IDW Publishing’s rebooted line 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 going to turn Kahless back into a hero – and though I have to admit I’m skeptical about the attempt, if the series manages to pull it off, it’s going to be awesome.
The synopsis forStar Trek#30 – written by Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing, with art Travis Mercer – teases a redemption story for Kahless, who “must decide what Klingon honor really means.” This comes as a major surprise to many fans, as the character’s fall from grace in the ongoing series' first year was swift and severe, and had Universe-altering consequences.
As a reader, I’ve come to trustTrek’screative team, and so I am excited by this narrative decision, yetI have to admit I’m also low-key concerned that the execution of Kahless’s absolution won’t hit as hard as the idea.
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” crossover event, a story centered around Kahless' attempt to cleanse the galaxy of its higher beings, so that he could ascend to godhood himself. It proved to be a thrilling use of a familiar character, and it was one of the things I found incredibly refreshing about the relaunch of the series. If there is one thing that continually impresses me about this era ofTrekcomics – both about Kelly and Lanzing’sStrek Trek, and Christopher Cantwell’sDefiantseries – it is their ambition.
That extends from their approach to characters, to their use of spacetime itself. This series has killed off the galaxy’s most powerful beings, and gone as far as to blow up the universe itself, so readers should know nothing is off limits. According to the synopsis for the issue,Star Trek#30 will be one of the franchise’s patented time travel stories:
After the Day of Blood, Kahless II is a defeated, broken man who has but one path left: face himself. Thrown backward in time by the Time Crystals of Boreth, Kahless witnesses his own cruelty, hubris, and thirst for messianic power. When he comes face-to-face with himself as a young boy holding his father’s blade for the first time, Kahless must decide what a Klingon’s honor truly means.
While I want to make space for the possibility that this is a fakeout,everything about this preview screams “redemption story” to me.Assuming he does, it also suggests that the character’s arc won’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 mind, it makes total sense, to me, that the authors' plans for Kahless extend beyond his defeat atthe end of “Day of Blood.“It is certainly a creative risk; collaboratively, all three writersput a great deal of effort into building Kahless up into a major antagonist during the early stage of their run, meaning that not all readers will “buy” or accept his redemption, if that is really how the story plays out – especially not so soon.
I Can’t Believe It Either, But Star Trek Is Steadily Becoming the Gold Standard For Ambitious Comic Book Storytelling
I have been consistently more and more impressed by the way that IDW’s Star Trek have become one of comics' most ambitious franchises.
That is, Kahless' peak as a villainous character is still fresh in fans' minds. His fall had an impact on readers, and so it makes sense – from the creative team’s perspective – thatthey might think that him rising again, and becoming a heroic figure once more, would also strike a chord.And I think they might be right, but my concern is that it is coming too quickly on the heels of Kahless' “heel era,” to borrow a term from professional wrestling.
Still, ifStar Trek#30 is the starting point for a Kahless redemption story, rather than the entire story, that will also ultimately make a difference. It could be a case where I, and other readers, are skeptical at first, but are won over in the end by the journey, even if we didn’t like the destination we were headed for when we first started out. Above all else, this is why I am excited for Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing to attempt to make a more complicated Kahless, even if I have my doubts.
“Day Of Blood” Made Kahless Seem Irredeemable – Redeeming Him Has To Feel Like A Huge Deal
I Get “Why,” The Question Is “How?”
I want to return to the synopsis forStar Trek#30 for a moment, because I keep describing Kahless' upcoming appearance as a “redemption story,” and that is not without good reason. The language of the synopsis is “coded,” effectively, to give that impression. It frames Kahless' defeat at the climax of “Day of Blood” as hitting rock bottom, essentially, but makes it clear that he still has the chance to reckon with his actions. Yet this lacks the context of the magnitude of those actions, which featured Kahless unleashing a wave of destruction upon the civilized galaxy.
More than making readers feel like Kahless has earned his redemption, Kelly and Lanzing need to make readers want him to earn it.
Kahless' actions leading up to, and during, “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 descents into villainy go, his was pretty severe. So, I think that, as a reader, I want his atonement for those actions to be just as intense. That is to say, if he is going to be redeemed, the mechanics of his redemption need to be equitable to the damage he caused, in order for the moment to be satisfying.
This isn’t a matter of punishment that I think the character should have to endure, but rather the degree of emotional weight that authors Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing can bring to the page for this issue. More than making readers feel like Kahless has earned his redemption, Kelly and Lanzing need to make readers want him to earn it. In my opinion, this would be a huge storytelling achievement, and would be another step toward solidifying their run 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, conclusion to the “God War” plotline, I was among the readers who expected IDW’sStar Trekto move on to something else entirely, and I wouldn’t have begrudged its creators the right. Instead, Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Christopher Cantwell have spent another year impressively building 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 universe in his image – and my very nearly succeed.
Given the opportunity, Kelly, Lanzing, and Cantwell will not only do justice by Kahless' redemption, they will tell a story that makes the character’s worst actions even more meaningful through the eventual restoration of his “honor.”
This should give readers confidence thatthe authors can also craft a second act for Kahless, one that will be a meaningful addition 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 character’s worst actions even more meaningful through the eventual restoration of his “honor.” While all of this is only speculation for now, it is a testament to how muchStar Trekhas become one of the most highly anticipated ongoing comic series on shelves right now.
Star Trek#30will be available July 17, 2025 from IDW Publishing.
Star Trek (2022)
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.
