Advertisement

Star Trek Celebrations will feature SFA's controversial Klingon cadet

Jay-Den Kraag returns in his own adventure ahead of Starfleet Academy season 2!
Steven Thrash
Steven Thrash

Redshirts Always Die

Karim Diané as Jay-Den in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, episode 1, season 1, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Brooke Palmer/Paramount+.

Jay-Den Kraag returns in his own adventure ahead of Starfleet Academy season 2!

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy introduced a slew of new characters, but not all of them were received positively, particularly by haters and so-called fans of the beloved science fiction franchise. Nevertheless, the adventures of SFA’s controversial Klingon cadet, Jay-Den Kraag will continue in IDW’s upcoming comic book, Star Trek Celebrations.

Karim Diane, who portrays Jay-Den on Starfleet Academy, will actually write the short story titled, “Klingons Don’t Flirt.” IDW associate editor Cassandra Jones said in a statement issued per Gizmodo: “Star Trek is, and always has been, about envisioning a future in which we band together beneath the flag of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations [IDIC].”

Jones continued by saying in the statement:

Celebrations represents a small glimpse at that future. Together, we have created a book that emphasizes going boldly means putting your heart on the line, proclaiming you belong, and fighting for the rights of all those who share in this universe alongside us. On behalf of myself and the team, we hope you enjoy the stories we’ve collected and join in with us for a joyful revelry!”

In addition to Diane’s writing, “Klingons Don’t Flirt” will feature the artistry of Andrew Drilon, Katherine Shuda (colorist), and Jodie Troutman (lettering). However, the story is but one of six featured in the upcoming anthology, and "Klingons Don't Flirt" expands upon the relationship between Jay-Den and Kyle (Dale Whibley) that was established in SFA. Check out a glimpse of the issue’s artwork below, courtesy of io9.

I’m very excited to read more about Jay-Den and Kyle’s relationship in “Klingons Don’t Flirt.” Honestly, though, I’m much more interested in seeing how the romantic dynamic between Starfleet Academy cadets Darem Reymi (George Hawkins) and Jay-Den Kraag plays outs — hopefully, in season 2 of SFA, rather than in this comic book.

Star Trek Celebrations is slated to drop on Wednesday, May 27. Are you as excited as I am to learn more about SFA’s killer Klingon cadet? Share your thoughts and comments with us on the matter via the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.

Live long and prosper, Trekkies!

Steven Thrash

Steven Thrash

Steven Thrash serves as the Site Expert for Redshirts Always Die, and he has spent 20 years working as a professional journalist and editor. Steven is also the author of the VAMPIRES SUCK! series, and he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications focusing on film studies, journalism, and theatre. He later received his MFA in creative writing. Steven's stories have been published by Entertainment Weekly, Screen Rant, Looper, MovieWeb, the Daily Meal, Rue Morgue, Dread Central, and Diabolique Magazine. The TCM Classic Film Festival, San Diego Comic-Con, and the Cannes Film Festival are Steven's favorite events to cover. It is also worth noting that whether it's Dracula, Lestat de Lioncourt, or David Powers, Steven is obsessed with creatures of the night, and he's seen Tom Holland's Fright Night more times than most Star Wars fans have watched The Empire Strikes Back. In addition to boldly going where no one has gone before for FanSided, the author’s wheelhouse includes movies, television, streaming, and sports.