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Star Trek Defiant #3
- Writer:
- Christopher Cantwell
- Artist:
- Angel Unzueta
- Letterer:
- Clayton Cowles
- Cover Artist:
- Angel Unzueta
- Publisher:
- IDW Publishing
- Price:
- $4.99
- Release Date:
- 2023-05-10
- Colorist:
- Marissa Louise
With his son indoctrinated into the god-killing cult, the Red Path, led by Emperor Kahless II, Worf went against all Star Trek Federation protocol, defying Captain Sisko to assemble a fleet of his own -- including the likes of Ro Laren, B'Elanna Torres, Lore and Ambassador Spock. Worf traced the Red Path's trail of planetary destruction to the Orion pirate vessel known as the Scarab. Unfortunately, a mission gone awry has led Worf, Ro and B'Elanna to become prisoners on the Scarab–leaving Spock and the dangerous android Lore alone on the Defiant.
Written by Christopher Cantwell, with artwork by Ángel Unzueta, colors by Marissa Louise and lettering by Clayton Cowles, Star Trek: Defiant #3 places Spock back into the helm as a leader. However, the Vulcan commander may Lore's help to solve his predicament. Brute strength and wiles may be insufficient for the Klingon warrior and his ragtag team to survive. Luckily, help may be close by.
If the first two issues of the Defiant series were slow-burning story building, with the typical diplomatic and technical jargon as is to be expected for Star Trek, then Star Trek: Defiant #3 is where the story truly picks up. The issue begins with guns blazing, having both sets of characters in dire situations that require immediate action. Worf, Ro and B'Elanna are being held gunpoint after an espionage mission gone wrong, and Spock is desperately maneuvering the ship against an incoming onslaught from the Scarab, all while being forced to negotiate with Lore, who has proven time and again that he cannot fully be trusted.
Star Trek: Defiant #3 is a nail-biting page-turner, but even with the high stakes action sequences, bursts of violence and fantastical expletives, writer Cantwell retains that distinctive Star Trek DNA in the dialogue. Traditionally, the high-ranking, diplomatic, mature and professional cast of this franchise has spoken with a distinctive formal sort of speech, fitting for their formidable positions as leaders, military personnel, diplomats and ambassadors. Even the roguish characters such as Ro Laren and the amoral android Lore have a sense of formality and dignity to their speech patterns. Cantwell knows how to balance this sense of formality with action, speed and violence with excellent precision, making the exceptional conflict sequences of this issue feel completely in character and in place for the Star Trek franchise.
Star Trek: Defiant #3 further cements itself as a worthy chapter in the Star Trek canon thanks to Cantwell's excellent world building. Although the action is sequestered mostly in the microcosms of both the Scarab and the Defiant, Cantwell's writing and use of character interaction remind the readers of the greater world outside the fight. The pages are peppered with offscreen Commander Sela's narration, separate from the main story thanks to letterer Clayton Cowles's use of color cues and placement, describing a bloody feud between the Orion privateer and his family versus the Gorns. This seeming parallel narrative ultimately, and subtly, plays into the main story, with the characterization of a potential ally–and a discovery that shines light on the true power of the Red Path that further cements a personal connection to Worf.
With so much going on in each page, special praise must be given to artist Ángel Unzueta, whose masterful renderings brings to life the two complicated structures, designs and interiors of the Defiant and the Scarab, the equipment, armor and weapons used by both parties, and the flurry of fighting between the characters. Despite the incredible amount of action, the pages don't feel crowded. Everything reads smoothly, with the characters and panels flowing naturally, making Cowles's lettering placement easy for the eye to follow. Marissa Louise's color palette is toned down for this issue, with the cool blues and chromes of the Defiant's interior contrasting with the warm and slightly oppressive platinum and bronze of the Scara, both neutral backdrops of the darkly-clad cast to duke it out.
After two issues of build-up, Star Trek: Defiant #3 is an explosive issue of movement, excitement, and twists, making it well worth the wait while building anticipation for the rest of the series.