There have been many top-flightStar Trekmissions in the franchise’s 59-year history, but some never made it to the screen, and instead can be found in the pages of licensed comics. Since its inception,Star Trekhas inspired countless spin-off media, including novels and comics that chronicle the further adventures of these beloved icons. Some of these stories rank as high as a television episode.
The first officially licensedStar Trekcomic, published by the now-defunct Gold Key, appeared in 1967, and the rights to produce them have changed hands several times. DC Comics published many acclaimedStar Trekcomics throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, while Marvel had two runs with the franchise. Wildstorm and Tokyopop have also producedStar Trekmaterial, and the rights currently reside with IDW Publishing. Regardless of who is publishing them, the commitment toStar Trek’smission and ethos is there, and here are ten of the best.
Written by
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Mike W. Barr
Tom Sutton
DC’s firstStar Trekcomic debuted roughly a year and a half afterThe Wrath of Khan, and picks up not long after the events of that film. TheEnterprisehas been repaired and recrewed, and is ready to once again “boldly go.”Yet a Klingon scheme involvinga base outside the space-time continuum threatens to upend galactic peace. Throw in the Excalibans, a deep-cut species from The Original Series, and there are all the makings of a classicStar Trekstory, one that would set the stage for all future entries.
What made DC’s firstStar Trekmission so special was its scope.Previously,Trekcomics were hamstrung by either restrictive licenses or lack of faith to the source material. DC’sStar Trekseries, on the other hand, had no such hangups, and was free to draw on the entire franchise lore. While the appearances of races such as the Excalibans might seem like nothing but fan service, they actually raise the mission’s stakes even higher. The opening mission also introduced a number of Starfleet characters who were new to the comics, another DC innovation.
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The Mirror Universe, introduced inStar Trek’ssecond season, has become a key part of the franchise’s lore, and the story “New Frontiers,” brought it back in a grand fashion.The inhabitants of the Mirror Universe planned to invade the Federation, and Captain Kirk had to find a way to stop it. What followed was an epicStar Trekmission, filled with double-crosses and mistaken identities. It would be the first of many Mirror Universe comic books, as both Marvel and IDW have taken trips there as well, yet “New Frontiers” still stands above the rest.
It would be the first of many Mirror Universe comic books, as both Marvel and IDW have taken trips there as well, yet “New Frontiers” still stands above the rest.
Sometimes called “The Mirror Universe Saga,” this story arc, set immediately after theEnterprise’sdestruction inStar Trek III: The Search for Spock, dealt with the fallout from that film. Spock, revived at the movie’s end, was struggling to regain his memories and his old personality, and, thanks to Mirror Spock, he was able to do this. “New Frontiers” also ended by setting up a bold new status quo for Captain Kirk: the arc culminated with him taking command of theExcelsior. For the first time, fans got to see Kirk command a ship other than theEnterprise.
Star Trek: The Next Generation"War and Madness"
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Michael Jan Friedman
Gordon Purcell
In addition to publishing comics based on the Original Series, DC also released titles based onStar Trek: The Next Generation, and “War of Madness” is one of the best of the run. The renegade Borg that Captain Picard encountered in “The Descent” return. A break-off faction is kidnapping Tholians, attempting to unlock the secrets of their collective minds. The Tholians blame the Federation, and before long, Picard and the crew of theEnterprisemust prevent the galaxy from exploding in an all-out war. The story concluded in the double-sized 75th issue ofStar Trek: The Next Generation.
The Tholians debuted in the third seasonStar Trekepisode “The Tholian Web.”
“War of Madness” is a vast, sweeping story that draws on all corners of theStar Trekuniverse. TheTholians are a fan-favorite racethat does not get enough screen time, and writer Michael Jan Friedman and artist Gordon Purcell here weave them into a wide-reaching tapestry that also includes the Borg and the Klingons. Popular recurring characters, such as the Klingon Chancellor Gowron, also make appearances. Yet beyond being simple fan service, they help make “War of Madness” one ofStar Trek: The Next Generation’sbest stories.
