Published Apr 2, 2026, 11:56 AM EDT
John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs.
Captain Kirk's latest Star Trek story is about to transform him into what might just be the franchise's perfect villain.
Per ScreenRant, IDW Publishing recently unveiled a new variant cover for the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Starship #8 by Hernan Gonzalez and Lee Loughridge, which features a decidedly different version of Captain Kirk than fans are used to seeing. Instead of an esteemed member of Starfleet, this Kirk is seated upon a high-tech throne as the Borg King, right in front of the body of the former Borg Queen, Agnes Jurati.
Star Wars: The Last Starship #8
- Written by JACKSON LANZING and COLLIN KELLY
- Art by HERNAN GONZALEZ
- Colors by LEE LOUGHRIDGE
- Letters by CLAYTON COWLES
- Main cover art by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
- Variant covers by SUSPIRIA VILCHEZ; FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA; and HERNAN GONZALEZ & LEE LOUGHRIDGE
The official solicit synopsis for Star Wars: The Last Starship #8 from IDW Publishing reads, "Seeing a solution to the tragedy of the Burn within the singularity on Deep Space Hope, Borg Queen Agnes Jurati leaves the crew of the U.S.S. Omega behind and attempts to assimilate its power. But she’s not alone; Kirk has followed her aboard, determined to ferret out why she and the Borg brought him back to life."
"Was it to be the galaxy’s savior? Or its demise?" The official solicit text continues, "The standoff that follows is one for the ages — resistance is futile, after all… unless you’re Captain James T. Kirk."
What To Remember About Star Trek: The Last Starship
Image via IDWStar Trek: The Last Starship kicked off back in September with the release of the series' first issue, which picked up with the crew of the Enterprise-Omega not long after the infamous event known as The Burn. Introduced and explored in Star Trek: Discovery, The Burn was a galaxy-wide cataclysm that caused almost all dilithium to become suddenly inert. This, in turn, caused the detonation of every single active warp core, effectively leaving the Federation and most other galactic travelers stranded across the cosmos.
While the aftermath of The Burn was fleshed out across Star Trek: Discovery's final seasons, Star Trek: The Last Starship gives readers a glimpse into the horrors of the event for themselves. Writer Jackson Lanzing previously said of the series, "The Last Starship is a new crew, a new era, and a completely different tone; our aim is to be literary, intense, innovative, and most of all, accessible. We're bringing you into the Federation's darkest hour through the brilliant, noir-soaked lens of artist Adrián Bonilla with zero homework required."
Since the series' debut, Star Trek: The Last Starship has proven to be a massive hit with readers and critics alike. In November, scribes Lanzing and Kelly released a statement via social media confirming that orders for the series' third issue were up over the second, which the creators noted "never happens," especially for indie comic titles.
Star Wars: The Last Starship #8 from IDW Publishing goes on sale on June 17.
Created by Gene Roddenberry
First Film Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Latest Film Star Trek: Nemesis
Cast William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols, Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew, Scott Bakula
English (US) · 