IDW is wrapping up their two-year-long Star Trek: Year Five series this summer, and today they just announced a brand new year-long series to follow that up, with a return to the 24th century’s Mirror Universe.
Star Trek: The Mirror War
The classic Star Trek episode “Mirror, Mirror” introduced The Mirror Universe and Terran Empire, and various Trek shows revisited this dark and dangerous place in the decades since. We never saw Star Trek: The Next Generation’s take on the Mirror Universe on television, but IDW has been showing us a vision of Mirror TNG starting with Mirror Broken in 2017. And beginning on “Star Trek Day” (September 8th), the Star Trek comics publisher returns with a new series where they invite readers “to witness what the galaxy could be like at the mercy of a Captain Picard whose greatness is measured in cunning and cruelty.”
Star Trek: The Mirror War brings back writers Scott and David Tipton, who have penned IDW’s three previous TNG-era Mirror Universe miniseries. “We’re absolutely thrilled to return to the Mirror Universe,” says Scott Tipton. “What’s in store for our Mirror Jean-Luc Picard and his Enterprise crew? New faces, new places, and old grudges. Picard’s ambitions are grander than ever, and nothing short of the throne itself will satisfy him!”
The series will kick off a month early in August with a special Star Trek: The Mirror War #0 issue illustrated by Carlos Nieto. This zero issue features a new story of “Mirror Picard” as he’s summoned to Earth to face the wrath of his emperor, deftly weaving threads from past Mirror Universe tales in a way entertaining to both newcomers and the initiated alike.
Star Trek: The Mirror War #0 will be available with multiple cover variants for retailers and fans to enjoy: Cover A by series artist Carlos Nieto, Cover B by Ejiwa “Edge” Ebenebe, and a Retailer Incentive edition by Bex Glendining. Starting with issue #1, J.K. Woodward will be providing cover artwork for every issue.
Mirror War Issue #0 cover
Following September’s #0 launch, the series will continue to build year-long tension with issues #1-8 and four interspersed tie-in specials, each highlighting a different member of the Next Generation cast. The first spin-off one-shot, slated for December, will focus on Data. Once complete, the 13-part saga will chart Mirror Picard’s path of conquest across all of the Mirror Universe, stoking the wrath of the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance along the way.
“In The Mirror War, we’ll be seeing what happens when Picard gets hold of information that can change the fortunes of the debilitated Terran Empire,” says David Tipton. “The Enterprise crew will find themselves in positions of potential power and wealth like never before.”
“With Mirror Broken, Through the Mirror, and Terra Incognita, Scott and David Tipton — along with our Mirror War series cover artist J.K. Woodward — crafted a compelling and wholly original corner of the Star Trek universe. We’re excited to continue that tradition with The Mirror War, all while bringing new artists and storytellers into those Trek landscapes that fans love,” says editor Megan Brown.
Mirror War Issue #1 cover
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I think this will be fun, even though none of IDW’s mirror titles have really made any sense in the context of the TV shows. The Starfleet that exists in the Tiptons comics doesn’t jibe with what we saw on Deep Space Nine at all. I have still enjoyed them, but they’re wholly incompatible with the shows. The only way to really view their mirror tales is as another mirror universe separate from the one on TV.
IDK. I agree that the comics are very enjoyable, but I san see how they tie into what we know from DS9. I have always assumed that these comics are showing the remnants of the Terran Empire (years before what we see in DS9). Since we never see the Empire in DS9, it could be that it is now a 3rd rate power in the galaxy (only a handful of systems, limited resources).
Given Wesley’s age, though, it can’t be years before DS9.
I think it works. Terok Nor is on the outskirts, and the Empire in the comics is represented as basically locked down to Earth or maybe a small are around it IIRC.
I just hope this isn’t the only thing they’ll have running for a while. I’m happy to see IDW continue with Trek and I was wondering what, if anything, would replace Year Five. The Mirror specials have been kind of fun, but… it’s not really what I come to Trek for.
I tend to agree with you. I like the mirror saga and the Tiptons are good at what they do, but there’s just too much of it. IDW keeps dipping into that well, and it’s getting a bit tiring.
Finally, someone who agrees with me!
It was stated at some point in the previous Tipton’s MU comics that all that remains of the Terran Empire is localized to the Terran system (i.e. Earth). The arc of one of the series (the one focusing mainly on Picard) was all about him attempting to steal the Big E to go on the offensive against the Klingon-Cardassian alliance. Thus, while we were told in DS9 that the Empire had collapsed, we weren’t told if there was any remnants of it left – and that’s what these comics are all about.
Looking forward to this! I enjoyed the previous IDW mirror series. Wish I had a lot more of IDWs stuff.
are they going to continue the reboot comics or was boldly go the last of them? Is the Kelvin timeline a dead IP. Because i’ve waited for some new books, comics or a movie and nothing has been done. The only thing after Beyond were the Boldly go comics. A new video game that is actually good would be welcome as well.
I love all things Star Trek. I honestly do and I’ll keep reading the comics and the novels, just as I’ll keep watching the shows. But they’ve so overdone the mirror universe concept. It’s time to stop treading water in this alternate universe. IDW, please move on to other stories. I want to go back to loving what you do.