the source material, and the whole team seems to revel in the opportunity to explore a new side of the Star Trek Universe. This first issue is a smooth takeoff for an exciting new series.
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