Writer: Ryan North
Artist: Derek Charm
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Cover Artists: Derek Charm, Robby Cook & Rahzzah
Design & Production: Neil Uyetake
Editors: Heather Antos & Cassandra Jones
Publisher: IDW
Price: $5.99
Release Date: May 28, 2025
Once, Shaxs battled Cardassians to live in freedom on his planet. But when Lore rewrote the universe, the almighty android made Shaxs a tool of oppression. Now, High Pah-Wraith Shaxs lives as Lore's ultimate enforcer and slays anyone who threatens the android’s dominion of the universe.
All that changes when Shaxs slays Kahless. When Shaxs picks up Kahless’ bat’leth to kill Worf, the scales drop from the Security officer’s eyes. Shaxs realizes he has been persecuting and killing the people he should have helped. Thankfully, Worf is there to guide his steps along the interstellar Damascus road. Embracing freedom means doing what you do best. But can Shaxs free the universe of fascist usurpers like he kicked the Cardassians off Bajor? Let’s grab a phaser, leap into Star Trek: Lore War—Shaxs’ Worst Day, and see!
Story
Devastated that Lore swayed him from his ideals, Shaxs vows to redress the situation. After he allows Worf to escape, Shaxs decides to take the LSS Enterprise to Starfleet command. But that’s a long journey, and too many people will question Shaxs’ unauthorized return to Earth. So, Shaxs lists all the Security weaknesses and systems anomalies. Then, the Security officer exploits the loopholes in the system to take unquestioned command of the LSS Enterprise.
Ryan North fuels Star Trek: Lore War—Shaxs’ Worst Day with zany fun. Yet he also shows Shaxs’s ingenious side. Worf wants him to accomplish what seems impossible. So, Shaxs demonstrates how hard he has worked to become one of Starfleet’s best Security officers. The Bajoran may have played a small role in freeing his planet. Still, he can return freedom to the universe.
Shaxs may have anger issues. Others may see him as rough around the edges. In Star Trek: Lore War—Shaxs’ Worst Day, the Security officer plays to his strengths. Despite the grim nature of battling good people with twisted ideals, Shaxs relishes the opportunity to return democracy to the stars. Hopefully, Worf is correct, and everyone Shaxs kills will be reborn. But then, everyone who dies in the 24th Century eventually lives again, including Security officers like Shaxs.
Art
Derek Charm imbues panels with Lower Decks-style art as humanoids and aliens with various colored skin try to stop Shaxs from disobeying almighty Lore. While Worf wears his Starfleet uniform and Klingon sash, Shaxs wears medieval armor as he cuts a swath through fascist hordes in hallways. Shaxs battles his way through the set pieces of Starfleet ships, such as the bridge and engineering. While filling pages with action-packed panels, Charm occasionally pulls the camera back, devoting more page space to epic shots.
The bright colors showcase iconic members of the Lower Decks crew, such as purple-haired Brad Boimler, green-skinned D’vana Tendi, and silver-adorned Sam Rutherford. Blues and greens dominate starship interiors and red fills panels when Shaxs cleans house in Star Trek: Lore War—Shaxs’ Worst Day. Then, yellow and orange blossom in the starry black void. Ships of the fleet welcome Shaxs’ treachery as warmly as the Daystrom M-5 computer controlling the USS Enterprise.
Clayton Cowles fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase text and black narrative boxes with italicized white and lavender words. The letters frequently grow bold for intonation, swell for volume, and shrink for lowered voice. While large, uppercase sounds evoke R2-D2, colorful sound effects accompany Shaxs destroying Lore's evil empire. As a bonus, tiny footnotes evoke Terry Pratchett's humorous commentary on his otherwise serious Discworld novels. Thanks to IDW Publishing for providing a review copy.
Final Thoughts
When Kahless’ bat’leth helps Shaxs realize he has become Lore's servant, Worf makes the Security officer a promise. With Shaxs' help, everyone who dies will be reborn when Sisko reboots the universe. With nothing to lose and a universe to gain, Shaxs embraces this ultimate holodeck session. Then the Security officer raises Kahless’ bat’leth and declares it’s a good day for everyone else to die in Star Trek: Lore War—Shaxs’ Worst Day.
Rating 9.4/10
To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
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