FIRST LOOK: STAR TREK: HOLO-WEEN #1 AND #2 (IDW PUBLISHING)
The days are getting shorter and the temperature is getting cooler. The leaves are starting to turn, and the kiddos are heading back to school. Spooky Season is fast approaching, and IDW Publishing is ready for it, launching a new Deep Space 9 Halloween story. If these first two issues are any indication, things are about to get very strange (again) on the station.
Star Trek: Holo-Ween II is a four-issue weekly event from Alex Segura, Bailie Rosenlund, J. P. Jordan & Jeff Eckleberry (IDW PUBLISHING - ON SALE OCT. 7TH, 2026, FOC: AUGUST 31ST) and the opening two issues waste no time getting into the mysteries.
FLZ got an advance look at the first two issues. Here is my SPOILER-FREE review!
Star Trek: Holo-Ween II Alex Segura, Bailie Rosenlund, J. P. Jordan & Jeff Eckleberry (IDW PUBLISHING)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
While tensions continue to grow within the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants, a not-so-simple diplomatic summit brings together some familiar faces in the hope of de-escalation and collaboration—and then things start to go very wrong. Technical issues, unexplained incidents, missing personnel, and a growing sense of paranoia quickly turn Deep Space 9 upside down, with nobody seeming to know exactly what is happening.
Alex Segura does a great job capturing the tone and flow of Deep Space Nine. There is plenty of established history behind the story, particularly when it comes to the tensions between the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants and the complicated political landscape surrounding the station. The story never gets bogged down trying to explain all of it. It’s easy to follow, and because these are characters that are already so well established, Segura can simply drop us into the middle of their lives and let the story unfold. It feels much more like watching another episode of DS9 than reading a comic that is trying to recreate the series.
Worf stands out and gets some particularly interesting material. His continued growth as a Starfleet officer was such an important part of his DS9 storyline, and that development carries over nicely here. The characters don’t feel like simplified versions of themselves. They feel like the characters we remember from the show, which goes a long way toward making the story work.
MORE STAR TREK FROM MISS SAMI!
While Holo-Ween II is being presented as a Halloween event, I wouldn’t call the first two issues full-on creepy or horror. Not yet, anyway. There are a few spooky moments, and the final portion of issue #2 starts leaning much harder into the unsettling side of the story. There is a lot happening, but none of it becomes difficult to follow. The story keeps the different threads moving without overwhelming the reader. They’re setting the table for something much creepier, and by the end of #2, there’s a definite sense that the story is about to take a darker turn.
Bailie Rosenlund has an interesting challenge with this book. These are characters that audiences have watched for hundreds of hours. We know what Dax looks like. We know Worf. We know the uniforms, the station, and all of the familiar visual elements of Deep Space Nine. Rather than simply trying to recreate the television series, Rosenlund brings a distinctive comic-book style to the characters and setting. The artwork has its own identity while still capturing the visual feel of DS9. That’s not necessarily an easy balance to find with a property this visually established, but Rosenlund makes it work well.
For longtime fans, Holo-Ween II feels like a return to the station. Most importantly, this feels like Deep Space Nine.
FINAL GRADE: 9
Star Trek: Holo-Ween II #1 and #2 set the table for a fun four-issue Halloween event. The first issue immediately hooked me, while the second continues to add new layers to the story. The Halloween elements are still building, but the atmosphere is there. By the end of the second issue, the story is starting to feel considerably more unsettling.
The characters, The political tensions, The station …. It all feels right. This story has that same combination of character drama, mystery, and larger-than-life complications that made DS9 such an important part of Star Trek
Star Trek: Holo-Ween II #1 goes on sale October 7, 2026, with all four issues releasing weekly as part of the Halloween event. Let me know your thoughts on Star Trek: Holo-Ween II in the comments below. Thanks for reading!