In this review of Star Trek: Red Shirts #1, join Starfleet Security and explore the galaxy while acting as the first line of defense against hostile aliens and unknown interstellar horrors. Welcome to the team Red Shirts, we hope you survive the experience, (but we’re probably betting against you).
Star Trek: Red Shirts #1
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist: Megan Levens
Main Cover: Chris Shehan
Variant Covers: J.J. Lendl, Declan Shalvey
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: July 17, 2025
This review has some spoilers
Star Trek: Red Shirts #1 introduces Security Officer Ensign Ellis in the midst of a Mugato attack (see the ToS episode “A Private Little War” for details), leaving young Ellis with a permanent facial scar and a wild story to tell. Despite his recent ordeal, Ellis knows he is luckier than many in his position.
Meanwhile on the planet Arkonia 89, the outlier for Red Shirt longevity Lieutenant Web Cromarty inspects a Starfleet solar array that has recently been hacked. Cromarty has been on his own for nine months at the monitoring station (except for a mysterious local), but with a potential data breach in progress, Starfleet sends in a detachment of Red Shirts (including Ellis) to investigate and set a trap.
Uncertain of exactly how the unknown infiltrator is monitoring the facility (although it should be obvious), transporter and shuttlecraft are ruled out, leaving the group with only the riskiest option available to reach the surface of Arkonia undetected, (it’s like they’re not even trying to keep the casualty stats down).
Sometime later, the U.S.S. Warren arrives in orbit above Arkonia 89 and implements their risky plan, which surprisingly works, but true to form, not all of the Red Shirts survive the encounter. Team leader Lieutenant Meg Dematrio tries to reassure a frustrated Cromarty that he is not alone in the current situation, (which is what Cromarty sees as his biggest problem).
Star Trek: Red Shirts #1 ends with a troubled Ellis trying to get a handle on his fear, while the mysterious infiltrator finally reveals themselves, (to the readers, the Red Shirts still don’t have a clue).
Analysis
Star Trek: Red Shirts #1 is the start of an interesting experiment; focusing on a contingent best known for acceptable losses in any given episode, comprised of a team of unknowns (with the exception of a one-page cameo by a ToS guest star from a fan-favorite episode). Readers are introduced to a cohort of humans and aliens by name and rank, but Star Trek: Red Shirts #1 recommends against becoming too attached.
Writer Christopher Cantwell crafts a compelling story full of suspense, plot twists and wry humor that places new characters in situations familiar to most Trek fans. It is not explained exactly how recruits become Red Shirts, but in Ensign Ellis’ case, it was not voluntary.
Cantwell seems to riff on aspects of the Mobile Infantry from “Starship Troopers”, the Colonial Marines from “Aliens”, and Captain Miller’s Ranger Battalion from “Saving Private Ryan”, showcasing the Red Shirts as a noble, dedicated, under resourced and outgunned fighting force, well aware of their own expendability.
Ellis’ is a hard-luck story (from that first page opener alone), but he is also the narrator, so he will likely survive to the end of the series (and hopefully far beyond that).
Cantwell’s plans beyond this miniseries are unknown, but with a rotating cast of expendables, Star Trek: Red Shirts could continue the cycle indefinitely ala Marvel’s Exiles, leaning into classic Star Trek tropes, but also playing against expectations, and possibly exploring Red Shirts from different eras.
Ellis and Cromarty are two sides of the same coin; one with an almost immediate brush with mortality but still dedicated, while the other has long-earned emotional scarring, and hardened cynicism that prompts him to question if the higher ups actually know what they’re doing.
Lieutenant Dematrio’s comments to her Security team illustrates the Red Shirts’ awareness of the impossibly high expectations, and heightened risks associated with performing their duties. Dematrio’s team features a mix of personalities thrown into the deep end as danger strikes from unexpected directions.
Despite her art style being a step or two away from the traditional IDW Star Trek “house style”, artist Megan Levens provides some impressive visuals (that shocking splash page), giving each Red Shirt a distinct look and personality (for as long as they last) in a sea of red Starfleet uniforms.
The action in Star Trek: Red Shirts #1 is restricted to a specific (claustrophobic) sequence, which Levens enhances through some clever panel composition, and powerhouse facial expressions. The Constitution Class Starship soaring through space is also spot on.
Final Thoughts
Star Trek: Red Shirts #1 is an engaging first chapter that focuses in-depth on a rarely explored aspect of the Star Trek universe; smart, funny, sad, thrilling, terrifying and beautifully illustrated. A story for our times.
