In this review of Star Trek: Red Shirts #4, with danger coming from multiple directions, the remaining red shirts have only their wits, courage and improvisation left in their arsenal as the Klingons and Romulans find themselves in a tense standoff for control of the stolen Federation data. Plenty of space battle action, plus for some reason, the perfect chili recipe?
Star Trek: Red Shirts #4
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist: Megan Levens
Main Cover: Chris Shehan
Variant Covers: Andy Price, Skylar Patridge
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: November 5, 2025
This review contains spoilers
Star Trek: Red Shirts #4 finds Ensigns Chip Miller and Zayna Raad taken prisoner aboard a Klingon ship, as they are tortured by Klingons wielding painstiks. Miller and Raad hold up remarkably under violent assault, repeatedly citing only name, rank and serial number. The pair refuse to divulge any other information to their captors, despite Starfleet having already violated its treaty with the Klingons with the Arkonia station.
Meanwhile, in orbit above planet Arkonia 89, the Klingons and the Romulan spy ship are engaged in a tense standoff, waiting for the other to make the first move. Both commanders are aware that the stakes of this mission are above their paygrade, with the truth behind the monitoring station a potential powder keg, and the stolen Federation data disk the ultimate prize.
Unexpectedly, a vessel launches from the surface of Arkonia 89 commanded by Lieutenant Midge DeMatrio, with Lieutenants Salgado Amiga and Rene Lanier attempting to keep the century-old ship intact long enough for them to be rescued. Their unexpected arrival disrupts the standoff and the commandeered Arkonian vessel is quickly targeted by both the Klingons and Romulans.
Amiga keeps the craft (mostly) a step ahead of the attacks as Lanier powers up the vessel’s only weapon. DeMatrio gives her crew a quick pep talk and orders Lanier to target the Romulans, since they have the stolen (and encrypted) Data Disk. The Arkonian energy weapon obliterates the Romulan’s shielding and damages the Bird of Prey.
Aboard the Klingon ship, Miller kills his Klingon captor with his makeshift weapon and then uses the painstik to kill the other Klingon who was torturing Raad. Their escape is short-lived and the pair are escorted to the Klingon bridge.
A growing rift between the Romulan commander and the Tal Shiar member comes to a head as the commander orders his crew to continue their attack. Onboard the Arkonia ship, Lanier attempts to repair the energy weapon, but is blown out into space after a direct hit from the Romulans rips open part of the hull. DeMatrio and Amiga share a final moment before their warp core explodes.
Star Trek: Red Shirts #4 ends with the Romulans and Klingons achieving an uneasy truce, with the Romulan commander offering up the Federation data disk, in exchange for Ensigns Miller and Raad.
Analysis
So, wow. Star Trek: Red Shirts #4 has wiped every Red Shirt off the board but two, while Starfleet appears to have as little concern for their security team’s lives as the Klingons and Romulans do. Writer Christopher Cantwell continues to push the envelope, forcing his characters into literal no win scenarios (Kobayashi Maru), but despite the dire circumstances, each character perseveres, (even if they don’t survive).
Despite the futility of Midge DeMatrio’s gambit, he Arkonia vessel is not a mere McGuffin as its arrival disrupts the standoff, critically damages the Romulan ship, and forces the two warring races into a détente. Cantwell expands the scope of the series with each issue as more story unfolds, especially from the points of view of both the Klingons and the Romulans.
The outlook for Miller and Raad is bleak, (although that request by the Romulan commander is curious). Cantwell’s script is a testament not only to the Red Shirts, but to any group of long-suffering, ill-equipped but fiercely loyal operatives giving their all for an institution that keeps them on the frontlines and occasionally in the dark.
Artist Megan Levens delivers more solid artwork that while not in the vein of the more traditional IDW house style, seems to suit the tragicomic story better. The torture scenes set on the darkened interiors of the Klingon ship (with able assist by colorist Charlie Kirchoff) are brutal (as is Miller’s violent revenge). The zero gravity scenes on the Arkonian ship allows Levens a chance to add some levity amid the drama.
Levens’ mastery of facial expressions runs the gamut from Midge DeMatrio’s knowing smile, to Chip Miller’s agony, from Romulan coldness to Klingon ferocity. The body language and camera angles on the devastated Romulan ship registers the stress and shock of the surprise attack. The space battles feature extreme angles adding scope and raising the stakes.
Final Thoughts
Star Trek: Red Shirts #4 delivers another thrilling and devastating chapter with some nice art and decent character moments while setting the stage for an unpredictable finale.
