After almost ten years since Star Trek: Deep Space Nine has graced comic book shelves, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Too Long A Sacrifice #1 brings fans back to the Alpha Quadrant. The four-issue miniseries published by IDW Publishing is written by the longtime Star Trek comic writers, Scott and David Tipton. The duo is joined by artist Greg Scott and colorist Felipe Sobreiro to bring a noir art style to a murder mystery that takes place on the Deep Space Nine station.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Too Long A Sacrifice #1 opens with the Cardassian Elim Garak and Cheif Medical Officer Dr. Bashir meeting at a restaurant on the Promenade. Their conversation immediately goes to the topic of the Dominion War. Dr. Bashir’s solemn take on the situation of the certainly places the timeline of this miniseries during one of the most volatile times during the Deep Space Nine television series. In the midst of their conversation, an explosion destroys most of the restaurant leaving eight dead and many more injured.
Luckily, Garak and Dr. Bashir are able to escape but no one is certain who would attack the station so deliberately let alone a lowly restaurant. Many of the inhabitants of Deep Space Nine have their own suspicions on who is behind the bombing, however, it up to Constable Odo to get to the bottom of the mystery. As the Cheif of Security, it is his duty to be unbias during the investigation as he constantly bombards with possibilities from various members of the station. Even as evidence begins to pile up, even Odo is certain on who the culprit truly is.
It is clear from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Too Long A Sacrifice #1 that this will be a fast-paced miniseries. The explosion occurring in only the first few pages shows that readers are here for Odo to get to the bottom of this case and little else. The last time we saw the crew of Deep Space Nine was in the six-issue crossover series, Star Trek: The Q Conflict so it has been quite a while since they have had their own time to shine. However, this series appears it will be Constable Odo’s heavy. As the near-emotionless and logical Spock or Data-type for the crew of Deep Space Nine as a changeling, it will be very intriguing to watch how the story progresses. Throughout this issue, we already see how other species are reacting with emotion but through Odo’s logs, the reader knows that is approaching this case with a calculated demeanor.
The art style may be hit or miss for some readers. The deliberate noir style gives Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Too Long A Sacrifice a feeling of reading a 1940’s detective novel. The heavy shadows and the minimal face detail put more weight on the words said by the characters bringing Scott and David Tipton’s words to life. Given Deep Space Nine has one the most colorful casts in Star Trek, the importance of the interactions between characters is heightened as Odo attempts to sift through the evidence and balance the different biases.
Although it is only going to be four-issues, I am very excited to see how the story plays out. Deep Space Nine is without a doubt my favorite Trek so to see it come back with such vigor is very exciting. With its heavy Odo focus and the recent death of Rene Auberjonois who played the character on television, I feel like this miniseries is coming at the perfect time as an ode to Auberjonis and his contributions to the Star Trek universe.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Too Long A Sacrifice #1 is available July 15, 2020 wherever comics are sold.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Too Long A Sacrifice #1
TL;DR
Although it is only going to be four-issues, I am very excited to see how the story plays out. Deep Space Nine is without a doubt my favorite Trek so to see it come back with such vigor is very exciting. With its heavy Odo focus and the recent death of Rene Auberjonois who played the character on television, I feel like this miniseries is coming at the perfect time as an ode to Auberjonis and his contributions to the Star Trek universe.