Warning: contains spoilers for Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming #4!
Voyager’s most underrated alien species has just graduated to become the Star Trek franchise’s biggest and scariest threat. Species 8472 is one of Star Trek’s most powerful alien races, but unfortunately their screen time was small, leaving fans wanting more. Now, in Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming #4, 8472’s terrifying potential is revealed at long last.
Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming #4 was written by Susan Bridges and Tilly Bridges and drawn by Angel Hernandez. Janeway and her crew are horrified to learn that 8472 has been abducting humans from the Alpha Quadrant, including Tom Paris’ father.
While not going into specifics, the issue alludes to experiments being conducted by 8472 as well.
Species 8472 Is a Powerful Race in the Star Trek Universe
Species 8472 Had the Borg on the Run
Introduced in the third season finale of Star Trek: Voyager, Species 8472 were unlike other races seen in the franchise. Natives of the mysterious “Fluidic Space,” Species 8472 were also the only race in the Star Trek universe that could not be assimilated by the Borg, thanks to their unique genetic structure.
And it is the Borg that brought Species 8472 to the Milky Way Galaxy. After an unsuccessful invasion of Fluidic Space, the Borg went on the defensive against Species 8472. Because the Borg could not assimilate 8472, they had no way to fight back, and the extradimensional invaders decimated the Collective’s ranks.
Species 8472’s attack on the Borg should have made them allies with Captain Janeway and Voyager, who was just entering Borg space at that time. However, Species 8472 also saw the Federation as a threat, and began drafting plans and protocols on how to handle Starfleet should the need arise.
Species 8472 Never Quite LIved Up to Their Potential
Species 8472 Are a Missed Opportunity in the Star Trek Franchise
A war between Species 8472 and the Federation never happened, at least at first, thanks to Janeway’s efforts. Yet Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming, set after the ship returns to Earth, shows that 8472 never gave up monitoring the Federation. When Voyager returns with Future Janeway’s technology, 8472 strikes, declaring war on the Alpha Quadrant.
Since Species 8472’s introduction, Star Trek has hinted at their great power, but never showed the race’s true scope. Part of this may have been due to budgetary considerations of the era, as well as poor writing. Species 8472 is one of the Star Trek franchise’s biggest missed opportunities. That is, until now.
At Last, Species 8472 Comes to the Table With a Horrifying Revelation
Will Janeway Be Able to Stop Species 8472 This Time?
The vision of Species 8472 that Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming #4 presents is downright horrifying. For the first time, fans get to see one of 8472’s bases. Species 8472’s starships alone were impressive and powerful, and their headquarters is no different. Janeway and Voyager must work quickly to stop 8472.
Yet what makes the revelations in this issue terrifying is that Species 8472 was performing some sort of experiments on their prisoners. The issue did not go into depth on what this entails, but it was implied a similar fate awaits Voyager’s crew, finally showing Species 8472’s potential as Star Trek villains.
Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming #4 is on sale now from IDW Publishing!