Star Trek: The Last Starship #2 is a packed issue that gets the ship running then dials it up to Warp 10. In the wake of the cataclysm known as the Burn, the dream of a united Federation stands on the brink of extinction. The only thing holding the Galaxy back from chaos is Captain Sato and the crew of the Borg-enhanced Omega—a ship fueled by transwarp technology and fraught with distrust.
No one on board trusts the Borg…and Captain Sato trusts their mysterious new passenger, bearing the face and name of James T. Kirk, even less. This so-called Kirk speaks of a dark future, but Sato refuses to be guided by fear or prophecy.
When a distress call from the Klingon Empire pierces the silence—urgent, cryptic, and unexpected—Sato doesn’t hesitate. Whatever the risk, he will answer. Because if Starfleet’s legacy is to survive, it won’t be through retreat. It’ll be through action.
I’ve always enjoyed Star Trek. It’s never been a property where I needed to see every episode but I’ve seen all of the films multiple times, and dabbled in the various series that have been released, so know enough. Star Trek: The Last Starship is the first Star Trek property where I need to see what’s going to happen next. Star Trek: The Last Starship #2 is a hell of an issue that gets things going and then takes it to unexpected places.
Written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, the Federation is hanging on by a thread. With warp drives destroyed and billions dead, one ship remains and a deal with the devil has been cut to attempt to hold things together. Star Trek: The Last Starship #2 picks up from that debut issue and the return of Captain James T. Kirk through the technology of the Borg. But, that’s just one aspect of a comic that introduces new characters and quickly shows how much things have already gone to shit.
Lanzing and Kelly present an interesting situation the Federation is in now that The Burn has destroyed so much of its abilities and killed so many of its members. Star Trek: The Last Starship #2, and really Captain Sato, confront the reality of things but also confront the reality of the past. Kirk has returned and while he himself questions that, Sato questions Kirk and the mythology surrounding him. It’s a comic that lays it out that we are the products of our experiences, or how we perceive those experiences. Kirk sees himself in a certain way, but Sato confronts him with the cold reality of his past actions. He wasn’t a man of peace or exploration, he brought death to a lot of individuals, not just his crew. But, even Kirk realizes that reality, though not the extent of it, and clearly struggles.
That struggle is both internal and external as Captain Sato and the crew of the Omega must face reality in the now and we see how quickly the peace falls apart. Much like Kirk was contend with, it’s clear the Federation’s true power wasn’t that of diplomacy but that of sheer firepower and technology. Without that, it is wounded and losing its grip on the order it has instilled. Star Trek: The Last Starship #2 delivers the reality that while the Federation overall is a positive good, there’s also a lot of underlying bad.
The art by Adrian Bonilla is fantastic. With color by Heather Moore and lettering by Clayton Cowles, the comic is a visual treat. The characters all have personality and stand out, it helps that the cast is small and focused and so varied. But, what’s really intriguing is comparing all of that to how Captain Kirk is drawn. Kirk has a bit of a throwback, “classic” look to him, something you might expect from the old animated series compared to Bonilla’s art style. It’s a great visual idea that really emphasizes how out of place he is. The use of Borg technology on the ship too evokes a little bit of horror as well as slapped together, for a ship that also should feel so advanced to what we’ve seen before.
Star Trek: The Last Starship #2 is a solid issue that really gets things going while packing so much in. This issue took the series from intriguing to one of the first I’ll be reading during the week it’s released. A solid issue and series that stands out in 2025.
Story: Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly Art: Adrian Bonilla
Color: Heather Moore Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
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