TrekInk: March Star Trek IDW Previews + Catching up with Star Trek comics

IDW has released their March previews for Star Trek comics and we have the covers and details for you below. Plus TrekMovie catches up on some of the other recent Star Trek comic news to get you up to speed. There has been a lot of activity, including a stunning collection of Star Trek newspaper strips. Spoilers ahead.

March 2013 Star Trek comics solicits

Star Trek #19
Written by Mike Johnson, art by Claudia Balboni, cover art by Tim Bradstreet

As excitement builds for the upcoming film sequel, the ongoing Star Trek comics series shows fans the events that shaped the lives of the beloved Enterprise crew! In this issue we discover what led young Montgomery Scott to devote himself to engineering, as we witness his first steps on the journey that would take him across the galaxy! Overseen by Trek writer/producer Roberto Orci, this all-new tale sheds light on a classic character!

Variant covers: Tim Bradstreet sketch cover and variant Photo Cover

Star Trek #19

Cover: Art by Tim Bradstreet

Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness #3 (of 4)
Written by Mike Johnson, art by David Messina

The lead up to this Spring’s Star Trek film sequel continues here, in this official prequel mini-series overseen by writer/producer Roberto Orci. Captain Kirk and his crew will face an all-new adversary that threatens the future of the entire Federation. Don’t miss this exclusive all-new story that sets the stage for the upcoming blockbuster movie!

2 regular covers will be shipped in a 4-to-1 ratio (4 David Messina, 1 Photo)
Variant cover: Unique variant cover, graded by the CGC! Limited strictly to qualifying orders, and guaranteed to be a 9.6 or above!

Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness #3 Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness #3 RI

Cover A and RI: Art by David Messina

Star Trek, Volume 4
Written by Mike Johnson, art by Stephen Molnar, cover art by Tim Bradstreet

The countdown to the Star Trek movie sequel continues here! In The Redshirt’s Tale, experience life on the Enterprise through a redshirt’s eyes! Also, find out how Scotty and his alien sidekick Keenser first meet. Plus, an all-new re-imagining of the classic Mirror Universe story!

TPB • FC • $17.99 • 104 pages • ISBN 978-1-61377-590-5

Star Trek, Volume 4

Cover: Art by Tim Bradstreet

Recently released Star Trek comics

Recent releases include two more issues of the Star Trek ongoing series, more of the Next Generation/Doctor Who crossover, a Next Generation mini-series featuring the Borg, several trade paperback reprints, and the first volume collecting the Star Trek newspaper strip, originally syndicated by the Los Angeles Times back in 1979.

Star Trek #14
Written by Mike Johnson, art by Stephen Molnar, colors by John Rauch, letters by Neil Uyetake, creative consultant Roberto Orci, edited by Scott Dunbier

Star Trek #14

Cover: Art by Tim Bradstreet, colors by Grant Goleash

Star Trek #14 RI A Star Trek #14 RI B

Cover RI A: Art by Tim Bradstreet, Cover RI B: Photo cover

Star Trek #14 is a standalone story featuring Mr. Scott’s diminutive sidekick, Keenser, who appears to be having difficulty with his duties aboard the Enterprise. Born on Royla and large for his species, he leaves home on the USS Kelvin after first contact with the Federation and was the first Roylan to graduate from Starfleet Academy. Mourning the loss of his friends on the Kelvin, he moves on, assigned to Delta Vega, where he eventually meets Scott. A problem with the Enterprise forces him to delve deeper into the ship than ever before, where he rediscovers his equanimity. I’m not sure if we’ll see more of Keenser in the new film, but learning more about him was an enjoyable read.

Star Trek #15
Written by Mike Johnson, art by Erfan Fajar, colors by Ifansyah and Sakti Tuwono of Stellar Labs, letters by Neil Uyetake, based on the original teleplay of Mirror, Mirror by Jerome Bixby, creative consultant Roberto Orci, edited by Scott Dunbier

Star Trek #15

Cover: Art by Tim Bradstreet, colors by Grant Goleash

Star Trek #15 RI A Star Trek #15 RI B

Cover RI A: Art by Tim Bradstreet, Cover RI B: Photo cover

Over a couple of drinks, Scotty tries to explain the concept of jumping between alternate timelines to a stubborn McCoy. Even more bothersome is the thought of an infinite number of McCoys. While the good doctor contemplates the horror of an infinite number of Montgomery Scotts who are poets instead of engineers, a victory is celebrated in another timeline. After defeating the Klingons for the Terran Empire, Captain Spock executes Chancellor Gorkon and waits for word from Commander Kirk on the Praxis Front. However, Kirk is on a mission of revenge to Rura Penthe, where his father’s killer is still held, along with the secrets of his ship. This is the first installment of a two-part story and seeing Kirk’s chilling plan unfold is completely believable. A terrific read.

