Thanks to the evil android Lore, Star Trek’s Kelvin Universe has been destroyed. Throughout IDW’s line of Star Trek comics, Lore has been slowly gaining power, and now he is ready to unleash his endgame: the total annihilation of the multiverse. Using the Bajoran Orb of Destruction, Lore has succeeded in his goal, and as seen in Star Trek #26, the Kelvin Universe paid the price.
Star Trek writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly also spearheaded Star Trek: Year Five for IDW.
Star Trek #26, written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by Angel Hernandez, is part two of the “When the Walls Fell” story. Captain Sisko and the crew of the Theseus arrive in the Kelvin Universe, and find its version of Captain Kirk waiting for them. Prime Spock informs Kelvin Kirk about Lore’s plans, and Kirk comes to help Sisko stop the android. The Kelvin Starfleet assembles an armada to stop Lore’s wave of destruction, but their efforts are for naught: the Kelvin Universe falls, and is no more.
Star Trek's Multiverse Is Large and Diverse
Star Trek's Kelvin Timeline Was One of the Franchise's Best Innovations
Star Trek has long embraced the idea of a multiverse, stretching all the way back to the second season Original Series episode “Mirror, Mirror.” This episode introduced the Mirror Universe to Trek lore. Filled with evil variants of the Enterprise crew, the Mirror Universe was a hit with fans and threw open the wider Star Trek multiverse, even if the franchise did not immediately seize upon it. Other episodes, including the seventh season Next Generation episode “Parallels,” grew the multiverse by increments. Still, Star Trek did not totally embrace the concept.
Paramount was looking for a fresh beginning for Star Trek and the Kelvin Universe offered such an opportunity.
Then, in 2009, another world in the Star Trek multiverse was born: the Kelvin Universe. Created when the renegade Romulan ship Narada attacked the USS Kelvin in the early 23rd century, the Kelvin timeline allowed creators to tell new exciting and fresh Star Trek stories, not encumbered by years of lore that could be off-putting to new fans. Spearheaded by JJ Abrams, 2009’s Star Trek reboot also cast younger actors in the roles. Paramount was looking for a fresh beginning for Star Trek and the Kelvin Universe offered such an opportunity.
Star Trek Continues to Grow its Multiverse
But Now Lore Threatens to Destroy the Star Trek Multiverse
Since Star Trek returned to the air with the premiere of Discovery in 2017, the franchise has leaned more into its multiverse. Parts of Discovery’s third season dealt with multiversal incursions, and how dangerous they can be. Both the Kelvin and Mirror Universe were referenced in the season. It was also revealed the Guardian of Forever had ties to the multiverse, as it was able to send people to different worlds in it. Currently, Star Trek: Lower Decks’ final season has dropped hints at a larger multiversal story.
Star Trek’s multiverse has also been on display in IDW’s line of comics. As mentioned earlier, Lore has been consolidating his power, taking command of Kahless’ Red Path cult and augmenting them. Lore learned of the existence of the “Pleroma,” the realm of the gods that sits at the center of the multiverse. Lore then used Ensign Sato of the Theseus to locate the Pleroma. Invading it, Lore ruthlessly tortures its inhabitants before destroying it using a Bajoran Orb. The Pleroma’s destruction sent ripples through creation, and now threatens to destroy it.
The Lore War Is Coming for the Star Trek Universe--Including the Kelvin Timeline
Did the Kelvin Enterprise Crew Sacrifice Themselves For Nothing?
IDW has revealed that Lore’s crusade of evil will climax in early 2025 with the publication of The Lore War, a crossover event where the android will rewrite reality in his image. Destroying the multiverse, including the Kelvin timeline, was a means to an end. Lore is evil incarnate, and he is willing to sacrifice countless lives across the multiverse to fulfill his ambition. While Lore never met any of the Kelvin Enterprise crew, they too have felt the brunt of his wicked ways.
The conclusion of Star Trek #26 implies that Lore was successful in destroying the multiverse. After escaping the collapsing Kelvin Universe, the Theseus returns to an empty universe, one devoid of stars. Not only did the Kelvin Universe fall, but so did Fluidic Space, and it can be assumed, the Mirror Universe as well. Captain Sisko must ensure that the sacrifice of the Kelvin Enterprise was not in vain by stopping Lore and restoring the multiverse. How exactly Sisko plans to do this will play out in next year’s big event crossover, The Lore War.
Star Trek's Kelvin Timeline Will Return...Somehow
Now is a Great Time to Bring Back Star Trek's Kelvin Timeline for More Stories
While it is inevitable that Sisko will succeed in stopping Lore and restoring the Star Trek multiverse, it currently feels like it is a lost cause. Witnessing the death of the Kelvin Universe rattled Sisko to his core. Despite their differences in command style, Sisko had grown to respect Kelvin Kirk. The crew of the Kelvin Enterprise would have made great allies in Sisko’s fight against Lore. Without them, however, Sisko and the Theseus crew will have to struggle all the harder to defeat Lore and restore the Kelvin Universe.
