Since October, IDW has proudly embarked on new missions to the final frontier with a riveting, interwoven storyline across two ongoing monthly comic books, a flagship Star Trek series and its spin-off, Star Trek: Defiant. Hailed by critics and fans alike for their heart-pounding action, fascinating character dynamics, and masterful storytelling, these two series are on a maximum warp collision course toward the first-ever Star Trek comic crossover event: Day of Blood!
Attentive fans already know to get their first taste of the chaos to come with a special prelude story in the upcoming Star Trek Free Comic Book Day 2023 one-shot, available in comic shops everywhere on Saturday, May 6th, with a story written by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Christopher Cantwell, and illustrated by Mike Feehan.
But now, for the first time, IDW is proud to share behind-the-scenes writer insights specifically relating to the five-part Day of Blood storyline itself, as well as never-before-seen cover artwork!
JULY 2023
Part One: Star Trek: Day of Blood #1 by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, Christopher Cantwell, and Ramon Rosanas
AUGUST 2023
Part Two: Star Trek: Defiant #6 by Christopher Cantwell and Ángel Unzueta
Part Three: Star Trek #11 Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Ángel Unzueta
SEPTEMBER 2023
Part Four: Star Trek: Defiant #7 by Christopher Cantwell and Ángel Unzueta
Part Five: Star Trek #12 by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Ángel Unzueta
Beginning in July with the Star Trek: Day of Blood #1 one-shot special, the emperor of the Klingon Empire, Kahless II, will declare war on all those who do not follow the cult of the Red Path! Having raided ancient tombs, claimed near-limitless power for himself, and slaughtered cosmic entities across the stars, Kahless sees the genocide of gods as simply his first step to total domination. The iconic crew of the U.S.S. Theseus, led by Benjamin Sisko, and the renegades who follow a desperate, violent Worf aboard the U.S.S. Defiant must unite for a common cause. Only together can they hope to stop the Day of Blood!
“Star Trek was the original shared universe…so Collin, Chris, and I are deeply honored to continue to bring a line-wide continuity and intricately planned storyline to the new IDW comics line,” says Lanzing. “Our very first pitch on this story included two interlocking ongoing titles that could build to a kind of event unlike any that Trek comics have managed before—an inspiring, mind-bending flagship series in Star Trek and a more subtle, dark, and dangerous series in Defiant. It was an absolute pipe dream of a pitch, one that we never imagined would become the backbone of a hit new comics line—nor unite us with a writer of Christopher Cantwell’s caliber, who would push us to constantly deliver next-level comics storytelling, nor masterful artists like Ramon Rosanas and Ángel Unzueta, who would elevate every page with their designs, artistry, and ambition. And now, one year into the line, we’re finally ready to bring it all to a head with our very first line-wide comics event.”
“Worf has a warning for his one-time friend and captain, Benjamin Sisko: Kahless the Unforgettable, the sovereign of the Klingon Empire and killer of gods, is preparing to unleash something truly horrific on his own people. Converging on the Klingon homeworld, the two crews will have their long-awaited reunion…but even with tempers hot, the two have no choice but to put aside old grievances or else watch the carefully cultivated peace of the Beta Quadrant burn in the fires of holy crusade. With mighty Kahless at their head, the Red Path will not be stopped until all those who do not share their absolute faith are cut down,” says Kelly. “We started laying the groundwork for this story in Star Trek: Year Five, built upon it in Star Trek: Aliens—Klingons, and then will truly kick it off in this year’s Free Comic Book Day prelude, so it’s no exaggeration that Day of Blood is an event three years in the making!”
“I sincerely believe that Day of Blood is the ‘lost episode/movie/epic limited series’ that Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and The Next Generation fans have been dying for. But what’s truly amazing is that beyond those series, we’re tying in a heaping dose of Lower Decks (in the form of Shaxs), the original series (including a reunion of Spock and Scotty) and so many other aspects of this universe. It’s truly a galactic panacea unlike any Trek story I’ve encountered in the past as a fan,” says Cantwell. “What’s also wonderful about this series is that things happen in it that can only exist in the realm of comics in terms of scope and pure sci-fi imagination, all anchored by beautiful core themes of partnership, parenthood, second chances, and the belief in a better tomorrow…whether that be a utopian or a vainglorious one. Buckle in because this is the Trek saga of my dreams!”
Critics are raving about the Star Trek and Star Trek: Defiant comic series. TrekMovie.com praised IDW’s flagship series as “a very strong start to the massive undertaking of building a Star Trek cinematic universe for comics.” ComicBook.com calls it “quality Star Trek storytelling on a grand scale,” while Comic Crusaders applauds the storyline as “original, impactful, [and] forward moving.”
“Creating the first-ever Star Trek comic book summer event was our goal from the very beginning of conversations surrounding Star Trek #1’s launch last fall,” says senior editor Heather Antos. “The fact that both series have been received so well—all credit to the amazing team of writers and artists across the line—is absolutely incredible. We’re only going bigger, badder, and more boldly in Day of Blood.”
Accompanying this announcement, IDW is proud to reveal the Cover A options for Star Trek: Day of Blood #1, Star Trek: Defiant #6, and Star Trek #11, all illustrated by Malachi Ward (Prophet, Black Hammer Reborn).
Additional variant covers of all five chapters will be available for fans and retailers to enjoy, featuring artwork from a wide spectrum of phenomenal artists including David Aja, Elizabeth Beals, Taurin Clarke, Chris Fenoglio, Bryan Hitch, Daniel Johnson, Liana Kangas, Megan Levens, Joe Quinones, Rahzahh, Rod Reis, Ramon Rosanas, Marcus To, Ángel Unzueta, Suspiria Vilchez, Christian Ward, Christian Ward, JK Woodward, and more!
