Interview by Troy-Jeffrey Allen
Strange new worlds get stranger this spooky season in IDW's expansive line of stories featuring Starfleet's finest. From Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to the Day of Blood crossover event -- October has a little something for every type of trekker.
In the following interview, Star Trek senior editor Heather Antos takes us through this fall's voyage on the Starship Enterprise...
Off the bat, if there is one thing that you want people to know about IDW’s Star Trek line, what would it be?
This is the Golden Age of Star Trek -- both in film and comics. We're in a beautiful moment of symmetry where both shows are exploring new genres, creators, and concepts -- to critical acclaim! In the comics specifically, we're exploring something the IDW books have never done before -- a combination of crews we will never (have never) see together on the screen in a brand new and unique mission that intertwines two ongoing series in order to build a connected line of stories that make the universe feel bigger, important, and matter to the future of Star Trek history. Now is the time to get on board as we continue to explore strange new comic frontiers.
IDW has multiple books in the IDW Star Trek line. How does an editor keep pace with so many?
If I told you I live for chaos, would you believe me? I'm no stranger to balancing a line of several comics interwoven into one larger canon on a monthly direct market schedule -- I got my start working in Star Wars, after all -- AND Marvel. For me personally, it's all about building that team dynamic between ALL collaborators -- within the individual books themselves, but also on a line-wide macro scale between projects AND the licensor as well. If everyone is aligned with the same common goal, it makes hashing out any issues that come up so much easier since we all know at the end of the day, we want the same -- the best Star Trek books the world has ever seen.
Let’s talk about Day of Blood. What series of story events got us to this Star Trek event?
Deep Space Nine ended with Benjamin Sisko leaving his family in order to follow the call to join the Prophets in the Bajorean wormhole. Star Trek #1 (by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Ramon Rosanas) saw the Prophets send him back to the Federation for a mission only he could do -- find and stop whomever was out there killing the gods. With the Bajoreans themselves at threat, Sisko put together a crew of the greatest Starfleet recruits the Federation has ever seen -- including Klingon Ambassador Worf of House Martok. However, when it's revealed that the Godkiller is the Klingon Emperor and clone of Kahless and Worf's son Alexander is among his followers, Worf and Sisko are at odds. Abandoning Sisko's crew, Worf steals the Defiant from Starfleet and forms his OWN crew of the Federation's...less than favorite folk (See: Star Trek: Defiant by Christopher Cantwell and Angel Unzueta). But when it becomes clear that Kahless now has his eyes set on the Klingon homeworld of Qo'nos, Sisko and Worf's crews must work together if they are to stop the Day of Blood from having galactic-level ramifications.
Then there’s a tie-in book from the Lower Deck’s book. It’s more comedic, but how do these two complement each other?
For those who like comics for punching fascists and cartoon violence, Star Trek: Day of Blood - Shax's Best Day is the comic for you. From superstar creators Ryan North and Derek Charm, we follow Lieutenant Shaxs from before his days on the Cerritos on an over-the-top cult-smashing adventure that takes place alongside the Day of Blood event. Shaxs joined Sisko's crew back in Arc 2 of Star Trek and is very invested in what those Bajorans are up to, but we weren't sure if we thematically had a place for him in the main plot of Day of Blood -- thus Shax's Best Day was born -- a Lower Decks-styled one-and-done adventure following Shax as he punches Klingon cultists and blows up warp cores. What more could one ask for?
Looking forward, what can readers expect from Day of Blood?
One of the most exciting things about Day of Blood is the fact that there are very real ramifications for Federation Politics as a whole. If the Klingon insurrection was to succeed, what does that mean for Worf? For Starfleet? Oh, and did I mention Paramount let us KILL a very important character?
It's not often that licensed comic books get to do stories that change and shape fans' understanding of the larger story, but in Day of Blood, we do. And I have to say, what Jackson & Collin, and Chris each have planned for Star Trek and Defiant for year two of Star Trek comics, well, let's just say Day of Blood is hardly the biggest thing we're doing.
