Star Trek: Voyager Is Finally Getting a Comeback, But What Will Its Continuation Do?

Star Trek: Voyager is finally making a comeback, but what will its continuation look like? The show celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025, and to celebrate, IDW Publishing, who has held the Star Trek comic book rights since 2006, is launching a special miniseries. Titled Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming, the book looks at what happened after the titular ship made it home, offering some exciting story possibilities.

As reported here on ScreenRant and other outlets, IDW will launch Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming this September, as part of a new wave of Trek titles coming in the wake of Star Trek: Omega. The book, which will be written by Tilly and Susan Bridges and drawn by Trek comics veteran Angel Hernandez, follows what happens to the ship upon its return to Earth. IDW’s official synopsis for the book reads:

Thirty years after the show made its unforgettable debut, Captain Janeway and the crew of the U.S.S. Voyager are back for one final mission before they head home! From imaginative co-writers Tilly and Susan Bridges and acclaimed artist Angel Hernandez comes STAR TREK: VOYAGER - HOMECOMING this September, a five-issue limited series that offers the final resolution fans have been waiting decades to witness. The final shot of the Emmy-award winning series featured the iconic ship approaching Earth before the screen goes dark… But what if just moments after that, there was one last emergency for the determined Captain Janeway and her brave crew?

Fans have been clamoring for more resolution for the cast of Voyager since the show ended, and this book will give them just that.

Star Trek: Voyager Broke the Franchise Mold When It Debuted in 1995

Star Trek: Voyager Added a Lot of Awesome Alien Races to the Franchise

The 1990s are commonly referred to as the “Golden Age” of Star Trek, and Voyager’s premiere in January 1995 is regarded as one of its highlights. The fifth entry in the Star Trek franchise, Voyager broke new ground in several ways. It was the first Star Trek show since the original series to air on a broadcast network as opposed to syndication. Second, it was the first Trek show to feature a woman captain. Finally, Voyager explored an entirely new sector of the Star Trek galaxy: the distant Delta Quadrant.

Star Trek: Voyager, like its predecessors, was an immediate hit with fans. Under the guidance of Captain Kathryn Janeway, played by Kate Mulgrew, the crew of Voyager fought off the Kazon, the Hirogen, the Viridans and the Borg, all while staying true to the ideals of Starfleet and the Federation. Voyager ran for seven seasons, ending in 2001. Its final episode, titled “Endgame,” saw Voyager finally make it home, thanks to assistance from a future version of Janeway. As noted in IDW’s synopsis for Homecoming, the final scene of the episode was Voyager returning to Earth, escorted by the fleet.

Star Trek: Voyager's Finale Left a Lot of Unanswered Questions

Various Sources Have Revealed the Crew's Post-Voyager Fate

What exactly happened to Voyager and her crew after that has been the subject of much debate. Pocket Books, known for publishing a wide range of Star Trek novels, began a continuation of Voyager a few years after the show concluded. Janeway was seen in the feature film Star Trek: Nemesis, where she became an Admiral. Star Trek: Prodigy continued her story further. Seven of Nine appeared in all three seasons of Star Trek: Picard, which ended with her taking command of the Enterprise. Her crewmate Tuvok appeared in the show also, and Tom Paris was on Lower Decks.

IDW’s new line of Star Trek comics, which launched in 2022 and will be coming to an end this summer, has revealed the fates of Harry Kim and B'Elanan Torroes. The latter is a member of Worf’s crew aboard the Defiant and the former is now working in Starfleet Intelligence. While most of Voyager’s crew are accounted for, there are still blank spots in the story that Homecoming looks to fill. For instance, Neelix, Voyager’s guide to the Delta Quadrant, was left behind as a goodwill ambassador for the Federation. Homecoming should check in on Neelix.

Another crucial aspect of Voyager’s homecoming is all the data and technology the ship brought back with it. Voyager holds the record for most first contacts of any Federation vessel ever. The knowledge gained from these species greatly enhances the Federation’s knowledge base. The technology Voyager gained, such as Viridian medical practices, could potentially be used to save and improve lives. Finally, Voyager brought back some unique technological innovations, including the hull-armor and transphasic torpedoes seen in “Endgame.” Everything Voyager learned, everything it brought back could tip the balance of power in the Alpha Quadrant.

Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming Can Bridge the Gap

There Are Some Burning Issues Homecoming Should Explore

Needless to say, Star Trek: Voyager’s finale left many unanswered questions, despite the crew making it safely home. While the Star Trek novels, comics and later shows and movies have given fans glimpses of what came next for Janeway and company, so much has still been left unsaid. The issues raised by Voyager’s return could make for some epic, thought-provoking stories, such as how the Klingons or the Romulans might react to some of the technology Voyager brought home. This would make a great topic for Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming to explore.

Another area Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming needs to look at is how the ship affected the races of the Delta Quadrant. While Voyager was a good representative of Starfleet ideals while in the Delta Quadrant, they still managed to draw the ire of a lot of races there, such as the Hirogen, to say nothing of the one-off species they encountered. These races could one day come to the Alpha Quadrant, looking to settle the score. While Homecoming may not deal with this issue head-on, it at least needs to be acknowledged.

Finally, Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming can maneuver the characters into the roles fans will see them in later. For example, when Seven of Nine returns in the opening episodes of Picard, she is a member of the Fenris Rangers, a galactic group of vigilantes. The show never mentions how she came to join them, and Homecoming has a grand opportunity to show the chain of events that led Seven to join them. Whether Homecoming will acknowledge Harry’s role in Starfleet Intelligence remains to be seen, but it could show him being recruited.

Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming Will Be a Love Letter to Fans

Voyager Fans Have Been Waiting Over 20 Years For This Moment

Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming has a lot to accomplish in its five issues, and while it may not answer every single one of the questions raised by the ship’s return, it could go a long way to addressing them. Fans grew to love the crew of Voyager, and while their appearances in the later Star Trek shows have been most welcome, the immediate resolution of their journey has never been revealed–until now. Homecoming is every Star Trek: Voyager fan’s dream. IDW has made some truly great Star Trek comics, and Homecoming looks to keep that streak going, providing fans with closure for the beloved show.