Comic Book Review – Star Trek: Red Shirts Issue #5

      Villordsutch reviews Star Trek: Red Shirts #5…

      From the very beginning, Star Trek: Red Shirts has never suggested a happy ending — it has shown us Romulan disruptors melting faces, harrowing transporter mishaps, a planet so hostile it nearly tries to kill you on sight, and sometimes actually does. These are the types of missions that leave even experienced officers gazing into the abyss. This finale does not pull any punches. It immerses you back into the disastrous chaos of the Away Mission, confronting the harsh reality that being the foundation of Starfleet entails sacrificing for a cause that most people will never even learn about. It’s harsh and precisely the kind of conclusion this series has been challenging us to endure.

      This is it. Our last two Security Officers — Miller and Raad — have reached their no-win situation. Captured by Romulans, displayed before Klingons, and with the Starfleet “Disc of Secrets” tantalizingly out of reach. Can they fulfill their final mission? Will either of them emerge to recount the story of The Battle of Arkonia 89? It all hinges on this: honor, secrets, and trusting the officer beside you.

      What on earth!? I truly believe this is the first time I’ve exclaimed something that would make a sailor flush, while reading a Star Trek comic. Once again, Christopher Cantwell presents an issue of Star Trek: Red Shirts that embeds itself deeply in your mind. And the worst part is, I can’t reveal what triggered my colorful reaction without completely spoiling this concluding chapter of an exceptional series. I’d love to share — I’m eager to shout from the highest peak about this astonishing Trek twist. Everyone should know what I now know. But, in a spoiler-free summary: this issue is heartbreaking, astonishing, and absolutely fantastic.

      I may have already expressed my sentiments, but I truly couldn’t hold back. This entire series has been remarkable. From Christopher Cantwell’s ruthlessly engaging storytelling to Megan Levens’ incredible artwork, and the consistently brilliant colors from Charlie Kirchoff, who has drenched each issue in a vibrant blend of beauty and brutality. I must also mention Jodie Troutman’s lettering — subtle choices tucked into speech bubbles that your mind grasps before your eyes do. I could thank everyone who made this series shine, from cover artists to the “Sharpener of the Pencils,” but if I did that, I’d be here all day. So, thank you to all of you.

      But now… I’m at a loss. It’s finished. Five months have whizzed by, and one of my newfound loves in Star Trek has closed its back cover for the last time. Star Trek: Red Shirts has been one of my biggest surprises this year. I never anticipated receiving such a high level of quality in both narrative and art from what had essentially become a joke among internet sci-fi fans. Yet here we are, bidding farewell to one of the best slices of Trek I’ve ever read in comic form.

      If you’ve missed out on this, I genuinely feel sorry for you — it’s been magnificent. Keep an eye out for the TPB soon. If you’ve been on this journey from the beginning, I’m sure you’ll agree: it’s been outstanding from start to finish.

      SEE ALSO: Exclusive Interview – Christopher Cantwell and Megan Levens discuss Star Trek: Red Shirts

      Rating: 10/10

      @Villordsutch