Star Trek Unveils Its Next Major Villains For The Franchise’s Bold New Era

Published Nov 12, 2026, 2:30 PM EST Shaun Corley has been with ScreenRant for over 5 years, and is currently the Coordinator for PR and Outreach for the Comics Team. Star Trek unveils its next major villains for the franchise’s bold new era. Even though Star Trek’s 60th anniversary may be winding down, IDW Publishing, who has held the rights to produce comics based on the franchise since 2006, is only getting started, unveiling two new titles that are kicking off an exciting new phase for the venerable property. One of these titles is Star Trek, the line’s flagship book. Picking up where the series finale of Picard left off, Star Trek follows Captain Seven of Nine and the crew of the Enterprise NCC-1701-G as they chart a course in a new and unexplored region of space referred to as the “Epsilon Corridor.” In this area, the laws of physics seem to break down, resulting in relativistic time dilation, among other hazards. The Enterprise’s mission is a dangerous one, and one certain to take its toll on the crew. Star Trek launched this past September to great acclaim. Fans had been eagerly waiting for more adventures of Captain Seven and the Enterprise, and IDW delivered in a grand fashion. Star Trek is also seeded with some intriguing mysteries. The Epsilon Corridor, and what lurks there, is one of the primary storylines, as is what terrible thing that scared Captain Picard into a coma. Now, this new era in Star Trek history is about to get the franchise’s scariest villains yet. Earlier this month, IDW released its January solicitations, which includes Star Trek #4. Written by Christopher Cantwell and drawn by Dennis Menheere, the issue promises to be the most pivotal one yet. IDW released a plot synopsis for the book, which reads as follows: The door out of the Epsilon Corridor has been closed. The warp drives for all four Wagon Train ships are offline. All dilithium chambers are dead — inexplicably drained. The crew of the Enterprise-G are 14,000,000 light years away from their Galaxy. With no way back home. And the Hidden have revealed themselves. However, IDW did not provide any additional information on the Hidden, but did release a variant cover showing an unknown being. This cover, shared here, may be the first glimpse of the Hidden. So far, the Hidden has rated only one mention in the comics. In the Star Trek 60th Anniversary Special, released a few weeks prior to Star Trek #1, the Hidden were mentioned, albeit in an oblique fashion. This prequel story, written by Cantwell and drawn by Isaac Sanchez, dropped hints that something horrible was waiting for Starfleet in the Epsilon Corridor. These clues were vague at best, but the villains in question are one of the oldest species in the galaxy. Star Trek Has Some Of Science Fiction's Most Terrifying Alien Species From The Klingons To The Borg, The Star Trek Universe Is Full Of Dangers Over the years, the Star Trek franchise has featured some of the most terrifying villains in science fiction. Beginning with the Talosians in the pilot episode “The Cage,” and continuing with the introductions of the Klingons and the Romulans in The Original Series, Star Trek’s enemy races can make the blood curdle. Not to be outdone, later entries, such as The Next Generation or Deep Space Nine, upped the ante, rolling out the Cardassians, as well as the Dominion and the all-powerful Borg. These races were terrifying in their own ways. The Klingons were initially depicted as savages who lived for conquest, although this portrayal was softened later. The Romulans were devious and cunning, and the Cardassians were space fascists. Finally, the Borg and the Dominion nearly crushed the Federation out of existence. The Federation and Starfleet are mighty, but there is always someone bigger waiting in the wings. These changes in perspectives have allowed Trek to focus more on ideological-driven villains, such as Starfleet Academy’s Venari Ral, or the renegade shapeshifters of Picard’s final season. In recent years, Star Trek has shifted how it depicts its villains, particularly hostile species. Writers on shows like Picard and Strange New Worlds have shown the diversity that exists among these races. Not every Romulan is out to destroy the Federation, and the Orions are actually matriarchal. These changes in perspectives have allowed Trek to focus more on ideological-driven villains, such as Starfleet Academy’s Venari Ral, or the renegade shapeshifters of Picard’s final season. And now comes the Hidden to fill in the gaps left by the defeat of the Borg and the end of the Dominion War. So much about them remains a mystery. They seem to be ancient, billions of years old. The technology the Hidden seemingly left behind could reshape the galaxy, or destroy it. The Hidden’s sheer power, and the scope on which they worked, make them the most terrifying Star Trek villains in recent memory.