What other books in the Star Trek line can people expect?
One of my favorite things about working on Star Trek comics right now is having the ability to experiment with new genres, eras, and audiences for Star Trek. For instance, with Picard's Academy, we get to tell never-before-seen stories from Jean-Luc Picard's days learning just how to become the renown captain we all know and love in a more young adult, youthful-learning series. And for those who love lore and literature, we have HOLO-Ween -- a weekly four-part monster-mash of all things horror and Star Trek...in one!
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IDW-PRH
(W) Christopher Cantwell, Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing (A) Ramon Rosanas (CA) Malachi Ward
Day of Blood Starts Here! Immortal emperor of the Klingon Empire, Kahless II has consolidated power, raided ancient tombs and secret bunkers, taken the power of gods for himself, stolen the Bajoran Orb of Destruction, and commenced a slaughter across the stars. But this genocide of gods was just the beginning. For with the power he has stolen, Kahless is about to declare war on all those who do not follow the Red Path. To prevent genocide unlike any since the ancient days of Qo'noS, the crew of icons led by the emissary known as Benjamin Sisko (Star Trek) and the renegades who follow a desperate and violent Worf (Star Trek: Defiant) must unite for a common cause. Only they can hope to stop the Day of Blood.
Rated T
In Shops: Jul 19, 2023
SRP: $5.99
PREVIEWS Page #254
IDW-PRH
(W) Christopher Sequeira (A) Joe Eisma (CA) Francesco Francavilla
Acclaimed writer Chris Sequeira (Justice League Adventures) and Eisner-nominated artist Joe Eisma (Morning Glories) are bringing horror to the holodeck in a new four-issue miniseries! After enduring an anxiety-ridden passage through a solar storm, Captain Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise take to celebrating Halloween to reset the mood. But while the Earth holiday involves sweet treats and other festivities, they soon learn that fear is in season when crew members begin to go missing one by one.
In Shops: Oct 04, 2023
SRP: $3.99
PREVIEWS Page #268
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IDW-PRH
(W) Christopher Cantwell, Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing (A) Ramon Rosanas (CA) Malachi Ward
Revisit the first chapter in Kahless' Day of Blood and join the crew of icons led by the emissary known as Benjamin Sisko (Star Trek) and the renegades who follow a desperate and violent Worf (Star Trek: Defiant) in the fight for the sake of the galaxy! Day of Blood #1 Director's Cut pairs the original issue with a behind-the-scenes look at progress work from Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Christopher Cantwell, and Ramon Rosanas.
In Shops: Oct 11, 2023
SRP: $6.99
PREVIEWS Page #231
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IDW-PRH
(W) Ryan North (A/CA) Derek Charm
You've seen Captains Benjamin Sisko and Worf with their crews of the U.S.S. Theseus and Defiant stop the fascist, god-killing clone Kahless II from declaring war on non-followers across the galaxy in a brutal battle on Qo'noS. But you haven't seen it from the eyes of the man, the myth, the legend-Lieutenant Junior Grade Shaxs!
From the writer behind the best-selling Lower Decks comics series, Ryan North, with esteemed artist Derek Charm (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl), comes a 30-page standalone tie-in to the Star Trek: Day of Blood event detailing the Bajoran's beast-mode brawl and showcasing all the behind-the-scenes Klingon-zealot butt-kicking in full animated glory!
In Shops: Sep 27, 2023
SRP: $5.99
PREVIEWS Page #267
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IDW-PRH
(W) Kirsten Beyer, Mike Johnson (A/CA) Megan Levens
Journey to new reaches in this exclusive comic tie-in set between seasons one and two of the fan-favorite Paramount+ series! With Una accused of unlawful genetic modification by Starfleet, Captain Pike sets out in search of evidence that could prove her innocence. But, when Captain Pike and the crew of the Enterprise get caught in the Pryllia colony, home to the illusive Illyrians, the mission objective quickly shifts from gathering evidence to exonerate Una to... breaking out.