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Ian Edginton and Dan Abnett
Patrick Zircher
When fans first meet Captain Pike inStar Trek’sfirst pilot episode “The Cage,” he is still reeling from an incident on Rigel VII.The episode leaves the details vague, but issue three of Marvel’sStar Trek: The Early Voyagesshows what happened in all of its gut-wrenching glory.“The Cage” did reveal that Pike lost one of his best friends on Rigel VII, the ship’s Yeoman to be exact. “Our Dearest Blood” shows this heartbreaking moment, one that would stick with Pike for the rest of his days.
Unfortunately, most of Marvel’sStar Trek: The Early Voyageshas been rendered out of continuity byStrange New Worlds.
“Our Dearest Blood” is the perfect example ofStar Trekcomics filling in gaps left by the television series. Whatever happened on Rigel VII had a profound impact on Pike, and echoes of his heartache can be seen in “The Cage.” The likelihood that the Rigel VII incident will ever be shown on-screen, even onStrange New Worlds, is slim, making comics the perfect medium to depict this often mentioned but never seen event.The Early Voyageswas one of the best titles of Marvel’s late-90s run, and stories like “Our Dearest Blood” show why.
“Odyssey’s End”
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Glenn Greenberg
Michael Collins
For all of its 59-year history, televisedStar Treknever acknowledged any part of UFO lore; no mention of the Grays or alien abductions. All of that changed in “Odyssey’s End.”Set at the conclusion of theEnterprise’ssecond five-year mission under Kirk, it begins when the ship discovers a mysterious alien craft abducting people off a distant planet. As the crew investigates, they discover the culprits are a stand-in for the Grays, finally linking the elusive species toStar Treklore. And in trueStar Trekfashion, these equivalents of the Grays learn a valuable lesson.
“Odyssey’s End” is a fun but also bittersweetStar Trekstory. Writer Glenn Greenberg and artist Michael Collins not only introduced the Grays to the franchise, but also gave them a connection to the Preservers, an ancient alien race first mentioned in The Original Series. “Odyssey’s End” is also especially poignant, as it is set at the end of Captain Kirk’s second five-year mission aboard theEnterprise, and before the events ofThe Wrath of Khan. Fans get to see, among other things, the transition to the movie-era Starfleet uniforms.
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JM DeMatteis
Matthew Dow Smith
The Mirror Universe has proven to be one ofStar Trek’smost enduring concepts, having appeared in numerous shows as well as licensed media, including the comics. “New Frontiers,” mentioned earlier in this list, was one such classic comic Mirror Universe story, andHell’s Mirror, first published by IDW in 2020 is another.The premise is one that has intriguedStar Trekfans since the 1960s: what if Khan, the genocidal warlord of Earth’s Eugenics Wars, came to the Mirror Universe?Legendary writer JM DeMatteisand artist Matthew Dow Smith take this idea to its horrifying conclusion.
Khan was played in the Prime Universe by Ricardo Montablan and in the Kelvin Timeline by Benedict Cumberbatch.Lostalumni Naveen Andrews will voice Khan in an audio drama coming this Fall.
History unfolds much the same: Khan and his followers went into space in suspended animation, and were awakened in the 23rd century. Yet Mirror Khan is horrified at what humanity has become. The first three pages ofHell’s Mirrorare gut-wrenching, as Khan laments the state of the galaxy. Fans then learn Khan leads a rebellion against the Terran Empire, but it is one doomed to fail. Not even Khan Noonian Singh was ready for the layers of deceit and trickery the Empire was willing to use, and his rebellion was crushed swiftly.
