Comic Book Review – Star Trek: Voyager – Homecoming #4

      Villordsutch reviews Star Trek: Voyager – Homecoming #4…

      You would expect that after spending seven years in the Delta Quadrant (not counting the Year of Hell) where the Voyager crew faced many adversaries—from the Kazon and the Hirogen to the Borg (and the infamous Phlox)—they would finally get a moment to relish coming back to Earth. Apparently, that’s not the case. In fact, Star Trek: Voyager – Homecoming by Susan and Tilly Bridges gives Janeway and her team the most dismal welcome-home experience imaginable. Hopefully, the Federation's event organizers are taking notes; they definitely need to improve their risk assessments for future events.

      Right from the start, we dive into the ongoing narrative, racing forward with urgency. Voyager is now defending itself on two fronts: the away team is hurriedly collaborating with isolated Borg drones to secure the sole escape route from Fluidic Space, while Species 8472 throws every reinforcement into an effort to eliminate this Starfleet threat once and for all.

      In a desperate move involving Borg nanite-infused torpedoes, Species 8472 begins to suffer losses in both ships and personnel. But will this be sufficient to turn the tide of battle in favor of Voyager, or is it merely the final provocation Species 8472 needs to annihilate Voyager, the Borg, and the Federation definitively?

      This comic series consistently leaves you breathless and craving more. When you reach the final page, your immediate reaction is, “No! It can’t end here!” Tilly and Susan Bridges clearly excel in action storytelling and know how to execute an effective cliffhanger. More importantly, they have a knack for crafting an excellent Star Trek: Voyager tale.

      This is particularly evident in the characters’ dialogues, often encapsulated in a single panel — as seen in this issue, with a quick remark from Janeway directed at Species 8472 during their boarding of Voyager. It’s a brief moment, but it infuses the essence of Voyager into the narrative and undeniably feels like Star Trek.

      The writing also skillfully avoids the typical sci-fi tropes. Instead of the expected cliché— where "they'll let Voyager go because Starfleet made a sacrifice for a wounded enemy—Species 8472 has turned a new leaf!"—we are presented with an even more brutal and ominous aspect of Species 8472.

      There are a few minor issues. One particular moment that puzzled me was a disoriented Tuvok stumbling about and causing disruptions. I find it hard to understand why the Doctor would let a seriously ill, disoriented Vulcan wander onto the bridge unsupervised. True, there was a lot of tension, but it felt strange. I know that Main Sickbay was compromised, but couldn’t they have just used a good old-fashioned “straight-to-sleep” Hypospray to safely transport him to the other sickbay?

      Aside from that, I have no significant complaints about Star Trek: Voyager – Homecoming. With stunning artwork and colors by Angel Hernandez and colorist Charlie Kirchoff, paired with the engaging storytelling from Susan and Tilly Bridges, this is simply excellent. It is Star Trek: Voyager — and I adore it.

      SEE ALSO: Exclusive Interview – Inside IDW’s Star Trek: Voyager – Homecoming with writers Tilly and Susan Bridges

      Rating: 8/10

      @Villordsutch