In this review of Star Trek: Defiant #24, as one Klingon’s journey of redemption ends, another’s arduous quest is just beginning.
Star Trek: Defiant #24
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Art and Main Cover: Angel Unzueta
Variant Covers: Morgan Beem, Takashi Okazaki
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: February 26, 2025
This review contains spoilers
Star Trek: Defiant #24 shifts focus to Kahless II, the vengeful clone of the venerated, ancient Klingon warrior-king. Bereft of his violent, heretical movement, Kahless II roams the farthest fringes of the Klingon Empire as a beggar, scrounging for scraps. His meager possessions include the first Bat’leth blade belonging to the original Kahless.
Standing in a work line, Kahless II humbly requests waste disposal duty, to which the Klingon official scoffs. Kahless II then launches into a tirade about his (Kahless I, actually), honorable deeds in service to the Empire. Unimpressed, the Klingon official dismisses him outright. A dejected Kahless II then offers his Bat’leth to a pair of robed strangers in exchange for food.
The strangers reveal themselves to be Worf and Alexander Rozhenko. A shocked Kahless II can only laugh in surprise. He willingly submits himself for execution, but Alexander convinces Kahless II to fight. Worf observes the duel, finding parallels to the previous battle Kahless II and Alexander fought when his son was left near death in Kahless II’s throne room.
This time Alexander wins and spares Kahless II, thus successfully completing the final errand of the Klingon Quv rite. As Alexander is welcomed home by his father, as Star Trek Defiant #24 comes to an end, Kahless II wonders what fate has in store for him.
Analysis
Star Trek Defiant #24 shifts focus from Alexander, Worf and the Defiant Crew to Kahless II’s exile and long path to redemption, as the storylines for both Star Trek and Star Trek: Defiant finally begin to synch up again. Kahless II’s character arc might seem to come out of nowhere, but in last week’s Star Trek #29, Benjamin Sisko realized that Kahless II is destined to become the new Emissary of the Bajoran Prophets (it only took Sisko a thousand years to figure that one out).
Kahless II submits himself to humiliation and self-imposed exile on the remote Klingon outpost of Beta Thoridor. After his epic fall from grace during the Klingon “Day of Blood”, where once Kahless II held sway over a massive following willing to kill or die for him, he now wanders alone and unrecognized. Even defeating Alexander in battle would likely not improve his morale, as he is filled with such self-loathing.
Alexander’s act of penitence in Star Trek Defiant #24 was expected, (as was his ultimate act of mercy towards Kahless II), but the attempt to redeem Kahless II, who waged bloody war across the galaxy is an intriguing story challenge. After losing his followers, the scales fell from Kahless II’s eyes, and he could no longer pretend to be the great warrior his predecessor was, leaving him lost and directionless.
Writer Christopher Cantwell (Iron Man) delves into heavy psychological themes in this story arc including loss, self-hatred, impostor syndrome and forgiveness, that are not typically explored in stories of Klingon culture. Most likely Kahless II will jump at the chance to prove himself with Sisko’s offer, and since he has now rejected his identity as Kahless, who or what might he become?
Artist Angel Unzueta’s art continues to impress with dynamic layouts and solid character likenesses.
In other news, a communications log from the U.S.S. Freeman (Lower Decks?) shows the crews’ attempts to contact Deep Space 3. Their sensor readings indicate that the station has vanished, as if removed by a spontaneous black hole. This would fit in with the android Lore’s use of an ancient weapon to wipe out all of existence. Also, the Cardassians have captured Miles O’Brien and Ro Laren.
Final Thought
Star Trek Defiant #29 maintains its high quality storytelling, and now appears to be reconnecting with the prime Star Trek series as the Lore War hovers just beyond the horizon.
