Warning: contains spoilers forStar Trek#30!
The Klingonbat’lethis one ofStar Trek’smost iconic weapons, and it just got a literal cosmic upgrade. A weapon crucial to any Klingon warrior, thebat’lethis a fearsome sword, capable of cutting down many foes in a few swoops. Now, as theStar Trekmultiverse is coming undone,Kahless II’sbat’lethis given a new, godly purpose: to slay Lore, the new evil god of all reality.
Star Trek#30 is written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by Travis Mercer. Kahless II, the sole survivor of Lore’s rewriting of reality, fights his way through an intense and brutal vision, culminating in him “killing” his namesake. Kahless II then travels to a volcano, where he forges a new sword–the firstbat’leth. After creating it, Sisko appears to Kahless,telling him he is to be the new Emissary.Sisko then charges Kahless’bat’lethwith cosmic energy that he will need to awaken others and “slay a god,” in this case Lore.
Star TrekFans Got to See the Klingon Culture Evolve Over Time
TheBat’lethIs Central to Klingon Culture
From the very beginnings of theStar Trekfranchise, the Klingons have been central to it. The introduction of the Klingons in the first season of the Original Series made theStar Trekuniverse a darker, more dangerous place. Originally portrayed as bloodthirsty, savage and cruel, the Klingons waged at least one bloody war with the Federation, as seen in the first season ofStar Trek: Discovery. The two powers began the process of burying the hatchet after the explosion on Praxis, but the process was a slow one, and tensions persist decades later.
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Being one ofStar Trek’smost important alien races, the Klingons have received substantial development as a species. Later shows, such asStar Trek: The Next GenerationandStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, went a long way towards rehabilitating the Klingons. Thanks to Worf, fans got an unprecedented look at Klingon culture. Writers forThe Next Generation, such as Ronald Moore, give depth to a previously one-note species. Worf’s arc throughThe Next GenerationandDeep Space Nineintroduced fans to the legend of Kahless, as well as introducing thebat’leth, the Klingons’ most effective weapon.
TheBat’lethHas Become an Iconic Piece ofStar TrekLore
Kahless Forged the FirstBat’lethand Forges a New One As Well
Kahless is still highly regarded among Klingons, and even his clone was afforded a high status in the Empire.
Beyond its distinctive design, thebat’lethoccupies a vaunted position in Klingon culture. According to legend, Kahless forged the firstbat’lethin the fires of a volcano, and then used it to slay the tyrant Molor. This led to the unification of the Klingons, who had previously warred among themselves. Also, central to the Klingons is the concept of honor, and Kahless introduced this to them as well. Kahless is still highly regarded among Klingons, and even his clone was afforded a high status in the Empire.
Thebat’lethwas designed byStar Trek: The Next Generation’sVisual Effects Supervisor Dan Curry.
Unfortunately, Kahless II went astray, leading an uprising against the universe’s gods,as chronicled inStar Trek: Day of Blood.This brought him dishonor, but Sisko is offering him a way out by anointing Kahless the new Emissary, and the vision he has inStar Trek#30 is a means of purifying himself before taking on Lore. Kahless’ forging of the firstbat’lethwas a key moment in the development of Klingon society, and the saga of its creation plays out again in his vision. The key difference is that this newbat’lethwill be instrumental in defeating Lore.
Kahless' NewBat’lethHolds the Key to Saving the EntireStar TrekMultiverse
Will theBat’lethRedeem Kahless?
And just as thebat’lethis instrumental to Klingon society as a whole, it will now become crucial to restoring theStar Trekmultiverse. The Sisko gave it cosmic purpose, imbuing it with a sliver of his own power, enough to awaken him in the new and corrupt reality Lore has created. It must also be powerful enough to kill Lore—no small feat as he has established himself as a god as well. So much is now riding upon Kahless and his cosmicbat’leth, making it the most important weapon in theStar Trekuniverse.