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Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly
Ramon Rosanas
By the time IDW releasedStar Trek#1 in late 2022, the publisher had held the license for over a decade.The book’s publication was a new beginning for IDW’sStar Trekline, and it kicked off with a grand, epic mission: Ben Sisko and a group of officers from across the franchise had to stop the Klingon Emperor Kahless II from killing the universe’s gods. Sisko’s mission to save creation took him through almost 60 years of history and lore, incorporating deep-cut Easter Eggs that rewarded fans for theirStar Trekknowledge.
Yet beyond being simple fan service,Godshockfeatured an intriguing mystery and spot-on characterizations of establishedStar Trekicons.Godshockintroduced new characters to the canon as well, such as T’Lir, the first non-binary Vulcan seen in the franchise. At its core,Godshockwas classicStar Trek.Star Trekhas never shied away from social commentary, or deep explorations of what it means to be human.Godshockand subsequent stories have explored the relationship between humanity and their gods, as well as the rise of religious-based fanaticism.
Glass and Bone
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Marcus To
The Tzenkethi began as a throwawayStar Trek: Deep Space Ninereference, but have still managed to become fan favorites. This is especially interesting in light of the fact that the Tzenkethi has never been seen on-screen. However, they have appeared in tie-in media, such asStar Trek Online.Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly were joined by long-time collaborator Marcus To help bring the Tzenkethi to comics, and they did not disappoint.Resembling dinosaurs, the Tzenkethi were, by all accounts, far more primitive than the Federation, but the aliens have embarrassed Starfleet at every encounter.
The Tzenkethi were first mentioned in theStar Trek: Deep Space Nineepisode “The Adversary.”
PreviousStar Trekarcs drew heavily on Easter Eggs, butGlass and Bonebroke new ground,giving the Tzenkethi a defined culture, one that appears to be barbaric and fatalistic. The Romulans, eager to exploit the differences between the Federation and the Tzenkethi to their own ends, attempt to provoke a galactic war. Sisko has been charged with curbing the Romulan’s influence, but there is an even bigger problem looming: the Tzenkethi homeworld is geologically unstable, and is about to explode very soon. Sisko must then race against time to not only broker an agreement, but save the planet as well.
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Christopher Cantwell
Mike Feehan
Months after launchingStar Trekto great acclaim, IDW introduced its sister title:Defiant,which promised a grittier, more grounded take on the franchise.Another Piece of the Actionmade good on this promise.After Worf and the crew of theDefianthelped save the galaxy duringDay of Blood, Starfleet gave them a new mission: bring in some of the galaxy’s biggest criminals. Furthermore, Starfleet disavowed any knowledge of theDefiantcrew’s actions or existence, making any future missions off the books. It was hardly the fate Worf expected, but he went with it.
Another Piece of the Action, like the other arcs, employed some deep-cut references, such as the time-traveling con man Berlinghoff Rasmussen and the Talosians. These Easter Eggs, when combined with the dark and brutal nature of Worf’s mission, madeAnother Piece of the Actionan unforgettableStar Trekmission. It depicted a side of Starfleet rarely seen. While creator Gene Roddenberry may have had a problem with the organization using bounty hunters, it still made for a gripping and compellingStar Trekstory.
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Mike Chen
Angel Hernandez
Released to commemorateStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s30th anniversary,The Dog of Warwas a different kind of mission for Captain Sisko and his crew.Quark makes a deal to obtain a rare Earth dog for a mysterious buyer. However, there is much more going on under the surface. The dog, a cute Corgi Quark named “Latinum,” seemingly has ties to a super weapon that could alter the course of the Dominion War, which was raging at the timeThe Dog of Warwas set.
The Dog of Warwas billed a “lost episode” ofDeep Space Nine, and it plays out like one, mixing high-stakes action with compelling characterizations. The Dominion War was one of the darkest storylines inStar Trekhistory, andThe Dog of War, while fitting firmly within that arc, also helps break the grimness that had overtaken their lives. Latinum is a cute foil for Quark, and the scene in which Sisko and company board theDefiantto embark on a mission to save the dog’s life will haveStar Trekfans pumping their fists.
