Star Trek: Defiant, Vol. 2: Another Piece of the Action

Star Trek: Defiant #8-11

by Christopher Cantwell, Mike Feehan (Illustrator), Ramon Rosanas (Illustrator)

Spinning directly out of the Star Trek ongoing comic series, Defiant, Volume 2 continues this bold new storytelling future!

Arc two of the acclaimed Star Defiant series is collected here!

Still reeling from the battle on Qo’noS, Worf and the Defiant crew have been ordered to return to Starfleet headquarters. Despite their heroic actions, the Federation can’t celebrate the crew’s involvement in the fight against Kahless and the Red Path. In fact, the Federation is cornered by their tenuous relationship with the Klingon Empire. To save the alliance, they’re forced to discharge Worf and his crew! With the unspoken, unwritten agreement that they’ll operate with full Starfleet authority...completely off the books.

Disavowed from Starfleet, Worf and his crew set out in their new roles as secret bounty hunters for the Federation. Their untouchable criminals protected by treaties and alliances. They’ll take on villains from across Star Trek’s history such as an individualized ex-member of the Borg Collective, a time-traveling con man from The Next Generation , and an alien gangster from Sigma Iotia II.

Written by Christopher Cantwell ( Hellcat and Star Obi-Wan ), drawn by Mike Feehan ( Star Trek and Exit Stage The Snagglepuss Chronicles ), and colored by Marissa Louise ( Defiant and Black Manta ) with letters by Clayton Cowles ( Batman and Daredevil ).

This volume collects issues #8–11 and the Annual from writer Christopher Cantwell.

Genres: Star Trek, Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Media Tie In

152 pages, Hardcover

First published June 18, 2024

Reviews

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Trek: Defiant Vol. 2: Another Piece of the Action

Following the events of the Day of Blood, a confident Worf leads his crew back to Earth, requesting reinstatement in Starfleet. Instead he and the Command Crew are disavowed. The 'Defiant' is later sold as war surplus to a Klingon cast adrift, who still seems to be following orders.

A good continuation of the 'Defiant' storyline and a good choice by Cantwell and the team to make the crew an IMF style task force. The artwork is strong and confident and the plot is full of deep dive Easter eggs (see Worf's antipathy towards the Kreel and Sela's story about her mother's death).

[Monita Roy Mohan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It’s one single story but it’s episodic, which keeps things interesting while reintroducing different loose ends from the shows. The storytelling was so good, especially the character developments. These are the heroes of the shows we’ve watched, and yet Starfleet, in their infinite bureaucratic and dogmatic thinking, treat them so poorly and nearly tear them apart.

And the Sela story — my heart is broken. I was always so crushed by both the Tasha Yar stories, she deserved better. I’ll never understand the show’s writing choices for her demise(s). But the final chapter in this book is a great reminder of why we loved this character and provides a good end to her arc.

Is there more to this series because, dang, I’d read 20 issues of this if I could.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not all of them can be 4 or 5 star 'bangers'...

The 'Day of Blood' storyline has passed. Now it's time for the....crew(5 people, where there should be 20) to go back to Starfleet and plead their case and let their sins all be forgiven. WHEN HAS THAT EVER WORKED OUT? Starfleet disavows the whole crew and sends them on, essentially, a cleanup of loose plot threads from various 'Star Trek' series. Some super familiar and others, relatively obscure.

First mission? Bring back Hugh, the free thinking individual who was formerly a Borg.

Have they sold their collective souls to stay in Starfleet's good graces. They're doing the dirty work the Federation won't allow themselves to do.

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Bonus: The Talos IV vein bulging mentalists are STILL creepy

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still on the outs with the Federation, Worf and the Defiant crew head off on some bounty hunting missions, doing the jobs that Starfleet need doing but can't be seen doing. What follows are some one and done adventures that add a familiar new friend to the crew, and pit Worf and his crew against one another as their clashing ideologies come to blows (quite literally).

Plus we get a time travel adventure with Sela, because any excuse to see Tasha Yar again is a good one.

Compared to the first post-Day Of Blood arc over in the main Star Trek title, Defiant's is definitely the head of the pack.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This new story taking place after the inclusion of the Day of Blood crossover feels like a prelude to something else. Worf and the crew of the Defiant are kicked out of Starfleet officially but operating in secret, going after characters seen across episodes of the various series. They are operating as bounty hunters in places where the Federation can't officially interfere. My issue is that they kind of just seem to be collecting characters instead of having any growth. It feels a bit stagnant.

[Paul Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scraped a 3, this focuses on a mashup crew of the renegade Defiant led by Captain Worf, including Ambassador Spock, Sela, Lore, B'lanna, Ro and others. There's a notable enthusiasm and embracing of cool action, but real character beats are often conspicuous by their absence - this is more in the vein of Section 31. Some great art therein.

[Velhala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved seeing Hugh again. The story on this one did feel meandering and murky and end on a bad note, but that was clearly intentional by the author to lead into what’s next. Given what came before was really great, I got faith what comes next will rally the crew together again and make for another epic good story

[Joel Jorden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worf and his crew of rogues have not survived the Day of Blood with their Starfleet careers or reputations intact, and are instead blackmailed into undertaking a series of dubious covert missions for Starfleet.

While each issue is fun and interesting, the overall storyline could feel a little bit like treading water, especially after the high point that was Day of Blood.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm finding these Start Trek and Defiant comics a trifle contrived considering all the peeps included. But they're also pretty fun - the funnest of contrivances! - so I guess I'll keep reading for now.

3.5 stars

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was honestly not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did, considering Hugh is really only prominent for one of the four issues included here. This is a very different type of Star Trek story from the usual, and it's a lot of fun.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Defiant continues to be some of the best Star Trek comics around.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Fleet black ops. Three interesting missions with moral dilemmas.

Ceremonial Fighting Trousers and a crudely spiked gauntlet. What a funny name for combat gear.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was not expecting that Strange New Worlds connection.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another stellar installment!

Loved the Sela and Tasha stuff at the end!