In Shops: Oct 11, 2023
SRP: $17.99
PREVIEWS Page #269
IDW-PRH
(W) Christopher Cantwell (A) Angel Unzueta
Someone is killing the gods. But Benjamin Sisko's Prophets-guided dealings of the higher cosmos has led him to forget about the very real casualties on lower ground. But who is this new enemy? Worf of House Martok has put together his own crew aboard the USS Defiant in hopes of defeating the dangerous messiah behind this genocidal cult. The Dirty Dozen meets Star Trek in this new series from the creative minds of Chris Cantwell and Angel Unzueta!
In Shops: Nov 15, 2023
SRP: $24.99
PREVIEWS Page #212
IDW-PRH
(W) Marc Guggenheim (A) Chudakov, Oleg (CA) Jake Bartok
From critically acclaimed screenwriter, producer, and comics writer Marc Guggenheim comes a brand-new miniseries detailing a never-before-seen adventure from Captain Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise! When a space anomaly thrusts a bounty hunter and her target-a criminal mastermind-into their universe, it's up to Kirk and his crew to stop them from unintentionally starting a war with the Romulans and unleashing a superweapon of foreign tech onto the system. But the strangers from another universe are more familiar than they assume for underneath their helmets are their doppelgangers from an alternate reality!
In Shops: May 17, 2023
SRP: $4.99
PREVIEWS Page #350
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IDW-PRH
(W) Sam Maggs (A) Greco Ornella (CA) Sweeney Boo
From New York Times-bestselling author Sam Maggs (Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars) comes a new ongoing series unveiling the past of one of Starfleet's most celebrated officers: Captain Jean-Luc Picard! Before becoming the Federation's finest, Jean-Luc was an ordinary student at Starfleet Academy with sights on the stars. His path forward was charted: blow his classmates out of the water on the infamous Evasive Maneuvers exam and graduate early. But there's a detail Cadet Picard hadn't factored into his plan: the exam was a group project and he'd need to make friends with, ugh, people if he stood a chance at passing. Federation starships aren't run by a party of one, after all!
In Shops: Sep 13, 2023
SRP: $3.99
PREVIEWS Page #268
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IDW-PRH
(W) Kirsten Beyer, Mike Johnson (A/CA) Angel Hernandez
Come back to Strange New Worlds with a never-before-seen adventure of the hit Paramount+ show! Set course with Captain Pike and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise to the Scorpius constellation! As they venture into the unknown, the Enterprise crew learn what it truly means to traverse through the strange and unfamiliar when they lose contact with Starfleet and find themselves trapped in unexplored space!
In Shops: Aug 23, 2023
SRP: $3.99
PREVIEWS Page #273
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IDW-PRH
(W) Ryan North (A/CA) Chris Fenoglio
Ensign, report to the bridge! Board the U.S.S. Cerritos for a mission to the enigmatic Qvanti system as the hit Paramount+ animated series comes to comics! Captain Carol Freeman leads her crew on an expedition aimed to build bridges and advance Federation technology, but she and the away team quickly suspect that the planet and its people are not all what they seem... Meanwhile, the crew in the lower decks take to the holodeck for some much-needed recreational time-until a bloodthirsty visitor decides to join in on their games. Can Boimler, Mariner, Tendi, and Rutherford save the ship from the likes of Dracula?
In Shops: May 03, 2023
SRP: $19.99
PREVIEWS Page #358
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Troy-Jeffrey Allen is the producer and co-host of PREVIEWSworld Weekly. His comics work includes MF DOOM: All Caps, Public Enemy's Apocalypse '91, Fight of the Century, the Harvey Award-nominated District Comics, and the Ringo Awards-nominated Magic Bullet.
