Star Trek vol. 4: Pleroma

He is Ensign T’lir, a Vulcan.  It’s who he is as well as a mantra he’s repeated throughout the series, indicating he’s someone – or something – else entirely.  We finally find out what that is in this volume, and how it’s tied to The Red Path’s war on godlike beings throughout the galaxy.  A war which has caused said beings to come together to decide what to do about it, which is also an opportunity for T’lir to try and save his people.  That it’s a chance to help out a fellow crewmate as well as a chance to boldly go where no one has gone before means that most everyone on the ship is willing to help.  Even if it means that Captain Sisko will have to defy the will of the Prophets.

Vol. 3 wasn’t bad, but it felt like more of the same in the wake of “Day of Blood.”  Vol. 4 certainly can’t be accused of that as it takes the crew of the Theseus out beyond the galactic barrier, puts them in the middle of a council of godlike beings, and puts them face-to-face with the potential destruction of all reality.  It also finds time for Sisko to have it out with the mistress of his fate, Doctor Crusher to reunite with a dear family member, and has Data confronting his own role in the current crisis.  That part gets its own “Annual” as he teams up with some old friends in a consequential adventure.

So while I appreciated that co-writers Colin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing tried to do something different here, with quality art from Megan Levens and Rachael Stott, it’s not quite the “Star Trek V” done right tale it was aiming to be.  That’s mainly because it feels like the writers are rushing to get to their big universe-threatening crisis without setting it up properly.  Which is how we get Ensign Sato doing something really, and very obviously dumb, and an entire council of godlike beings held hostage through means that you’d think they’d have enough power to overcome.  I suppose this all works better the less you think about it, but “Star Trek” has never really been about shutting your brain off.  Let’s hope vol. 5 sets up the finale better than what we got here.