Star Trek Quark
By
Shaun Corley
Published 54 minutes ago
Shaun Corley is a Staff Writer for ScreenRant, a position he has held for five years. While he enjoys many types of comics and graphic novels, he has a particular interest in the licensed Star Trek titles.
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Warning: contains spoilers for Star Trek: The Last Starship #2!
If you think Quark is Star Trek’s coolest Ferengi, then you need to meet this legend. The hypercapitalistic Ferengi have been at turns villains and comic relief in the Star Trek franchise, and Deep Space Nine’s bartender Quark might be the best known. Now, a new, even cooler Ferengi debuts to take his place in Star Trek: The Last Starship #2.
Star Trek: The Last Starship #2 was written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by Adrian Bonilla. In this issue, fans meet Doctor Zed, the Ferengi physician of the USS Omega, the titular “last starship.”
Star Trek Ferengi Zed
Zed does not inspire too much confidence among the crew, thanks to his consumption of drugs while on duty.
The Ferengi, Believe It Or Not, Were Intended to be Big, Bad Star Trek Villains
The Ferengi Were Not as Intimidating as the Klingons or the Romulans
By the 24th century, the time frame of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Federation had become allies with their former enemies, the Klingons, which necessitated the creation of a new race of bad guys. Creator Gene Roddenberry wanted to keep established races largely off the table at first, which meant no Romulans.
Enter the Ferengi. Introduced in The Next Generation first season episode “The Last Outpost,” the troll-like Ferengi were the subject of extensive hype prior to their first appearance, having been alluded to in the pilot episode. The rumors and hearsay surrounding the Ferengi painted a picture of a savage, war-like species.
However, despite the hype and the writers’ best intentions, the Ferengi failed to launch as bad guys. Their somewhat ridiculous appearance, when coupled with their incessant quest for gold and other easily replicable elements, ensured the Ferengi were dead on arrival, or at least as villains. Yet they were redeemed on Deep Space Nine, which revealed the surprising depths of their culture.
Quark Allowed Star Trek Fans to Explore the Facets of Ferengi Culture
Quark's Family Was as Extraordinary as He Was
Quark, Rom, and Nog in Star Trek Deep Space Nine
Deep Space Nine’s pilot episode introduced Quark, a bartender aboard the station. Quark, who also lived on the station with his brother and nephew, was a typical Ferengi in that he was always searching for an opportunity to make a profit, be it in smuggling starship parts or contraband substances.
While Quark might have been a model Ferengi, his brother Rom and nephew Nog were anything but, and it was through them that fans saw how deep the Ferengi could be.
While Quark might have been a model Ferengi, his brother Rom and nephew Nog were anything but, and it was through them that fans saw how deep the Ferengi could be. Both Rom and Nog’s arcs on the show were arguably more meaningful than Quark’s, and helped show the facets of Ferengi culture.
Doctor Zed Is Coming for Quark's Throne
Star Trek Has Repeatedly Shown Not to Underestimat the Ferengi
Quark and Ferengi on Star Trek: Deep Space NineCustom image by Simone Ashmoore
Doctor Zed, the physician aboard the USS Omega, has the potential to break the Ferengi mold in ways Quark could only dream about. Zed is the first Ferengi doctor Star Trek fans have met, and while he may not seem like the ideal choice, he is, as noted in the issue, all Starfleet really has left.
While Doctor Zed may not instill much confidence in the crew of the Omega, the Star Trek franchise has repeatedly shown not to underestimate the Ferengi. While the galaxy may view them as goofy little trolls, the Ferengi have at times demonstrated great intelligence and cunning. Some Ferengi have also shown a pronounced ruthless streak.
Fans do not get to see Doctor Zed in action in The Last Starship, so it is hard to gauge his skills as a physician. Zed regularly abuses drugs, and brags about being high for 17 straight days upon their arrival on the Omega. Zed’s attitude is very cavalier, especially in light of the tragedy that just happened.
The Ferengi have been relegated to comic relief in the Star Trek universe, and Zed is certainly playing that role in their debut. Yet Quark repeatedly surprised fans, and in time he became a favorite of them. Now, a new legend has come along to usurp Quark’s role as Star Trek’s coolest Ferengi.
Star Trek: The Last Starship #2 is on sale now from IDW Publishing!
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