The relationship betweenStar Trekand comic books goes back almost to the beginning of the franchise.
The first Trek comics were published by Gold Key from 1967-1978.
But, withStar Trek, Marvel had the granddaddy of all sci-fi licenses.
So Marvel was beholden only toThe Motion Pictureand any original ideas the talented creators of Marvel dreamt up.
MarvelsStar Trek#1-3 reprinted the oversizedMarvel Super Special#15, an adaptation of the first Trek film.
Now, long time Trek fans will tell you thatThe Motion Pictureis not the most action-packed Trek adventure.
Well, guys, its not a motion picture its a comic.
Despite all this, there is some serious talent aboard this book.
First, we have the legendary writer ofDCs New Teen Titansand the creator ofBlade, Marv Wolfman.
Those three names alone make this film adaptation worth checking out.
At least the comiclooksclassy and is paced by a true master of the medium in Wolfman.
The second issue is entitled VGer, and the third, Evolutions.
In truth, Wolfman does a great job introducing a ton of characters and concepts into the first issue.
The art is downright gorgeous, with Cockrum proving that he was born to draw space sagas.
Issue one ends with Spock boarding the Enterprise, not exactly the most riveting cliffhanger.
The second issue deals with the Enterprises contact with Vger and the possession and death of poor Ilia.
The cover also gifts fans with a stunning image of the Enterprise bursting off the cover.
The adaptation probably could have used a fourth issue as things get plenty rushed in part three.
Wolfman sure tried and its kind of fun experiencing aReaders Digestversion of the first Trek film.
Without all the wistful staring out of windows, the VGer story is kind of one sitting digestible.
Spock is tapping Kirk on the shoulder as a bug eyed monstrosity approaches form the rear.
Its interesting that Marvel took a humorous approach to the first of the Enterprises new adventures.
Do you really need a fence in space?
Kirk heads to Thallus and encounters that nutso space haunted house that we mentioned.
So this is where thingsreallyget insane.
And who wroteTomb of Dracula?
Why that would be Marv Wolfman, of course.
So I guess we have sort of unofficial Star Trek/Marvel crossover here.
After that, a bunch more monsters appear and one of them looks exactly like Man-Thing.
The whole thing ends with Klingons taking Kirk, Spock, and the rest hostage.
God, I love the Bronze Age.
The heck is going on here?
From his Lugosi/Karloff/Romero-loving brain, those classic horror legends arose.
And I guess he was a big Bronze Age Marvel Comics fan.
Kirk and McCoy free themselves from the house, while Spock is taken prisoner by the Klingons.
Meanwhile, that mysterious buxom woman from the cover is rescued and taken to safety aboard the Enterprise.
McCoy obliges and the threat is over.
So, basically, McCoy just shoots an innocent woman on ghost Spocks say so.
And the haunted house?
It was a converted space station to help the Klingons sell the illusion.
You have to give it to the Klingons, they committed to this plan.
I guess that was the price for Wolfmans exit.
Star Trek #6
The Enterprise Murder Case!
But the writer and artist have stayed consistent from last issue, so lets dive in.
The cover features a gaudily-dressed, purple-skinned alien with quite an impressive mustache and purple tail.
So were in for a sci-fi murder mystery, then.
Spock delights in a chance to solve such a mystery.
A complex story of alien politics and betrayal follows as Barr delivers a winner.
This issue is classic Trek as things get personal for the crew.
I guess Barr wants people to believe that Sulu takes his fencing sword everywhere.
You know, thats okay with me.
This issue also sees the arrival of famed Superman scribe (among so much more) Martin Pasko.
A few characters that usually arent in the spotlight get a chance to shine in this issue.
Thats a first for old Chapel.
Secondly, the Marvel Trek run has consistently featured a female navigator named Chief DiFalco.
After the Mox abduct Spock, the crew of the Enterprise beam down to rescue their crewmate.
When McCoy joins the Spock rescue party, its up to Chapel to keep Fowler alive.
It features a male Starfleet officer that I think is supposed to be Kirk?
And a generic female officer floating in space surrounded by angry-looking bald heads.
Oh well, they cant all be winners.
Lemme explain: This issue introduces zoologist Karen Hester-Jones as she reports for duty abord the Enterprise.
Space machismo, thy name is James T. Anyway, this drama follows Kirk throughout the mission.
There was Misty Knight and thats about it.
But the takeaway here is: once you go Kirk, you cant go back.
Youll be screaming his name during sex for the rest of your natural life.
I guess Conan was doing some nice bank for Marvel back in 1981, so why not?
Joining Fleisher, is artist Leo Duranona.
How, you may ask?
Well, Spock and McCoy take a shuttlecraft down to the primitive planet Barak-7 for a survey mission.
McCoy intervenes and Spock is taken captive by the tribe.
McCoy escapes and is taken by the woman to her tribe.
McCoys crew indeed free Spock and slay the chieftain of the rival tribe.
Oohh-kay, that pretty much went against every ideological foundation ofStar Trek.
Star Trek #11
…Like A Woman Scorned!
The cover features a space serpent dragon monster thing coiled around the Enterprise.
Well, no TV budget is bringing that to life in 1981, so go comics!
And you know, if theres a Scottish beastie around, that this will be a Scotty story.
After eleven issues, Scotty has barely left engineering.
It seems that these Scottish legends were all mentally created by Manning who was taught the technique by Drexler.
