If you’re anything like me, you probably rolled your eyes the first time you saw a tie-in comic for a show you already love. Usually, they feel like cheap cash-ins. They’re often non-canon fluff where the characters look slightly "off" and the dialogue feels like a robot trying to imitate a sitcom writer. But honestly? Star Trek Lower Decks comics are the exception that proves the rule. They aren’t just supplemental; they’re basically lost episodes.
Since the show debuted on Paramount+, the adventures of Mariner, Boimler, Tendi, and Rutherford have redefined what "Lower Decks" means in the Trek universe. But the TV screen is small. The budget for animation, while generous, still has limits. That’s where the IDW Publishing runs come in. They take the chaotic, heart-filled energy of the U.S.S. Cerritos and turn the volume up to eleven.
The IDW Connection: Who Is Making These?
You can’t talk about these books without mentioning Ryan North. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the guy behind The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and Dinosaur Comics. He gets the "Lower Decks" vibe perfectly. It’s a specific brand of humor—fast-paced, self-referential, but deeply respectful of the 1990s Trek era.
North teamed up with artist Chris Fenoglio to create the first major miniseries. Fenoglio’s art style is a dead ringer for the show’s animation. Usually, when a comic tries to mimic an animated show, it looks stiff. Here, it feels fluid. You can practically hear Tawny Newsome’s voice coming off the page when Mariner starts ranting about Starfleet regulations.
The first three-issue volume was a massive hit for a reason. It didn't just tell a generic space story. It leaned into the "B-plot" nature of the show. We’re talking about sentient pyramids, second contact gone wrong, and the kind of bureaucratic nightmares that make the Cerritos crew so relatable. It’s funny because it’s true to the grind of working on a ship that isn’t the Enterprise.
Why the Shax’s Best Day One-Shot Changed Everything
Let’s talk about Shax. Everyone’s favorite Bajoran tactical officer who—spoilers—died and then just... came back. The show handles his resurrection with a brilliant "don't ask about it" gag. But the comic Shax’s Best Day actually dives into the absurdity of Trek death.
It’s a one-shot.
It’s glorious.
It captures that weird crossover between high-stakes sci-fi and the mundane reality of being a security officer. Most comics would try to make this a dark, gritty reboot. Instead, it stays light. It acknowledges the tropes. When you read it, you realize the writers aren't just fans; they're nerds who have spent too much time thinking about the Great Material Continuum and the internal logic of the afterlife in the 24th century.
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Star Trek Lower Decks Comics: Breaking the Canon Barrier
Is it canon? That’s the million-dollar question for every Trek fan. Technically, IDW’s Star Trek comics exist in a sort of "soft canon" space. Mike McMahan, the creator of the show, is often involved or at least consulted. This means that while the show might not explicitly reference the events of the comics, the comics are written to fit perfectly between the episodes.
They fill the gaps.
For instance, the Warp Your Mind collection (and the subsequent Day of Blood crossover events) shows how the Cerritos crew fits into the broader galactic scale. While Captain Sisko or Worf are busy saving the universe in the mainline IDW Trek books, the Lower Deckers are in the background dealing with the literal mess left behind.
It’s a fascinating perspective.
Most Trek media focuses on the "Great Men and Women" of history. The comics remind us that someone has to calibrate the holodeck filters after a simulation goes haywire. They remind us that the Federation isn't just a collection of noble ideals; it's a workplace. A weird, dangerous, often hilarious workplace.
Exploring the "Day of Blood" Crossover
One of the most ambitious things IDW did recently was the Day of Blood crossover. This was a massive event involving the flagship Star Trek comic (written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly) and Star Trek: Defiant. You might think the Lower Decks crew would feel out of place in a serious story about a Klingon god-war.
You’d be wrong.
The Lower Decks tie-in issues during this event provided a much-needed grounded perspective. While the "main characters" of the franchise were dealing with cosmic threats, the Cerritos crew provided the "boots on the ground" (or boots on the deck) viewpoint. It proved that these characters have legs outside of pure comedy. They can handle high-stakes drama; they just choose to snark through it.
The Art of the Deep Cut
If you pride yourself on knowing the difference between a Romulan Ale and a Samarian Sunset, these comics are for you. The visual gags are dense. Seriously, you have to read these with a magnifying glass sometimes. Background characters are often deep cuts from The Next Generation or Deep Space Nine.
- You’ll see background aliens that haven't appeared since a single episode of Voyager.
- The technobabble is actually semi-accurate to the technical manuals.
- The jokes about "The Animated Series" (the 70s one) are everywhere.
This isn't gatekeeping. It’s an invitation. Even if you don't get the reference, the joke usually works on a character level. But if you do get it? It’s like a secret handshake from the creators to you.
Real-World Impact: Collecting the Runs
If you’re looking to get into these, don't just hunt for single issues. It’s a pain. The trade paperbacks are the way to go. IDW has released several collections that group the miniseries together.
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The first volume, simply titled Star Trek: Lower Decks, is the best starting point. It collects the Ryan North run. After that, look for the Star Trek: Lower Decks—Shax’s Best Day and the various "Annual" issues. These annuals are great because they usually feature anthology-style stories from different creative teams. It gives you a "sampling platter" of different artistic takes on the characters.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common misconception is that these comics are just for kids. Because the show is animated and the colors are bright, people assume the content is "Star Trek Lite."
Actually, it's the opposite.
The comics often tackle complex themes of career anxiety, friendship dynamics under pressure, and the ethics of the Prime Directive. They just happen to do it while someone is getting covered in alien slime. It’s sophisticated writing disguised as a Saturday morning cartoon.
The Nuance of Character Growth
In the show, character arcs move slowly because of the episodic nature of comedy. In the comics, we get a bit more internal monologue. We see Boimler’s crippling self-doubt in a way that feels more intimate than a 22-minute episode allows. We see Mariner’s genuine affection for her crewmates, even when she’s acting like she doesn’t care.
The comics give the characters room to breathe.
In "The Nile," a story arc from the comics, we see the crew dealing with a planet that mirrors ancient Earth cultures. It’s a classic Trek trope, but the comic uses it to explore how the crew views their own history. It’s poignant. It’s smart. And yeah, it’s still funny as hell.
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Actionable Steps for New Readers
If you want to dive into this corner of the Trek universe, here is how you should actually do it. Don't just buy random issues off eBay.
- Start with the Ryan North Trade Paperback: This is the "Gold Standard." It sets the tone and requires zero prior knowledge of other comics, just a basic familiarity with the show's first season.
- Check your local library's digital app: Apps like Libby or Hoopla often have the IDW Star Trek catalog for free. It’s a great way to read the Day of Blood tie-ins without dropping forty bucks on a crossover event you might not fully understand yet.
- Follow the artists on social media: Chris Fenoglio often shares "process art." Seeing how he translates the 2D animation style into comic panels is a masterclass in adaptation.
- Look for the "Quarter Bins": Because these were popular, many comic shops have back issues in their discount bins. You can often find the single issues of the 2022 run for a couple of dollars.
- Read them alongside the show: If you’re doing a rewatch of Season 3 or 4, slotting the comics in between episodes makes the world feel much larger.
The Star Trek: Lower Decks comics are more than just merchandise. They are a love letter to the franchise. They prove that you don't need a massive bridge and a "chosen one" destiny to be a hero in Starfleet. Sometimes, you just need a phaser, a tricorder, and a friend who’s willing to help you scrub the carbon scoring off the transporter pads.
Go get the first volume. You won’t regret it. It’s the most fun you can have in the 24th century without actually being assimilated by the Borg.