Star Trek has been one of those universes that I have always wanted to dive into more, but never really got around to it. I have dipped my toes into the morning fringe stories, but only because they deal with the lesser known characters. This is why Star Trek: Starfleet – Lost Contact #1 works so well, as it also features the less notable characters, allowing me to grasp the story for what it is, a high-stakes adventure on a seemingly lifeless planet.
Caleb, Genesis, Jay-Den, Kyle, and Tarima are all students of Starfleet Academy, the illustrious school responsible for the Federation’s best. One day, they dream to serve as great leaders on board ships of their own, to study the cultural intricacies of sentient life amongst the Galaxy, or to go where no person has explored before. But today, their mission is simply to execute a survey simulation on a lifeless, low-oxygen planet. Or at least, it seems simple… until a huge storm cuts off their contact with their teachers aboard the Athena… and something impossible appears: an alien. Now, they’ll have to work together and use everything they’ve learned in class about first contact to make it off the planet alive!
Star Trek has a storied history, spanning 60 years, and with that comes a great deal of continuity and lore. This makes getting started with the stories a bit daunting and overwhelming. However, stories such as Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Red Shirts have allowed me to get a taste of the universe without having to know a bunch of the history. This goes the same for Star Trek: Starfleet – Lost Contact, as it deals with new cadets on a new mission. Even if these characters have graced the small screen first.
Writer Layne Morgan introduces us to the new cast of characters and crafts a tale where the story itself to take center stage without having to know too much about Star Trek in the first place. This really allowed my novice Star Trek brain to really get immersed in the story, which I felt was a nice foundation for the new series based around the television series.
Star Trek: Starfleet – Lost Contact is a high-stakes and daring adventure, but only after they land on what they thought was a lifeless planet. However, as with most science-fiction adventures, things go sideways. This new group of cadets will have to work together to survive on a planet with low-oxygen and limited supply of reserve oxygen with lost contact to their teachers aboard the Athena. The group has to decide between getting good scores and simply surviving.
The artwork by Coralí Espuna and colors by Nora Serrano are fitting of a Star Trek comic series. Crafting an illustration based on an unknown planet in space can have its challenges, but these newcomers have created a truly amazing comic with some fantastic colors.
Star Trek: Starfleet – Lost Contact is another wonderful comic series for those longtime fans of Star Trek, as well as newcomers to the iconic franchise. As Star Trek celebrates 60 years, it’s nice to be able to jump on board and become more of a fan of this universe without having the hurdles of quickly having to learn the history of the franchise. Star Trek: Starfleet – Lost Contact is a high-stakes adventure worth exploring!
Star Trek: Starfleet – Lost Contact #1 hits local comic shops on April 15, 2026 (FOC: March 9) from IDW Publishing.
Star Trek: Starfleet – Lost Contact #1 Covers Preview
