IDW Publishing ’s rebooted line of products ofStar Trekcomics turned the cloned Klingon Emperor Kahless into its first major antagonist , as heunleashed havoc upon the galaxyin his quest to become a god . Now , Trekis boldly perish to turn Kahless back into a fighter – and though I have to hold I ’m questioning about the attempt , if the series manages to rive it off , it ’s going to be awing .

The synopsis forStar Trek#30 – written by Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing , with fine art Travis Mercer – teases a buyback floor for Kahless , who " must determine what Klingon honor really means . " This comes as a major surprise to many buff , as the character ’s fall from grace in the ongoing serial ' first year was swift and severe , and had Universe - alter consequences .

As a reader , I ’ve come to trustTrek’screative squad , and so I am excited by this narrative decision , yetI have to let in I ’m also low - key concerned that the execution of Kahless ’s absolution wo n’t hit as heavily as the approximation .

The USS Theseus and Captain Sisko (foreground) with Lore as a cosmic overlord in the background.

I Think Redeeming Kahless Is A Creative Gamble For Star Trek – Let’s Hope It Pays Off

Star Trek#30 – Written By Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing; Art By Travis Mercer; Main Cover By Jake Bartok

IDW ’s Star Trek began with the lauded " God War " arc , whichled into the " Day of Blood " crossing upshot , a story rivet around Kahless ' attempt to clean the galaxy of its higher beings , so that he could rise to godhood himself . It proved to be a thrilling enjoyment of a conversant character , and it was one of the thing I found incredibly refreshing about the relaunch of the serial publication . If there is one affair that continually imprint me about this era ofTrekcomics – both about Kelly and Lanzing’sStrek Trek , and Christopher Cantwell’sDefiantseries – it is their ambition .

That extends from their coming to reference , to their utilization of spacetime itself . This series has drink down off the galaxy ’s most hefty beings , and gone as far as to vaunt up the universe of discourse itself , so readers should know nothing is off limits . grant to the synopsis for the issue , Star Trek#30 will be one of the franchise ’s patented time locomotion stories :

After the Day of Blood , Kahless II is a defeated , busted man who has but one track left : face himself . Thrown back in metre by the Time Crystals of Boreth , Kahless witnesses his own cruelty , hubris , and thirstiness for messianic power . When he amount case - to - face with himself as a young male child take for his founding father ’s blade for the first time , Kahless must decide what a Klingon ’s honor truly means .

Picard and Riker in season 1

While I desire to make space for the possibility that this is a fakeout , everything about this prevue screams " redemption level " to me . Assuming he does , it also suggests that the character ’s arc wo n’t end there .

Star Trek Made Kahless Such An Effective Villain That Fans Will Have A Hard Time Accepting Him As A Hero

“Too Soon” – The Right Move At The Wrong Time?

With their ambitious tendencies in nous , it do total sense , to me , that the authors ' plan for Kahless extend beyond his defeat atthe end of " twenty-four hours of rip . “It is sure enough a creative peril ; collaboratively , all three writersput a great sight of effort into building Kahless up into a major antagonist during the early stage of their ladder , meaning that not all readers will " buy " or consent his buyback , if that is really how the story play out – especially not so soon .

I have been consistently more and more impressed by the way that IDW ’s Star Trek have become one of funnies ' most ambitious franchises .

That is , Kahless ' tip as a nefarious fictional character is still saucy in fans ' minds . His fall had an impingement on readers , and so it makes sense – from the creative team ’s perspective – thatthey might retrieve that him rising again , and becoming a grand figure once more , would also walk out a chord . And I consider they might be right , but my business organization is that it is get along too cursorily on the bounder of Kahless ' " heel earned run average , " to borrow a full term from professional wrestle .

Robin Curtis and Kirstie Alley as Lt. Saavik in Star Trek.

Still , ifStar Trek#30 is the start point for a Kahless salvation story , rather than the entire tarradiddle , that will also ultimately make a difference . It could be a character where I , and other lector , are unbelieving at first , but are won over in the end by the journeying , even if we did n’t like the destination we were headed for when we first get going out . Above all else , this is why I am excited for Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing to seek to make a more complicated Kahless , even if I have my dubiousness .

“Day Of Blood” Made Kahless Seem Irredeemable – Redeeming Him Has To Feel Like A Huge Deal

I Get “Why,” The Question Is “How?”

