Star Trek Just Gave the Klingons' Most Iconic Weapon a Godly Upgrade - Literally

Warning: contains spoilers for Star Trek #30!

The Klingon bat’leth is one of Star Trek’s most iconic weapons, and it just got a literal cosmic upgrade. A weapon crucial to any Klingon warrior, the bat’leth is a fearsome sword, capable of cutting down many foes in a few swoops. Now, as the Star Trek multiverse is coming undone, Kahless II’s bat’leth is given a new, godly purpose: to slay Lore, the new evil god of all reality.

Star Trek #30 is written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by Travis Mercer. Kahless II, the sole survivor of Lore’s rewriting of reality, fights his way through an intense and brutal vision, culminating in him “killing” his namesake. Kahless II then travels to a volcano, where he forges a new sword–the first bat’leth. After creating it, Sisko appears to Kahless, telling him he is to be the new Emissary. Sisko then charges Kahless’ bat’leth with cosmic energy that he will need to awaken others and “slay a god,” in this case Lore.

Star Trek Fans Got to See the Klingon Culture Evolve Over Time

The Bat'leth Is Central to Klingon Culture

From the very beginnings of the Star Trek franchise, the Klingons have been central to it. The introduction of the Klingons in the first season of the Original Series made the Star Trek universe a darker, more dangerous place. Originally portrayed as bloodthirsty, savage and cruel, the Klingons waged at least one bloody war with the Federation, as seen in the first season of Star Trek: Discovery. The two powers began the process of burying the hatchet after the explosion on Praxis, but the process was a slow one, and tensions persist decades later.

Being one of Star Trek’s most important alien races, the Klingons have received substantial development as a species. Later shows, such as Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, went a long way towards rehabilitating the Klingons. Thanks to Worf, fans got an unprecedented look at Klingon culture. Writers for The Next Generation, such as Ronald Moore, give depth to a previously one-note species. Worf’s arc through The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine introduced fans to the legend of Kahless, as well as introducing the bat’leth, the Klingons’ most effective weapon.

The Bat'leth Has Become an Iconic Piece of Star Trek Lore

Kahless Forged the First Bat'leth and Forges a New One As Well

Kahless is still highly regarded among Klingons, and even his clone was afforded a high status in the Empire.

Beyond its distinctive design, the bat’leth occupies a vaunted position in Klingon culture. According to legend, Kahless forged the first bat’leth in the fires of a volcano, and then used it to slay the tyrant Molor. This led to the unification of the Klingons, who had previously warred among themselves. Also, central to the Klingons is the concept of honor, and Kahless introduced this to them as well. Kahless is still highly regarded among Klingons, and even his clone was afforded a high status in the Empire.

The bat'leth was designed by Star Trek: The Next Generation's Visual Effects Supervisor Dan Curry.

Unfortunately, Kahless II went astray, leading an uprising against the universe’s gods, as chronicled in Star Trek: Day of Blood. This brought him dishonor, but Sisko is offering him a way out by anointing Kahless the new Emissary, and the vision he has in Star Trek #30 is a means of purifying himself before taking on Lore. Kahless’ forging of the first bat’leth was a key moment in the development of Klingon society, and the saga of its creation plays out again in his vision. The key difference is that this new bat’leth will be instrumental in defeating Lore.

 

Kahless' New Bat'leth Holds the Key to Saving the Entire Star Trek Multiverse

Will the Bat'leth Redeem Kahless?

And just as the bat’leth is instrumental to Klingon society as a whole, it will now become crucial to restoring the Star Trek multiverse. The Sisko gave it cosmic purpose, imbuing it with a sliver of his own power, enough to awaken him in the new and corrupt reality Lore has created. It must also be powerful enough to kill Lore—no small feat as he has established himself as a god as well. So much is now riding upon Kahless and his cosmic bat’leth, making it the most important weapon in the Star Trek universe.