Are you a fan of Star Trek: Lower Decks? And are you jonesing for more California class adventure now that the beloved animated series has tragically ended before its time? Then consider checking out the Lower Decks comics from IDW.
Unsure where to start? For this week’s Trek Tuesday, we’re laying out everything you need to know about the Lower Decks comics. Engage!
Star Trek: Lower Decks (2022)
The first run of Star Trek: Lower Decks comics began in September 2022 with a three-issue limited series. Lower Decks (2022) was written by Ryan North. You may recognize North’s name from his long-running webcomic, Dinosaur Comics. He’s also well-renowned for his work in the Marvel Comics universe, especially the stand-out series The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. And he’s no stranger to tie-in comics for animated shows, having also written many issues of the comic book adaptation of Adventure Time.
Lower Decks (2022) features art by Chris Fenoglio, letters and design by Johanna Nattalie and Jake Wood. The limited series ran for three issues and has been collected into a trade paperback for your reading convenience.
RELATED: 5 Reasons to Watch Star Trek: Lower Decks
This story follows our beloved Lower Deckers as they grapple with one of the difficult but inevitable eventualities of serving in Starfleet. I am, of course, referring to sentient holograms. But this time, the literary figure who is brought to life is Dracula!
In addition to the excellent main story, this limited series also has stupendous back matter. These are the “bonus pages” that appear after the comic. In this case, they include advertisements for the USS Cerritos food replicators and process pages hosted by Badgey himself.
Short Stories and One-shots
There have also been several Lower Decks short stories and a one-shot that have been published by IDW. In September 2023, Star Trek: Day of Blood: Shax’s Best Day was released. This one-shot was written by North with art by Derek Charm, lettering by Clayton Cowles and design & production by Nattalie. It’s technically a tie-in to the Day of Blood crossover event, but you don’t need any context to enjoy this issue. Do you want to see Shax fighting fascists? Of course you do! And this is 30 pages of just that.
And a Lower Decks short story was included in May 2024’s Prime Month one-shot, Star Trek: Celebrations. In “Risian Rendezvous,” written by Hannah Rose May with art by Jack Lawrence, colors by Rebecca Nalty and lettering by Troutman, Beckett Mariner and Jen Sh’reyan get the spotlight. Considering how little screen time the pairing ultimately enjoyed, fans of Jariner may want to track down this six-page story for more of the chaotic couple.
RELATED: An Ode to Star Trek: Lower Decks
In Star Trek #500, published in October 2024, a short story called “Go See Cal!” features Samanthan Rutherford and D’Vana Tendi. The story is written by Magdalene Visaggio, drawn by Megan Huang, colored by Charlie Kirchoff and lettered by Jodie Troutman. While this story is only 5 pages long, it’s packed with Lower Deck-y goodness (and even features a cameo by Thadion Okona).
And coming soon, in May 2025, a one-shot that follows up on Shax’s Best Day is scheduled to arrive: Star Trek: Lore War: Shax’s Worst Day. Written by North with art by Charm and a cover by Robby Cook, this issue sees evil android Lore remaking the universe… and it’s up to Shax to set things right.
Warp Your Own Way and Star Trek: Lower Decks (2024)
Looking for an out-of-this-work graphic novel? Consider Star Trek: Lower Decks: Warp Your Own Way, published in October 2024. Written by North with art by Fenoglio, colors by Kirchoff and letters by Jeff Eckleberry, this graphic novel is a “choose your own adventure” style adventure. Join Mariner in a genre-bending tale that will have you warping all over the book!
Finally, beginning in November 2024, the series got its own ongoing title, Star Trek: Lower Decks (2024). Each month, a new issue in this series is published. While the first six issues were written by North, the title features a rotating roster of artists (including Charm and Lawrence). This is an ongoing series, meaning a new issue is published each month. Don’t miss out!
RELATED: 7 Star Trek Stories to Watch After Reading Star Trek: Lower Decks: Warp Your Own Way
Interested in any of the issues above? Consider checking for copies at your local comic shop (although some of the individual issues may be more difficult to track down than the TPBs). Do you have a favorite Lower Decks comic? Be sure and let us know what it is in the comment section, or over on social media.
Podcast Review – Marvel’s SQUIRREL GIRL: THE UNBEATABLE RADIO SHOW
- STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS x SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: Beam Aboard the Patrick Starship Enterprise - April 24, 2025
- STAR TREK: Answering Your Questions About Caitians - April 22, 2025
- Book Review: WHERE SHADOWS BLOOM - April 18, 2025
