Star Trek Is Officially Bringing Back Deep Space Nine’s Chief O’Brien for Its New God War

Warning: contains potential spoilers for Star Trek Annual 2024!

Deep Space Nine’s Chief O’Brien will soon return to fight in Star Trek’s big god war. A fan favorite character, Chief O’Brien, has not been seen on-screen since Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s final episode in 1999. IDW’s new line of Star Trek comics has united characters from nearly every incarnation of the franchise in its massive god war, and now Chief O’Brien joins in Star Trek Annual 2024.

IDW shared their May and June solicitations with League of Comic Geeks, including Star Trek Annual 2024. The book will be written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by Rachael Stott. IDW’s solicitation for the book reads as follows:

With no one but himself to blame for his brother’s sudden escape during the Klingon Day of Blood, Lieutenant Commander Data sheds his Starfleet uniform for an ensemble inspired by none other than Sherlock Holmes to track down Lore’s whereabouts… and figure out what sinister plans he’s been scheming. With the one and only Miles O’Brien as his Watson at his side, there is no mystery that Detective Data can’t solve!

The annual continues Data’s journey, which began in issue 17 of Star Trek. After learning a bit of critical information, Data’s memory core shut down, and it took Bruce Maddox many attempts to bring him back.

Maddox was successful, but Data then leaves Starfleet to continue his work–and he is bringing Chief O’Brien with him.

Chief O’Brien’s Return Is a Cause for Celebration

Chief O’Brien’s Star Trek Arc Was One of the Franchise’s Best

Portrayed by actor Colm Meaney, Chief Miles O’Brien is one of the best-developed characters in the Star Trek franchise, having received substantial screen time across six seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, where he was the Enterprise’s transporter chief. Mid-way through the show’s sixth season, O’Brien made the leap to Deep Space Nine, where he became a regular. The head of engineering on the station, O’Brien proved himself time and again by coming up with brilliant work-arounds and jury-rigs. Deep Space Nine was old and dilapidated, but Chief O’Brien made it work.

Chief O’Brien is a huge part of the franchise, but he has not returned to any of the new shows on Paramount +, but this year’s Star Trek Annual will not only redeem that, but insert him front and center in the god war consuming the galaxy. The solicitation mentions O’Brien will be helping Data with whatever crusade he is on, referring to him as the “Watson” to Data’s “Sherlock Holmes.” While IDW has remained mum on what role O’Brien will play, it will no doubt call on his engineering savvy. Data’s quest is in good hands with Chief O’Brien.

Fans Have Been Clamoring for Chief O’Brien’s Return to Star Trek

His Star Trek Return Now Needs to Happen On-Screen

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine concluded in 1999, and O’Brien left the station to be a Dean at Starfleet Academy. O’Brien’s vast knowledge and personable nature make him a great instructor, but his true professional love is engineering. It is not out of the question for O’Brien to leave the Academy and come back to active duty. Chief O’Brien will one day be remembered as a great Starfleet hero, and he is soon to return to the Star Trek universe, ready to help Data in the god war.

Star Trek Annual 2024 is on sale June 26 from IDW Publishing!