Writer Christopher Cantwell and artist Megan Levens take us boldly where few have gone before–into the lives of the expendable–in Star Trek: Red Shirts. Known for their unfortunate fates, the infamous redshirts are finally given depth and purpose.
The doomed Starfleet crew members, the red shirts, must track down spies on an isolated planet in this graphic novel.
Stranded on the snow-ridden planet Arkonia 89, the crew of the U.S.S. Warren has a small window in which to pin down spies seeking to steal classified secrets and keep Starfleet data out of their nefarious hands.
They face threats not only from their faceless enemies but from the brutalizing elements and wildlife of a planet far from home. In this complicated story of betrayal, loss, and redemption, the red shirts’ lives and Starfleet’s sanctity are on the line… and no one is safe.
For those who don’t know…in the world of fiction, primarily science fiction, a red shirt often refers to a minor character or background character that is introduced only to die soon after appearing. This is often to demonstrate the danger of a situation or to raise the stakes for the main character. The term comes from the Star Trek: The Original Series in the 1960s, where red uniformed security officers were frequently killed, while main characters survived. Redshirts have since grown to be present in all sorts of stories often used humorously to refer to any expendable character.
While I may not be fully caught up on recent events in the Star Trek universe, I know the history surrounding the term red shirts. This made me want to dive into the new IDW Publishing series, Star Trek: Red Shirts. I couldn’t resist seeing who Star Trek scribe Christopher Cantwell along with artist Megan Levens would approach spinning a story around what is usually forgettable characters.
Cantwell has done something special with Star Trek: Red Shirts. He has crafted a gripping and exciting story focused on the very characters often considered expendable, not saying they all survive this time around, but it’s nice to see them given a chance. By leaning into the characters’ awareness of their likely fate and building a tale around that tension, Cantwell creates a comic that is fresh and truly unexpected.
These are the kinds of Star Trek stories I truly enjoy. They step slightly outside the main storylines and don’t ask the reader to have an extensive knowledge of the Star Trek universe. I mean, understanding the history behind the redshirts is key to full appreciating the story, a deep familiarity with the lore is really not fully necessary. Stories such as Star Trek: Red Shirts and Star Trek: Lower Decks allow me to enjoy the universe in a more relaxed and simplify entertaining way, enjoying the comic for what it is.
Capturing the essence of Star Trek while maintaining their own flair, Megan Levens illustrations in Red Shirts is wonderful. Add the darker tones from Charlie Kirchoff‘s colors and you get artwork that complements Cantwell’s script in such a great way. The illustrations and colors add an edge to the story while preserving its darkly humorous undertones.
Star Trek: Red Shirts is a great addition to the Star Trek line of comics. Christopher Cantwell proves that even the non-essential characters can take the spotlight here and there with the reader caring about their stories. The artwork from Megan Levens and Charlie Kirchoff works well with the Star Trek universe and pulls you deeper into the story. Star Trek: Red Shirts is for those fans of Star Trek that want a bit more and for those who want to jump into the universe without much knowledge of the lore.
The collected edition of Star Trek: Red Shirts hits local comic shops and bookstores everywhere on May 12, 2026 from IDW Publishing.
Star Trek: Red Shirts Preview
