by Matt Sernaker, Editor-In-Chief

The future is now.

After a critically acclaimed relaunch of their comic iteration of Star Trek, the creative minds at IDW Publishing have opted to push the boundaries of the fan-favorite franchise once again. Star Trek: The Last Starship recently hit comic stores, taking readers to an unexplored time in Trek canon, while featuring the shocking resurrection of Captain James T. Kirk. Thanks to our friends at IDW, we got an exclusive early look at the future issues of the series from the talented Hivemind writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly (Star Trek) and artist Adrián Bonilla (Alkaios). 

Spoilers for Star Trek: The Last Starship #1 (now available), Star Trek: Discovery, Season 3, and Star Trek: Picard, Season 2.

“If you thought IDW’s Star Trek comics were bold before, you ain’t seen nothin yet…” -Matt Sernaker, ComicsOnline

For those of you just joining us, let’s catch up on some more recent Trek history. In the far future, a mysterious cosmic event caused the sudden destruction of nearly all dilithium-powered ships. Massive casualties and power dynamics caused worlds to rethink their place in the larger universe, and the future would remain a dark a distant place until the eventual arrival of the U.S.S. Discovery. Although the aftermath of The Burn and the riddle of what caused the wave of destruction were explored via the Paramount+ series, the early days and the immediate fallout remained vague…until now.

The first issue took readers back to the future and revealed what exactly happened the day that The Burn decimated the galaxy. The rulebook was tossed out the window, and everything Starfleet and the galaxy had built for decades was destroyed in a matter of minutes. The remaining leaders of the Federation began crafting a new plan to potentially balance the vacuum of power left by the catastrophic event. This would require a bit of help from an old friend. Agnes Jurati, now leader of an offshoot of The Borg (see Star Trek: Picard, Season 2) has stepped up to assist with the creation of a special new ship: The U.S.S. Omega. Special times call for special measures, and in Starfleet’s darkest hour, James T. Kirk would soon find himself alive and well. The final frontier has changed, and this is the epic adventure we’ve all been waiting for.

Now, we don’t want to give away the big revelations from the series or its upcoming issues, but Star Trek: The Last Starship feels bold and refreshing while balancing the incorporation of classic elements. The first issue set the stage, the second issue solidifies the new status quo, and then the third chapter demonstrates that all bets are off. The unpredictable nature of this story allows for the creative team to shine, and what they’ve done in just the first few chapters is nothing short of iconic. Don’t tell Collin and Jackson, but the third installment might be the best thing they’ve written to date.

Overall, Star Trek: The Last Starship has a cinematic quality, with each page beautifully illuminating the dark future while maintaining a glimmer of hope through the eyes of the heroic cast. Most importantly, the return of Kirk and the level of respect for this move are handled with the utmost care. The creative team is about to blow you away with their vision for the future and these new characters, and having Kirk at the center of it all makes it even more compelling.

With the Final Order Cutoff approaching for the third issue, we want to make something clear: this is the comic that everyone will be talking about. Star Trek: The Last Starship is another hit for IDW Publishing, and I’m thrilled to say that it has the potential to rack up a few Eisner Awards as it boldly takes us on a unique new adventure. 

Lastly, I will say bravo to the Powers-That-Be who green-lit this series. The Last Starship clearly stands apart from other entries in the franchise while seamlessly embodying Star Trek at its finest. 

If you’re a fan of any era of Star Trek, don’t miss out on this book and reach out to your local comic shop today. This is sensational storytelling.

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Before you go, check out our exclusive interview with the creative team behind Star Trek: The Last Starship at SDCC 2025, and our review of Star Trek: The Last Starship #1.

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