Voyager Homecoming Issues 2-3 Raise the Stakes for Janeway and Her Crew

Alright, so I’m now two more issues deep into Susan and Tilly Bridges’ Star Trek Voyager: Homecoming, and wow, did the stakes decide to go from zero to warp 9.975 real quick.

Within just a few pages, Species 8472 blows Voyager’s deflector dish straight to hell, and it’s absolutely one of those classic Trek “oh shit” moments where suddenly everything feels dire. Voyager has barely settled back into the neighborhood, and here comes 8472 kicking in their front door. And if that wasn’t enough, we’ve also got Tuvok’s Bendii Syndrome progressing at a terrifying pace. The combination of external catastrophe and internal unraveling makes these issues feel way more intense than I expected this early on.

And while I’m really enjoying Species 8472 stepping into the role of Big Bad again, that’s honestly not the part that keeps grabbing me. The real strength of this mini series is how beautifully the crew snaps right back into being… well, Voyager. The way they trust each other, rely on each other, and run headfirst into impossible odds is classic Delta Quadrant energy, but with the added emotional weight of finally being home...only to be swept away once more.

That energy is on full display from the second B’Elanna Torres, who literally just finished giving birth to Miral, suits up and heads straight to Engineering to get repairs underway. No one questions it. No one even hesitates. They know who she is and what she can do. It’s such a perfect character moment and a great reminder of how tight this crew truly is.

Then we have Seven, who stays behind on a powerless Voyager while the rest of the senior staff is taken to meet the 8472 Prime Hierarch. She’s suddenly responsible for both Miral and a rapidly deteriorating Tuvok. Watching her try to keep Tuvok grounded by talking to him about his children, and then seeing him later sing softly to calm Miral? That whole sequence felt like I was watching an actual episode. Heartbreaking, intimate, beautifully done.

And of course, there’s Janeway. God-tier Janeway. Knocking out 8472 soldiers with bioelectric circuits? Deleting critical data to keep a singularity from opening that can lead Voyager back home? Making split-second decisions that would make other captains fold? She’s in full command-mode glory, and her crew (mostly) has her back without hesitation. It’s everything I’ve ever loved about the character, turned up just a bit.

Now, a few nitpicks… because I have to have my “wait, really?" moments.

Let’s start with Tom Paris’ offhand comment about “good thing Starfleet boots are insulated” when Janeway zaps those 8472 grunts. I adored this line, but I definitely snorted at the sheer absurdity of it. Starfleet: exploring strange new worlds, discovering new life, and always having OSHA-compliant footwear.

But speaking of Mr. Paris…my biggest gripe is new dad Tom bringing his hours old baby onto the bridge. The bridge. The place that has lit on fire, exploded, sparked, or otherwise attempted murder at least once a week for seven years. I love the guy, but buddy, absolutely not. You could have handed Miral to literally anyone and they would have been safer.

And okay… I have to mention it. Seven and Chakotay’s romance popping back up is a big nope for me. It was a baffling decision back on screen, and given everything we know now about Seven as a character, plus Prodigy basically canonizing Janeway/Chakotay emotional vibes… this is one plot thread I really wish had been gently swept under a Jeffries tube grate and never spoken of again. Or, as Janeway herself might say, deleted.

Then there’s the Borg. Oh boy. Let’s count: all three seasons of Picard, this comic, and elements popping up in The Last Starship. We get it. They’re iconic. They’re terrifying. They’re narratively irresistible. And to be fair, you really can’t dive back into 8472 without brushing up against them. But after this wave of Borg content, I’m begging: can we all agree, as Prodigy once taught us, to “Let Sleeping Borg Lie?” at least for a little bit?

All that said, Issues 2 and 3 were just a blast. High stakes, sharp character work, great action, and that nostalgic Voyager rhythm that feels so easy to slip back into. I’m still not entirely sure what the endgame is here (yes, I did that on purpose), but with only two issues left, I’m absolutely locked in and eager to see how this story finishes.

If the final stretch sticks the landing, Homecoming might end up being one of my favorite pieces of post-series Voyager storytelling in years. Want to hear more about issue three? Make sure to tune into tomorrow's brand new episode of Alternative Space with Amy Imhoff, as she sits down and chats with Susan and Tilly!