The first season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ended on a cliffhanger and before season two arrives in 2023, IDW is going to pick up the story for a new comics mini-series titled The Illyrian Enigma, kicking off in December. This will be the first Strange New Worlds comic book and it follows the launch of the first Lower Decks comic earlier this month.
The Illyrian Enigma
Today IDW revealed details and covers for their Star Trek: Strange New Worlds–The Illyrian Enigma. Here is the official synopsis:
In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds–The Ilyrian Enigma, Commander Una Chin-Riley—first officer and helmsman of the U.S.S. Enterprise— stands accused of unlawful genetic modification by Starfleet. Sparing no time, Captain Pike and his crew set out in search of evidence to prove her innocence!
Cover A for the Illyrian Enigma
The four-issue series reunites the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds co-executive producer Kirsten Beyer and with veteran Star Trek comics author Mike Johnson. Most recently they were paired up for IDW’s Star Trek: Discovery–Adventures in the 32nd Century and Star Trek: Picard–Stargazer. The look the series will be from artist Megan Levens (Star Trek: The Mirror War–Troi, Star Wars Adventures) and colorist Charlie Kirchoff (Star Trek: Year Five).
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds–The Ilyrian Enigma #1 will be available with four cover variants, including Cover A by Megan Levens, Cover B by Jake Bartok, and two retailer incentive editions by Liana Kangas and Malachi Ward, respectively.
Cover B for the Illyrian Enigma
In a joint statement, Johnson, Beyer, and Kirchoff say, “The only thing more fun than Strange New Worlds is more Strange New Worlds. We’re thrilled to bring fans the first comic book adventure starring everyone’s new favorite crew, in an all-new story that picks up where Season One left off. We couldn’t be happier that Megan Levens is beaming aboard to join us!”
“What ultimately draws me to any project is the characters, and after only one short season, I’m already so deeply invested in the entire cast of Strange New Worlds,” says Levens in a statement. “It’s remarkable that they’ve been able to successfully bring together new interpretations of classic characters we’ve known and loved for over half a century, and fresh faces that are already as compelling and relatable as their more established crewmates. Bringing this cast onto the comic page for the first time has been a delight for me, both as a Trekkie and as an artist!”
Retail incentive cover the Illyrian Enigma
“When Strange New Worlds came out we knew that the show was something special,” says Senior Editor Heather Antos. “We’re thrilled to bring in Kirsten and Mike’s expertise from behind the scenes, as well as an artistic duo who captures the warmth and whimsy of this universe as effortlessly as Megan and Charlie, to explore even stranger new worlds in comics.”
Retail incentive cover the Illyrian Enigma
You can order buy Star Trek comics online at TFAW or pick up individual digital editions at Amazon/comiXology. Or visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you.
Keep up with all the Star Trek comics news, previews and reviews in TrekMovie’s comics category.
I have a feeling Pike is going to devise a plan to prove Una’s innocence even if he have to break a few rules to do it. But it will all be settled behind his back when Tuvok shows up from the future, captures the real culprits, makes an impassioned plea why Starfleet is wrong and sets her free.
Let’s just call it a hunch!
“going to devise a plan to prove Una’s innocence”
That the summary even frames it as “proving” her innocence is absurd. She’s guilty. She admitted it. It should be described as Pike requesting leniency, or asking for the law to be changed.
Wow, those comic covers are fantastic!! Reminds me of the 80s/90s comics, book covers, etc and looking forward to the next TOS movie!
Why is the Chief Engineer on the cover? Isn’t he dead? IDW wouldn’t be telling tales of when this was written in order to sell more comics, would it?
Perhaps the artwork had to start before the season finished airing, so while Kristen kept Hemmer out of the story when writing the book, they didn’t want to risk spoilers by telling IDW about his death, and the art department just made a variant cover with all the known main characters.
Or there was a real ball drop by someone.
I never quite know what to do with these ´bridge´ (or sometimes prequel) type comics. I’m not a comic guy so I won’t read these (well won’t buy these more accurately) but on the other hand, I don’t want to miss part of the story.
Artwork is amazing!