Just in time for the all-new third season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+, IDW released a new series of adventures for Captain Pike and the Enterprise crew. Written by Robbie Thompson with art by Travis Mercer, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Seeds of Salvation takes place sometime after the first episode of season three.
SPOILER ALERT: For those not caught up on the TV series, the comic itself doesn’t make it clear exactly where this new tale sits on the timeline of the TV show, but given the fact that Scotty is a full-fledged member of the crew at the beginning of the issue, this must be taking place sometime after the Enterprise’s confrontation with the Gorn in the lead up to the third season.
Thompson nails both the humor and the heart of the TV show in his script. The story opens with Nurse Chapel’s log and her longing for excitement after several slow weeks aboard the Enterprise. Chapel’s pent-up frustration is in stark contrast with Number One, Una Chin-Riley, who is perfectly content living in these down moments. Picking up on threads from the series, Una worries once again that she’s incapable of seizing the moment and being “fun.” And Nurse Chapel is concerned that her need for excitement makes her dangerous to the crew.
Of course, this wouldn’t be much of a story if we just followed the crew classifying micro-organisms (Sorry, Spock. Complex micro-organisms.), and the crew soon find themselves thrust into a mystery involving the disappearance of a science team in a remote sector of space. The opening of this issue feels very reminiscent of the first issue of Ryan North’s Lower Decks comic from IDW that began with Mariner feeling bored and restless on the Ceritos in between missions that gave me a sense of déjà vu. Thankfully, the overall mystery of this series promises a very different and very dark take on the Star Trek universe, and I’m excited to see where the plot leads. Thompson’s dialogue captures the camaraderie of the crew, but I often struggled to differentiate between characters. This was due to a combination of the lack of distinction between some of the character’s voices and Travis Mercer’s art, which at times lacked enough detail to tell certain characters apart. Though he frames the action well, I often couldn’t tell if I was following Number One or La’an, especially out of uniform. I certainly don’t need my licensed comics to have photo realistic depictions of the characters, but I felt Mercer’s designs needed to have a few more visual cues pointing to their live-action counterparts. I do give Mercer full credit for capturing Anson Mount’s glorious Captain Pike hairdo. And he knows how to generate suspense in his artwork. As soon as the away team beamed down, Mercer’s pencils filled each corner of the panel with dread. His final panel revealing what might be ahead for the crew is genuinely creepy. JP Jordan’s colors capture the vibrant aesthetics of the show. From the bright uniforms to the clean, white-paneled walls, Jordan firmly grounds this book within the Star Trek Universe. I especially liked his take on the transporters and the way he expressed the lights of a federation submarine against a vast alien ocean.
This first issue reflects what makes Strange New Worlds work as a series. It is equal parts science-fiction adventure and human drama. Thompson centers this story on the inner struggles of Nurse Chapel and Number One, both icons and fan-favorite characters. There is much for the dedicated Strange New Worlds fan to enjoy here. Though Thompson took some necessary time to reacquaint readers with these beloved characters, I can’t wait to see him get the chance to dig even deeper in future issues.
Creative Team: Robbie Thompson (Writer), Travis Mercer (Artist), JP Jordan (Colors), Jodie Troutman (Letters)
Publisher: IDW Publishing
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