Star Trek: The Mirror War # 0 2021 NM-

Star Trek: The Mirror War #0, published by IDW Publishing on September 8, 2021, is the introductory issue of a year-long, 13-part comic event. Written by Scott and David Tipton with art by Carlos Nieto, it serves as a "jumping-on point" that sets the stage for the Terran Empire's next major conquest under the command of a ruthless Mirror Jean-Luc Picard. 

Plot and Setting 

The story picks up after previous IDW Mirror Universe miniseries like Mirror Broken and Terra Incognita. 

• The Struggle for Power: After failing to steal ships from the Prime Universe, the crew of the ISS Enterprise-D is struggling. They are reduced to scavenging for resources while being harassed by both the Empire and external enemies like the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance.
• The Imperial Summons: Picard is summoned back to Earth to report to the Emperor. This meeting highlights his growing resentment toward the aging leadership and fuels his ambition to eventually usurp the throne.
• A Strategic Breakthrough: Engineers Geordi La Forge and Miles O'Brien make a technological breakthrough that offers a new way to plunder the Prime Universe, providing Picard with the leverage he needs to regain the Empire's favor. 

Core Characters

The issue reintroduces the "Mirror" counterparts of the beloved Next Generation cast, often defined by their cruelty and ambition: 

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard: A power-mad pirate who values cunning and strength above all else.
• Data and Deanna Troi: High-ranking officers whose personal desires often lead to violent internal clashes.
• Reginald Barclay: A key figure whose escape to the Prime Universe and subsequent recovery provides vital intelligence for the Empire's plans.