Star Trek Vol 9: Q Gambit collects the six issues of the Kelvin Timeline Star Trek comics together in graphic novel format. The omnipotent multi-dimensional being Q has plucked Kirk and crew from their explorations, ostensibly to show Kirk that there is such a thing as a no-win situation. But there’s more, as always, to Q’s motives than simply messing with humans.

I love Q, and was thrilled to find this graphic novel focusing on Q interacting with Kirk’s crew. I’m firmly convinced that Trelane in the classic epic ‘The Squire of Gothos’ is a baby Q. Later books for TNG support that, but I’ve always wondered how Q himself would have interacted with them and now I know! The story starts off with a situation that becomes eerily similar to the Kobayashi Maru simulation, with the expected results. Q reveals himself and sends Kirk’s Enterprise into a distant future, where he says Kirk will learn what a no-win situation really is. The future he sends them to is one in which the Dominion have won the war. The crew meets DS9 characters in roles a far cry from their original timeline.

There were a few things I was confused over. First, how the hells did the Defiant get back and forth between Earth and Terok Nor so fast! It felt like a quick 5 hour jaunt. Even at max warp, this wouldn’t be possible. A notation to give a nod to time passed would have been nice. Q is an intelligent being. I feel Q himself could have figured things out on his own. I want to chalk it up to Q’s need to mess with humans and teach them alike to explain why it took Spock to facilitate the solution instead of Q. Overall, though, a great read! I want a hardcopy for my own. Recommended for those who adore Star Trek and love Q.

***This was read and reviewed for my own enjoyment.