Warning: contains spoilers forStar Trek: Defiant#22!
Worf is about to embark on his hardestStar Trekmission yet–but it has nothing to do with the Klingons or Starfleet. Worf and his son Alexander have had a tense relationship. Alexander feels Worf failed him as a father, and in many ways he is correct. Now,inStar Trek: Defiant#22, Worf is undertaking a mission of a personal nature: to reconcile with Alexander.
Christopher Cantwell’s other books includeIron Man, Doctor DoomandThe Blue Flame.
Star Trek: Defiant#22 is written by Christopher Cantwell and drawn by Angel Unzueta. The issue kicks off a new storyline: “No Old Warriors,” andbegins with Alexander starting theQuvrite. This ritual helps errant Klingons restore their honor. Worf is overseeing Alexander’sQuv. The rite is grueling, and in this issue, Alexander fights two members of his extended family in intense combat.
Worf later reveals that Alexander’s dishonor is also his, thanks to his failure as a father.
Worf has taken a special interest in this ritual, as it will bring him closer to his son.
Worf’s Character Arc in theStar TrekFranchise, Explained
Worf’s Family and Personal Issues Provided for GreatStar TrekEpisodes
The drama surrounding Worf’s family and their struggle against the House of Duras not only formed the basis for some ofThe Next Generation’sbest episodes, but also gave fans in-depth looks at Klingon culture.
Worf, theEnterprise’sKlingon security chief, is one of theStar Trekfranchise’s richest characters, having appeared in moreTrekmedia than any other actor.Originally intended to be written offStar Trek: The Next Generation’sfirst season after a few episodes, Worf would go on to become one of the franchise’s best developed characters. The drama surrounding Worf’s family and their struggle against the House of Duras not only formed the basis for some ofThe Next Generation’sbest episodes, but also gave fans in-depth looks at Klingon culture.
Worf’s personal and family lives also provided material for some ofStar Trek’sbest stories.Worf’s Klingon family was murdered when he was a small child, and he was taken in by humans. Growing up on Earth, Worf struggled to fit in with a society that had been at war with his people just a few decades prior.Worf sought solace in Starfleet, and eventually made his way to theEnterprise, where he worked his way up to Security Chief. He eventually transfers toDeep Space Ninebefore returning to captain theEnterprise, as revealed inPicard.
Worf Became a Father While on theEnterprise
Worf’s Failures as a Parent Have Become (Unfortunately) One of His Defining Traits
It was during Worf’s first tenure on theEnterprisethat he would become a father. DuringThe Next Generation’ssecond season, Worf meets, and falls in love with, K’Ehlyer, a half-human, half-Klingon woman. She gave birth to Alexander shortly after, but was later killed. Alexander was sent to Worf’s adopted family on Earth, but he proved too much for the elderly couple, and he came to live on theEnterprise. Worf, unprepared to be a father, struggled in the role.Worf was still grappling with being a child of two worlds, and was unable to provide for Alexander emotionally.
Star Trek Is Ready to Embark on a Klingon Redemption Story No One Saw Coming, And I’m Not Sure It Will Work Out
The advanced synopsis for IDW’s Star Trek #30 suggests that the series' first major villain is due for a shot at redemption, in a major shock to fans.
Worf’s failures as a parent have haunted him. When Alexander was living on theEnterprise, he often got into trouble in school with his peers. Worf tried to provide guidance to his son, but came up short. Worf, perhaps sensing he missed out on the Klingon experience by being raised by humans, tries to instill in Alexander Klingon beliefs, telling the boy stories of Kahless, the founder of modern Klingon society. Nothing seemed to stick, and in time Alexander and Worf would part ways again. Eventually, Alexander joins the Klingon Defense Force.
IDW’sStar TrekComics Have Not Let Up on Worf
Worf Nearly Lost Alexander DuringStar Trek: Day of Blood
Worf has been front and center in IDW’s line ofStar Trekcomics since the line was relaunched in late 2022, and once again, his family life has reared its head. Kahless II, the cloned Klingon emperor, began assembling a cult to help him in his crusade against the galaxy’s god-like beings, and Alexander was one of his recruits. Kahless manipulated the boy into fighting his father, as seen inStar Trek: Day of Blood. Alexander, who has struggled with feelings of alienation his whole life, was an easy target for Kahless’ machinations.
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.
Alexander was nearly killed inDay of Blood, and it drove home to Worf that he needed to get his act together when it came to his son,which is whereStar Trek: Defiant#22 begins. Thequvrite is a brutal and intense undertaking, but its ultimate aims are good. Father and son would have different takeaways from thequvritual: for Alexander, it would give him back the honor he lost duringDay of Bloodand, for Worf, it would give him a chance to atone for years of bad parenting.
Reconciling With Alexander Will Be Worf’s Hardest Mission
If Father and Son Survive, They Will Be Closer Than Ever
While Worf and Alexander have different hopes forquv, one common thread emerges for both: it will not be easy for either. Restoring lost honor in Klingon society is not something to be taken lightly, and it will be an ordeal for Alexander. But for Worf, it will be even more intense, as it will force him to confront his shortcomings as a father.Worf has undertaken some difficultand trying missions in theStar Trekuniverse, but his newest one will be the hardest, as it is of an intensely personal nature.
