A new journey for Captain Sisko and the USS Theseus begins today in Star Trek Issue #13 out today from IDW Publishing! It’s the first part of the new chapter following the conclusion of the Red Path arc in the Day of Blood crossover. This new story is called A Savage World of Glass and Bone, or as it’s referred to on the cover, Glass and Bone. It sees the Theseus sent on a new mission doing what Sisko does best, preventing another war.
But this isn’t just any conflict, and it’s not just any enemy. We’re exploring a never-before-seen corner of the universe. One that was only spoken about onscreen. Now this is some cool stuff right here. But will Sisko and his crew have what it takes to defeat this new foe? And which new allies will join them against this scary new enemy? All this and more in this review of the beginning of the latest IDW Star Trek story!
WARNING – Spoilers below for Star Trek #13. Read ahead at your own risk. You’ve been warned. You really wouldn’t want this spoiled.
Old Friends
Like Defiant before it, this is a bit of a transitory issue. The characters here though get back in action a lot quicker, perhaps with a bigger and tighter story to tell. There’s not a lot of time for sitting around. Even the nice character moments are mostly spent working or climbing rather than relaxing or socializing. I was especially fond of Scotty’s work in engineering, singlehandedly steering the story into the next mission.
That’s all after a nice celebratory dinner, though. It’s a much shorter one, but celebratory nonetheless. She appeared almost out of nowhere, but having two legendary Starfleet captains interact was majestic. Although it was brief, and had little buildup. Janeway hasn’t been seen in comic form for years, pulling her out of nowhere was jarring. But their dynamic is one I hope the series comes back to, there’s so much more to do between them. It almost makes one mourn the fact that Sisko and Janeway never met onscreen.
It’s not all quite so happy though. Both Paris and Scotty are seen reminiscing on their glory days. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a little emotional. Nostalgia’s a two-sided coin like that, can be exciting, but also a little bittersweet. There’s a bit of unfortunate news too, T’Lir has been re-assigned. It’s a bit of an unceremonious exit, and I’m awaiting a better opportunity to farewell them. I love the series’ original characters and they were honestly one of my favorites. Seeing them effectively kicked out was upsetting, to say the least.
A New Mission
Where one Star Trek event ends, another begins. The Theseus has been sent to a totally uncharted area of the quadrant. The scariest enemies are always hiding in the black spaces, which alone is intriguing enough. Bringing in the Tzenkethi coalition, perhaps best known for being the unseen plot point of Deep Space Nine‘s “The Adversary” is a load of fun. As a casual player of Star Trek Online, I’ve seen them there, but this feels different.
There’s a Starfleet Intelligence operative on the planet, who’s been living on the planet for weeks. It’s a far cry from the Klingon Civil War, but building fleets on the Cardassian border feels almost personal for our Emissary. The setup of them being the first and last line of defense is also something Sisko knows all too well. This is a man looking to prevent a war rather than fight in one. It harkens back to his quotable and unforgettable monologues in the series. Sure, it was just a conference room scene, but I loved it!
The planet is just the right sort of bone-ridden wasteland you’d want for a series titled Glass and Bone. Obviously, this is a new planet. It’s translated onto the page gorgeously and feels totally realized. Exploring this hellhole is going to present a great challenge to the crew. Although thankfully they’ll have Harry Kim helping them, whose reunion with Tom is as heartfelt as it is hilarious. It certainly doesn’t disappoint. It also sounds like he’s not alone, perhaps there are more Voyager characters in plain sight? This is going to be great!
Preview Star Trek Issue #13
Conclusion
Worf and the Defiant were sent on a bold new mission this month, so it’s only fair this series gets the same treatment. It’s nice to get some big Deep Space Nine and Voyager appearances here. This comic series really takes advantage of its setting to show us the big characters of the wider Star Trek universe. There’s something about revisiting this series and its characters that I always enjoy.
As for the new story, I’m really looking forward to seeing where it builds. It propels these characters a lot further than the most recent Defiant comic. Giving us a glimpse of this new mission, and the return of Lieutenant Harry Kim, was a stroke of genius. I’m really excited, both as a Star Trek fan and a reader, to see where this goes. Whatever’s happening with the Tzenkethi is dangerous, and also an unexplored corner of the Trek universe. Count me in!
You can pick up your own copy of Star Trek #13, out today from IDW Publishing. It’s available wherever comic books are sold, so support your local comic book store if you can! It’s also available to order online, both physically and digitally, from Amazon and IDW’s own website. For more Star Trek news, reviews, lore, and more, be sure to follow the team here at Trek Central!
Star Trek Issue #13 Credits
Writers: Collin Kely & Jackson Lanzing
Artist: Marcus To
Colourist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Design & Production: Neil Uyetake
Group Editor: Heather Antos
Editorial Assistant: Vanessa Real
In the next issue…
Issue #14: Captain Sisko and the crew of the USS Theseus team up with Starfleet Operative Kingsnake-a.k.a. Harry Kim-to stop the war-loving Tzenkethi from launching their fleet across the Quadrant. Unfortunately for Starfleet, however, the Tzenkethi leader has a surprise guest of his own who will stop at nothing to thwart Starfleet’s plans. Meanwhile, when the crew is greeted by continuous and frightening earthquakes, Dr. Crusher realizes there is more going on with the planet than they may be able to survive.
Release date: November 22, 2023
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