Written by Ryan North

Art by Derek Charm

Letters by Clayton Cowles

Design & Production by Johanna Natalie

The USS Cerritos’s crew are struck down by a deadly disease! Oh it’s fine.

The USS Cerritos is called to Deep Space 2 after a distress sign – Oh it’s fine.

An N-dimensional flame – fine. It’s fine

But when ancient Starfleet vessel the Bonaventure is recovered, Mariner gets the adventure she’s craving. And then some…

Ryan North is one of the funniest writers working today and is a perfect fit for the rapid fire dialogue that’s Lower Decks’ style. The constant footnotes, that North has always excelled at are great here and neatly tie into the other element of the show that North nails: no one on Earth loves Star Trek like Lower Decks writers.

The Bonaventure appeared in the Animated Series episode ‘The Time Trap’ and North and Derek Charm do a lovely job of mimicking that art style. Charm’s got the big expression/thin lines feel down and the sequence is both an enthusiastic salute to the TOS era’s oddest season and also ever so slightly parodic of Kirk’s actions in it. I did not know hearing Billups say ‘peaced out’ was something I needed, and yet here we are.

It helps too that this is just a really fun mystery. The Bonaventure’s back! And it’s a weird, scrunkly looking little ship! And weird stuff’s happening on it! This sort of story is what Star Trek has always excelled at and Lower Decks too. So seeing it executed with such perfectly designed charm and flair is just a joy. Johanna Natalie’s design is as carefully accurate and joyous as the book and the show itself.

Verdict: Lower Decks issue 1 is a great start from a great creative team. If you’re missing the show, this one’s for you. 10/10

Alasdair Stuart

 

Lower Decks issue 1 is out now

Warp Your Way, the spectacularly good Choose Your Own Adventure graphic novel, is also out now.

As is the excellent mini series from last year, confusingly also just called Lower Decks.