Star Trek: Starfleet Academy – Lost Contact #1 Does a Better Job of Being Star Trek Than the Show (Review)

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The new show, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, unexpectedly became a source of major debate among fans, with some reacting negatively despite its strengths. While not flawless – very few Star Trek shows are great in their first season – it had exciting moments, a diverse cast, and standout performances from Holly Hunter, Lura Thok, and Jet Reno. Unfortunately, it was cancelled, cutting short its potential. Luckily, the story isn’t over! IDW is continuing the adventure with a new comic book, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy: Lost Odyssey #1, featuring the show’s characters.

The first issue of this series, created by Layne Morgan and illustrated by Corali Espuna, sends new cadets to a desolate planet for a training exercise that quickly becomes dangerous. A common criticism of previous Starfleet Academy stories was that they didn’t capture the spirit of Star Trek. This issue, however, successfully delivers a classic Trek-style story, promising an exciting adventure, though it’s not without its flaws.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Pros Cons
Morgan sets up a cool Star Trek plot for the book If you don’t really know the characters, this book doesn’t do a good job of introducing them
Espuna’s art takes its cues from the show without looking like its completely copying it Espuna’s style isn’t the best for this kind of story, despite looking good

This Issue Does Star Trek Very Well

Despite not always getting the recognition it deserves, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy had potential. A common criticism is that it didn’t focus enough on classic *Star Trekstyle adventures, and that’s partly due to the shorter seasons typical of streaming shows. This first issue feels like the beginning of a self-contained sci-fi story, and it’s enjoyable. It’s the kind of simple planetary mission fans would have appreciated seeing more of. While it doesn’t offer much character development – even for those already familiar with the show – it generally works well as a standalone science fiction tale.

This comic features a classic Star Trek scenario: the away team encounters a strange planet that throws unpredictable challenges their way. The story effectively builds suspense, forcing the young cadets to rely on their own judgment as things become increasingly dangerous. It’s a perfect execution of this type of plot. The issue is told from Genesis’s point of view, and the writer does a great job of making her voice authentic. While the story delivers exactly what a Star Trek fan would expect, it doesn’t delve as deeply into character development for those less familiar with the series.

Espuna’s Art Is Good but Doesn’t Always Work for This Story

Adapting science fiction movies and TV shows into comics can be tricky, especially when it comes to the artwork. Finding artists who can really capture the sci-fi aesthetic is a challenge, and Star Trek comics, in particular, haven’t always been visually strong. This new book is a welcome exception thanks to Corali Espuna. She’s a talented artist with a strong attention to detail, excellent character designs, and a distinctive style. Importantly, she manages to stay true to the characters’ personalities without relying on simple tracing.

Overall, I think the art looks pretty good, but there are a couple of things that bother me. The page designs are solid, but I found myself getting lost on one particular page, unsure of where to look next. More importantly, I didn’t really feel the danger the characters were facing, and that’s the biggest issue for me. I don’t want to put it all on the artist, Espuna, though. The story asks for bulky environment suits and constant acid rain, which are tough to pull off well in a comic, so it’s understandable why those elements didn’t quite land. Still, it’s a visually appealing issue.

The first issue of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy: Lost Contact feels like a classic Star Trek story – the kind fans have been wanting for a while. While not flawless, it’s a solid read with good artwork, though it does have a few minor issues. If you enjoy Star Trek, you’ll likely enjoy this comic.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy: Lost Contact #1 is on sale now.

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2026-04-15 17:10