Someone deep in the galaxy is wreaking havoc in the Star Trek Universe, killing an alien race of godlike beings. Terrified for their lives, the gods have chosen their messiah — Captain Benjamin Sisko. Sisko is more than familiar with the alien gods after spending time lost within the Bajoran wormhole — and maybe even becoming a god himself. But his omnipotence is fading fast, and with the Prophets counting on him, Sisko will need all the help he can get.
A continuation of the five-part series from IDW Publishing, written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, with art by artists Ramon Rosanas and Joe Eisma, colors by Lee Loughridge, and letters by Clayton Cowles, Star Trek #3 follows Captain Sisko hot on the trail of the god-killers. But the hunt is derailed when mysterious malfunctions seize the ship in mid-warp. Sisko is determined to continue the mission and utilize his rapidly decreasing godhood. But the combined efforts of Vulcan Ensign T’Lir, Dr. Beverly Crusher, Montgomery Scott, and even Sisko’s own son may not be enough to save him, Theseus, or the gods in time.
Much of the issue focuses on Captain Sisko’s humanity or lack thereof following his time in the Bajoran wormhole. Sisko is one of the most interesting and complex Captains in the Star Trek roster, and his would-be therapy session with Dr. Crusher is a fascinating interaction. Unfortunately, the rest of the issue is devoted to the mysterious space-time warp that throws the USS Theseus and the comic into chaos. After the strong introduction of the potential rescue mission, the narrative shift to the ship’s malfunctions, making Sisko’s introspection feel like a disruption and compromising this series’ growing momentum.
This plot point surrounding the space-time warp is as chaotic for the reader as it is for the characters. The perspectives jump very quickly, and events speed by rather clumsily, making Star Trek #3 a frustrating read at times. Thankfully, the tag team of writers Kelly and Lanzing demonstrate some level of method in all madness. The uneasy friendship between Ensign T’Lir and the young Jake Sisko gets some time to develop, with T’Lir performing a decent homage to the poignant ending of Wrath of Khan. Ben Sisko gets a chance to describe his transformation towards godhood and his relationship with the Prophets as a Messianic archetype. Most welcome of all is Q’s presence. He’s simultaneously menacing and humorous, toeing the line between antagonist and trickster mentor. His snarky dialogue pairs beautifully with Captain Sisko’s hot-blooded bluntness and leads to a satisfying conclusion that paves the way for subsequent issues to explore the much-anticipated murder mystery arc.
The line art, courtesy of artists Rosana and Eisma, is clean, clear, crisp, and spare. It really shines in pages where the characters are allowed ample space to move, breathe, and interact. However, the heavy line weights used in the environments tend to draw the eye away from the main characters, who are drawn with modest, thin lines, causing them to fade into the background. The clean lines pair well with colorist Loughridge’s equally elegant and muted palette. Backgrounds are colored with cool tones that bring depth to the artwork and help the bright characters stand out. Her color knockouts are particularly impressive, especially given the number of explosions in this issue. Color and light provide a great deal of dramatic tension and relief.
Equal parts compelling, chaotic, and complicated, Star Trek #3 is a wild roller coaster ride through a space-time malfunction. Although the issue seemed to derail at the start, Star Trek #3 has a surprising twist and some very strong characters who are as compelling as ever.