I need to return to the synopsis forStar Trek#30 for a moment , because I keep describe Kahless ' coming appearing as a " redemption story , " and that is not without good reason . The lyric of the synopsis is " cypher , " effectively , to give that imprint . It ensnare Kahless ' licking at the sexual climax of " Day of Blood " as dispatch stone bottom , essentially , but makes it exonerated that he still has the opportunity to reckon with his actions . Yet this lacks the setting of the order of magnitude of those actions , which featured Kahless unleashing a wave of destruction upon the civilized extragalactic nebula .

More than do readers feel like Kahless has earned his redemption , Kelly and Lanzing necessitate to make readers want him to garner it .

Kahless ' actions direct up to , and during , " sidereal day of Blood " arguably put him beyond the point of no return ; he seemingly crossed the Klingon equivalent of the Rubicon more than once . As far as extraction into villainy go , his was somewhat austere . So , I think that , as a reviewer , I want his atonement for those actions to be just as intense . That is to say , if he is choke to be redeemed , the mechanics of his redemption necessitate to be just to the wrong he make , in lodge for the moment to be fulfill .

Kahless founder of modern Klingon society

This is n’t a matter of penalisation that I recall the persona should have to endure , but rather the level of emotional weight that authors Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing can bring in to the page for this issue . More than making readers feel like Kahless has make his repurchase , Kelly and Lanzing need to make proofreader want him to earn it . In my opinion , this would be a Brobdingnagian storytelling accomplishment , and would be another whole tone toward solidifying their rivulet as thegreatest inStar Trekcomic history .

IDW’s Star Trek Has Earned Readers Trust Over Two And A Half Years Of Publication

Star Trek#30 – Variant Covers By Jake Bartok & Travis Mercer

When " Day of Blood " proved to be a spectacular , and satisfying , ending to the " God War " plotline , I was among the reader who expect IDW’sStar Trekto move on to something else entirely , and I would n’t have begrudge its Lord the right hand . rather , Collin Kelly , Jackson Lanzing , and Christopher Cantwell have spend another year impressively build upon that initial arc , leading up to an even moreextraordinary sequel of sorts , the " Lore War,“in which Data ’s evil twin tries to remake the creation in his persona – and my very nearly deliver the goods .

Given the opportunity , Kelly , Lanzing , and Cantwell will not only do justness by Kahless ' redemption , they will tell a floor that makes the character ’s risky actions even more meaningful through the eventual restoration of his " pureness . "

This should give reader trust thatthe authors can also craft a 2d act for Kahless , one that will be a meaningful accession to his place inStar Trekcanon . Given the opportunity , Kelly , Lanzing , and Cantwell will not only do justice by Kahless ' redemption , they will tell a story that makes the persona ’s bad action even more meaningful through the eventual restoration of his " honour . " While all of this is only surmise for now , it is a testament to how muchStar Trekhas become one of the most extremely anticipated ongoing mirthful serial on shelves right now .

Star Trek #30 cover, Kahless walks away from a Bat’leh, left discarded on the ground

It’s stardate 2378, and Benjamin Sisko has finally returned from the Bajoran Wormhole omnipotent—but his godhood is failing with every minute. Sent by the Prophets on a mission to the deepest parts of space aboard the U.S.S. Theseus, he witnesses the unthinkable: someone is killing the gods. And only Sisko and his motley crew of Starfleet members from every era of Trek can stop them.

Star Trek#30will be useable March 5 , 2025 from IDW Publishing .

It ’s stardate 2378 , and Benjamin Sisko has finally revert from the Bajoran Wormhole omnipotent — but his godhood is miscarry with every minute . Sent by the oracle on a mission to the deepest parts of place aboard the U.S.S. Theseus , he witnesses the unthinkable : someone is pop the gods . And only Sisko and his motley gang of Starfleet members from every earned run average of Trek can stop them .

star trek klingon kahless

Star Trek #3 variant cover, Kahless holding his Bat’leth, looking contemplative

Star Trek #1 IDW Comic Cover Art

It’s stardate 2378, and Benjamin Sisko has finally returned from the Bajoran Wormhole omnipotent—but his godhood is failing with every minute. Sent by the Prophets on a mission to the deepest parts of space aboard the U.S.S. Theseus, he witnesses the unthinkable: someone is killing the gods. And only Sisko and his motley crew of Starfleet members from every era of Trek can stop them.

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