Scotty goes all comatose in sick bay and Bones is able to stop the solid apparitions by sedating Manning.
As far as we know, Scotty is still in sick bay, twitching hysterically because of Scottish monsters.
At least we got a look at Scottys past love life.
You know what, though?
There hasnt been a single, healthy romantic relationship in this series so far.
But the Enterprise fought the Loch Ness Monster, so well put this one in the win file.
Star Trek #12
Eclipse of Reason
Another issue, another creative shift.
Ive always kind of dug Rand though, so this should be a unique opportunity.
(What have I said about zero healthy romantic relationships in Marvels first Trek run?)
Kirk asks: But what about your body, Janice?
He doesnt even have one… so what can he feel for you?
What kind of husband can he be?
Basically, right there, Kirk admits that he thinks meaningful love can only be accompanied by dry humping.
Wow, this comic.
They grow increasingly paranoid and desperately want to go home.
Now, theres a danger that the starship will crash into the Phaetonians home world causing billions of deaths.
Well, that went pear shaped quickly.
That was pretty intense.
And it all was happening while Kirk, Spock, and Sulu fought gym equipment.
Star Trek #13
All the Infinite Ways
Ah, Diverse Hands.
So, the creative chaos continues for Marvel.
At least Martin Pasko is back to keep the books voice consistent.
Were playing by Klingon rules now!
The Klingon proclaims: Take one more step and McCoys daughter dies!
Yup, McCoys daughter.
She has been a favorite fanfiction subject and has quite the cult following throughout Trek fandom ever since.
So lets see what Marvel did with her in her comic book debut.
to negotiate a treaty that would lead to the Federation gaining mining rights on the mineral rich planet.
Unfortunately, the Klingons are there as well to try and secure the mining rights for themselves.
As I said over and over, no healthy romantic relationships in this comic.
Meanwhile, the Klingons start murdering Hephaestians and Chekov is framed for one of the killings.
Yeah, Bones not coming across as a real nice guy in this one.
Spock tells Bones hes only being human and everything wraps up.
Well, that was depressing.
Star Trek #14
We Are Dying, Egypt, Dying!
This should be fun.
Suddenly, the crew is attacked by a rampaging sphinx statue.
Kirk is possessed by the spirit of Menteptah II because of course he is.
(Hey, Marvel kept Kirks shirt on until issue fourteen so give them some credit.)
Meanwhile, Spock and Scotty stage a rescue mission, with Spock beaming to the planet and fighting Kirk.
Somehow, Kirk as Menteptah is able to shrink the Enterprise.
Hey, at least she was in the issue.
So, why didnt they just do that in first place?
Lets find out what Bones is so worked up about.
I hope he doesnt get too stressed, he might smack his daughter (again).
Kirks team is disguised as Miaplacidans.
They volunteer to help retrieve an escaped female prisoner.
When they venture outside, they find the girl killed by a beast.
It turns out the shapeshifting kid recently got high off his alien gourd and was involved in an accident.
This mishap killed his girlfriend; he was breaking into the Miaplacidan prison to make it punish himself.
He planned to help a prisoner escape and take her place so he could be executed.
Well, thats convoluted.
I kind of wanted to see the dumb kid executed.
But we did get to see Kirk and his pals fight a truly reprehensible enemy, so theres that.
Sulu even got to kick a little ass.
Star Trek #16
Theres No Space Like Gnomes!
This is the issue where the crew of the Enterprise meets a race of garden gnomes.
Three issues left and Marvel pulls this one out of its fanny?
The artistic instability continues as, sadly, we are only treated to one Gil Kane issue.
But McDonnell is always an artists artist and does a nice job on this bit of schlock.
The crew is quickly attacked by a group of hairy trolls that kidnap Themon, much to Chekovs horror.
Because, you see, Chekov and Themon are an item.
The crew are rescued by a group of gnomes that call themselves the Kuwalden.
It turns out the Kuwaldens have great powers of matter transmutation, thanks to their little gnome hats.
They wish to protect their planet from colonization.
Kirk gets his hands on a little gnome god cap and turns the gnomish power against them.
It turns out the Kuwalden once visited Earth, which is where the gnome legend came from.
Think about that next time you notice your little garden gnome peering at you.
So, yeah, space gnomes.
Oh, Bronze Age, thy name is variety.
Star Trek #17
The Long Nights Dawn!
Truly, a thing of beauty.
And the story under the cover was pretty darn good too.
The Enterprise arrives at the planet Goran IV because of a big fat Federation screw up.
A Starfleet probe fell to Goran IV and the satellites fuel poisoned the planets atmosphere.
Goran IV is in an age equivalent to Earths Middle Ages.
This issue features another creative shake up as Joe Brozowski returns to art and is joined by writer J.M.
DeMatteis, the legendary scribe who co-created the Bwah-ha-ha era of the Justice League.
The cover promises that this final issue will be a Special Last Issue Collectors Item.
The coverdoesfeature a very nice Brozowski drawing of a mind-melding Kirk and Spock though.
First, The Sustainer transforms reality as Kirk and Spock find themselves on an ancient pirate ship.
Basically, it just forces Kirk and Spock to sacrifice their lives selflessly a bunch of times.
The whole issue was a meditation on the friendship between the crew of the Enterprise.
I really cant think of a more appropriate way to end this era of Star Trek comics.
