Being a Red Shirt is clearly the most thankless job in the Star Trek universe. These humble Starfleet crew members are the first line of defense in any scenario, and usually end up as cannon fodder while the bridge crew survives to drink Earl Grey tea another day. But thanks to IDW Publishing, these unsung heroes are finally getting their due.
As part of a larger relaunch of the Star Trek line (following June’s Star Trek: Omega finale issue), IDW will release a five-issue miniseries called Star Trek: Red Shirts. Written by Christopher Cantwell (Iron Man) and illustrated by Megan Levens (Star Trek), this series focuses squarely on a crew of security officers trapped on a high-stakes suicide mission. And because these are all original characters created for the series, no one is safe.
Part of the fun with Star Trek: Red Shirts is that each issue features a variant cover done in the style of a Starfleet recruitment poster. IGN can exclusively debut the covers for issues #2, 3, and 4. Check them out, along with the previously revealed cover art, in the slideshow gallery below:
The Federation Recruitment Poster variant cover artists include:
- Issue #1: JJ Lendl
- Issue #2: Megan Levens
- Issue #3: J.K. Woodward
- Issue #4: Andy Price
- Issue #5: Joe Corroney
“One of Star Trek’s biggest questions for me has always been ‘well if the joke is ‘Red Shirts always die, how the heck does Starfleet recruit folks?'” group editor Heather Antos tells IGN. “Luckily for us, we have the answer to that question — through this line of Federation Recruitment posters by J.J. Lendl, Megan Levens, J.K. Woodward, Andy Price, and Joe Corroney! How could you choose any other uniform after seeing one of those?”
IDW’s Star Trek relaunch includes two other new books. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Seeds of Destruction is a spinoff of the Paramount+ series, as First Officer Una Chin-Riley, Security Officer La’An Noonien-Singh, Science Officer Spock, and Nurse Christine Chapel explore an icy planet full of incredible dangers. This five-issue series is written by Robbie Thompson (who also worked on Season 4 of the TV series) and drawn by Travis Mercer (Batman/Superman: World’s Finest).
Star Trek: Voyager fans will be excited to learn about the other new series, Star Trek: Voyager – Homecoming. This five-issue series picks up moments after the final shot of the TV series. No sooner have Captain Janeway and her crew returned home than they’re tasked with carrying out one last, critical mission. Homecoming is written by Tilly and Susan Bridges (Killswitch) and drawn by Angel Hernandez (Star Trek).
Star Trek: Red Shirts will debut in July 2025, followed by Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Seeds of Destruction and Star Trek: Voyager – Homecoming in August 2025.
Currently, the Star Trek line is wrapped up in the massive Lore War crossover. Find out why that storyline was one of IGN’s most anticipated comics of 2025.
For more on Star Trek, check out IGN’s review of the Section 31 movie.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.
