The Day of Blood crossover is over, and a new arc ‘Another Piece of the Action‘ has begun with Star Trek: Defiant #8. There were a couple of hints as to what could lay ahead in the crossover, with Lore running off and Worf’s injuries. Although at the same time, this issue offers a good chance to unwind and reinvigorate the series with fresh threats and new character arcs. I’m excited to see where the series and story build from here.
It’s an intriguing prospect for the series, leaping forward past Kahless. I’m very glad that, unlike the smaller miniseries they’ve been putting out, this is an ongoing series. Telling multiple consecutive stories like this really allows them to build up their sprawling multi-series story. I will be interested to see how long this series can go, as there are still many more characters and stories that can be followed up on. So let’s see what the second arc of the Defiant series has in store, in this review of this issue!
WARNING: This review contains spoilers for Star Trek: Defiant #8. Please continue reading at your own risk.
By Any Other Name
Well, we found out the name of our mysterious Orion farmer. She called herself Nymira, a very pretty name. I was originally underwhelmed by the reveal. I found it a little anticlimactic. But then I finished the issue, and re-read it. Worf discusses the power of names and the honor associated with them. This is a character who saved Worf’s life, there’s no better honor than that. I hope we get to see where this character grows because it looks like they’re setting up a great backstory.
In her flashback, the comic changes art style. We get a much better look at the trauma she has from her time on the battlefield. Hopefully, this Another Piece of the Action arc allows these characters to sit around and come to terms with their past. With the villains they set up, it looks like there’ll be plenty of blasts from the past. Even Spock goes through something similar to Spock: Reflections, visiting the graves of his former commanders. They’re grappling with who they were, and now we get to see who they grow to become.
Lore also cops a couple of namedrops. He’s one of the more fleshed-out villains of The Next Generation, so I’m not quite sure he needs a full arc. That being said, I’m also glad that he’s not being shoved off to the side. Presumably, this will end up with him being handed back to Section 31 to align with Star Trek: Picard. As to how we get there and how he’s apprehended is going to make for quite the journey. I hope that he’s able to get a good ending because the rest of their new mission is a real breath of fresh air.
A New Mission
The team is disavowed from Starfleet, and then covertly given their next mission. Admirals Nechayev and Jellico are some prominent character returns. It’s one of those cameos that’s not reliant on you knowing who these characters are, just using a legacy character for the sake of it. It’s a load of fun putting little cameos in the background that don’t impact the plot. Speaking of, when the comic moves to Deep Space 9, keep an eye out for a certain four-legged companion wandering the promenade!
From the sound of it, there are three big villains in this new arc. The first of which is Hugh, a recovering Borg drone. I wonder if it will tie into the secret Romulan plot alluded to in the Day of Blood. It’s a rarity that these comics connect to the new shows, but we did just do an arc for Shaxs. A connection to Picard here could be really nice to see come together, same with the ending to Lore’s story. There’s a lot of emphasis on the power of names here, just look at Nymira’s story. I look forward to seeing how this plays out emotionally in future issues.
More Villains!
Star Trek: Defiant #8 also reveals Rasmussen as another villain. This is perhaps a more interesting choice than Hugh’s. It’s a character we’ve not seen since his single episode of The Next Generation. That timeship has always been a lingering plot thread, so I hope that his return to these comics is worthwhile. On the other hand, the third and final villain is Benny the Munch. Wait, who? He’s a descendant of the society in “A Piece of the Action”. I’m not sure how I feel about this, especially since it’s the name of the arc. Hopefully, they’re able to make it engaging.
Star Trek: Defiant #8 Issue Preview
Conclusion
It looks like we’re heading to see Hugh first. He’s got a very direct and personal connection to Lore as a result of “Descent”, so there’s bound to be some really exciting stuff coming up next month. This is all compounded with Worf’s powerful mediation on names and honor. It’s something that’s bound to keep coming up. Of all the characters to become a rogue agent, Worf’s future career as a handler for Starfleet Intelligence means that this makes sense. Seeing how he marries honor with what he does is a big part of why I love this series.
This isn’t the only issue comic in the saga to be framed around Worf’s inner monologue. But it is perhaps one of the strongest. The Defiant series is renewed with an exciting new direction. Its characters invigorated with a new sense of purpose. Needless to say, I’m really excited to see where this series leads over the next couple of months. We’ve got a varied manhunt ahead of us, who knows what the future of Another Piece of the Action has in store?
You can pick up your own copy of Star Trek: Defiant #8 out today in all good comic book stores. It’s also available to order both physically and digitally from Amazon and IDW Publishing’s website. For more reviews, all the latest news, and some great Star Trek lore discussions, be sure to follow Trek Central!
Issue Credits
Written by: Christopher Cantwell
Art by: Mike Feehan
Colorist: Marissa Louise
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Group Editor: Heather Antos
Editorial Assistant: Vanessa Real
Design/Production: Neil Uyetake
In the next issue…
Issue #9: Disavowed from Starfleet despite their heroic actions, Worf and his crew set out in their new roles as bounty hunters on their first mission since the bloody battle against the tyrant Kahless. Their first target: an individualized ex-member of the Borg Collective known as Hugh.
Release Date: November 8, 2023
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