Warning: contains spoilers forStar Trek: Lore War#1!
Forget the Klingons, becauseStar Trekhas revealed its most brutal alien race, and they are absolutely terrifying. TheStar Trekgalaxy is replete with species both friendly and not. One of the most violent and war-like races to grace the screen was the Jem’Hadar, the Dominion’s bioengineered storm troopers,but inStar Trek: Lore War#1, the evil android unveils the franchise’s newest, and deadliest, races ever.
Lore Waris the culmination of two and a half years' worth ofStar Trekcomics.
Star Trek: Lore War#1 is written by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly and Christopher Cantwell and drawn by Davide Tinto. Lore has recreated the multiverse in his image, unleashing distorted versions of some ofStar Trek’s most beloved icons, includingLower Decks’Shaxs as well as Worf. Lore asks Data for updates on his new reality, and his brother informs him that the “Lore’Hadar have completed their conquest cycle and will soon begin the next,” in the Gamma Quadrant. This news greatly pleases Lore, and the two move onto other matters.
TheStar TrekUniverse is Vast, and Full of Races, Both Friendly and Not
The Jem’Hadar Makes the Klingons Look Weak
Not every species encountered by theEnterpriseis friendly, or willing to talk their problems out. These races include the deceptive, cunning Romulans or the fascist, Nazi-like Cardassians. While the Romulans and the Cardassians are some ofStar Trek’smost popular species, the Klingons have them beat. A war-like people, the Klingons have been both allies and enemies, depending on the timeframe. A disastrous first contact with the Klingons in the 22nd century set the tone for nearly 200 years' worth of hostility and bloodshed, culminating in a destructive war in the mid-23rd century.
Its spin-off,Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, kept this streak going, revealing the existence of the Dominion, a fascist mirror of the Federation positioned in the Gamma Quadrant.
Yet by the 24th century, the Federation and theKlingons had worked their differences out, necessitating the creation of new menaces.Star Trek: The Next Generationintroduced several new, hostile races: the Ferengi, the Cardassians and the Borg, among others. Its spin-off,Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, kept this streak going, revealing the existence of the Dominion, a fascist mirror of the Federation positioned in the Gamma Quadrant. Consisting of many different races, all subjugated, the Dominion fought a bloody war with the Federation, and the Jem’Hadar were on the frontlines.
The Jem’Hadar made their debut at the end ofDeep Space Nine’ssecond season, and would become a massive presence on the show for the remainder of its run.The imposing Jem’Hadar are the soldiers of the Dominion, brutally enforcing the will of its Founders across the galaxy. Once a normal, unaltered race, the Founders have over the years bred the Jem’Hadar to be more intelligent and stronger, but also unwaveringly loyal, thanks to the drug Ketracel-White. Synthesized by the Dominion, the Jem’Hadar must have regular injections of Ketracel to survive.
The Lore’Hadar Are Kept Off-Screen, But They Conjure Terrifying Visions
Will the Lore’Hadar Make Their Presence Known in theLore War?
Races such as the Klingons or the Romulans inspire fear in the hearts of Federation citizens, but the Jem’Hadar can make the blood run cold. They are relentless in battle, with physical strength easily rivaling that of a Klingon. Their blind loyalty to the Founders, to the point where they commit suicide-runs on Federation starships when the battle is seemingly lost, makes them truly terrifying opponents. The Federation likes to talk its problems out, butthe zealous Jem’Hadar cannot be reasoned with, forcing Starfleet to resort to further violence to stop them.
Star Trek Has Some Truly Evil Forces, But I Can Prove Why the Dominion Is the Worst
The Jem’Hadar are one of Star Trek’s most fearsome races, but they were just as much victims of the Dominion as the Federation, maybe more so.
And now, Lore has given the Jem’Hadar an upgrade, remaking them in his image. Unfortunately, fans do not get to see the Lore’Hadar in action in this issue, instead leaving them up to the imagination, at least for now. There are still more chapters inStar Trek: Lore Warto go, meaning they may make an appearance before it’s over. Leaving the Lore’Hadar off-screen for now helps build the menace and suspense, much in the same way that Jem’Hadar’s introduction over 30 years ago tookDeep Space Nineto another level.
Star Trek: Lore War#1 is on sale now from IDW Publishing!
