Summary
Warning: contains spoilers forStar Trek#20!
Captain Liam Shaw is one of the best additions toStar Treklore in recent years, and the comics are making a strong case for bringing him back to the franchise. InStar Trek#20, Ben Sisko and theTheseus’crew return home for some heavy-duty refits. Helping oversee these efforts is a younger Shaw. The issuesheds even more light on Shaw, and reinforces why he needs to return.
Star Trek#20 is written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by Megan Levens. TheTheseusneeds some major upgrades to pierce the Galactic Barrier, and they have traveled to the Utopia Planitia Yards in orbit of Mars. Shaw, here at the rank of Lieutenant Commander, is working with the crew on the refits.
Throughout the issue, Shaw continues his “no-BS” policy with Sisko and his crew. Shaw makes an oblique reference to “being in recovery,” but never explains.
Captain Shaw Was One of the “Realest"Star TrekCharacters
Although Fans Hated Shaw at First, They Grew to Love Him
Played by Todd Stashwick, Liam Shaw was introduced in season three ofStar Trek: Picardas the skipper of theUSS Titan.Picard and Riker go to Shaw, asking to use theTitanfor a mission. Shaw, point-blank, told them “no.” As a result, he came across as abrasive and uncaring. Yet as the season progressed, Shaw’s layers were peeled back, revealing a history of PTSD as well as a man who genuinely cared about people and those under his command.Fan opinion of Shaw softened upas the season continued.
Unfortunately, Captain Shaw was killed mid-way through the season, andSeven of Nine became captainof theTitan,which was later rechristened as theEnterpriseNCC-1701-G. The glimpses fans were given into Shaw’s background and psyche painted him as one of the most compelling characters in theStar Trekfranchise. After these revelations about Shaw’s character and backstory, fans grew to love him, and some even started petitions to bring him back. Shaw was real, unlike many Starfleet officers. Shaw says in this issue he does not believe in hero worship, and his actions in this issue prove that.
Captain Shaw’s Death Was a Huge Loss
IDW is Making a Case to Bring Captain Shaw Back
While the odds ofCaptain Shaw actually returning are slim,Star Trek#20 continues his amazing character development and makes a case for continuing his story. Shaw’s lack of hero worship extends to Benjamin Sisko, but Shaw still respects him. Shaw makes good points about theTheseus’mission throughout the issue. At one point, he compares their actions to “the monkeys building the Monolith.” This reference to2001shows Shaw to also be a man of culture. TheStar Trekunviersesuffered a great loss when Captain Shaw died, and the comics are showing just how great a loss it was.