Star Trek, Volume 3
Written by Mike Johnson, art by Stephen Molnar and Claudia Balboni, colors by John Rauch, Ilaria Traversi and Arianna Florean, letters by Neil Uyetake, based on the original teleplays of The Return of the Archons by Boris Sobelman and The Trouble With Tribbles by David Gerrold, creative consultant Roberto Orci, edited by Scott Dunbier

Star Trek, Volume 3

Cover: Art by Tim Bradstreet, colors by Grant Goleash

Featuring an introduction by David Gerrold, who wrote the teleplay for The Trouble With Tribbles, this trade paperback collects issues #9-12 of the Star Trek ongoing series. In addition to a fresh take on the Tribble tale, a second original series episode set in the alternate timeline, The Return of the Archons, is also presented. Of the two, I found Tribbles entertaining and Archons less so. Your mileage may vary.

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #5 (of 8)
Written by Scott and David Tipton, pencils by Gordon Purcell, painted art by J.K. Woodward, letters by Shawn Lee, edited by Denton J. Tipton

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #5 Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #5 RI

Cover: Art by J.K. Woodward, Cover RI: Art by The Sharp Brothers

Picard is adamant, refusing to open negotiations with the Borg. He’d like to see the Borg and the Cybermen destroy each other. Neither Guinan nor the Doctor can persuade him otherwise. Counselor Troi suggests to Amy that the Captain needs to hear from someone other than the Doctor. Amy invites Picard on a tour of the TARDIS and the future of the Federation, if the Cybermen aren’t stopped. When he returns, Picard is finally ready to speak with the Borg. The story takes a thoughtful turn in this issue. The deep wounds Picard suffered as Locutus are highlighted, as is Amy’s confidence in the Doctor. This is the calm before the storm, very nicely done. Artist J.K. Woodward is getting a pencilling assist from veteran Star Trek artist Gordon Purcell. Eight issues of painted art is a tremendous amount of work and Purcell’s addition to the art team is a good choice.

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #6 (of 8)
Written by Scott and David Tipton, pencils by Gordon Purcell, painted art by J.K. Woodward, letters by Shawn Lee, editorial assists by Jacen Smith, edited by Denton J. Tipton

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #6 Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #6 RI

Cover: Art by J.K. Woodward, Cover RI: Art by Emanuela Lupacchino

The Borg representatives are met on a desolate planetoid. The Conduit, a drone designated to speak for the collective, explains that the Borg won’t harm anyone in order to ensure their own continued existence. The Conduit returns to the Enterprise with the away team. Only then does Riker realize that the Conduit is an old friend, recently assimilated. With the Conduit’s assistance, a plan is formulated to stop the Cybermen from converting the Borg homeworld and restore Borg programming. To prepare, the Enterprise must return to Naia VII for help and the Doctor, with his companions, must travel back in time to Wolf 359. So far, I’ve found each episode of this mini-series compelling. I thought the writers might find it difficult to stretch out this story across eight issues, but the backstory of Star Trek and Doctor Who is rich with detail that can be drawn on, so I shouldn’t have worried.

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #7 (of 8)
Written by Scott and David Tipton, pencils by Gordon Purcell, painted art by J.K. Woodward, letters by Tom B. Long, editorial assists by Jacen Smith, edited by Denton J. Tipton

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #7 Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #7 RI

Cover: Art by J.K. Woodward, Cover RI: Art by Jenny Frison

Aboard the Borg cube commanded by Locutus at the battle of Wolf 359, the Doctor, Amy and Rory quietly make their way to the central computer. The Doctor explains the insidious nature of the Borg to his companions as he makes a copy of the original Borg programming. Amy is a little shocked at the loss of life that occurred at Wolf 359 and surprised that the Doctor can’t change this fixed point in time. Returning to the Enterprise, the away team is assembled. Amy and Rory refuse to be left behind. Boarding the TARDIS, the away team makes for the Cybermen armada and the Cyber-controller. Unlike a Borg ship, intruders are detected immediately. The team splits up. One group must fight their way to Engineering and stop the ship, while the rest head for the bridge to find the Cyber-controller. Lots of action in this issue. We also see a bit of Doctor Who-style humor to break the tension. One more issue to go. It’s coming next week.

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2, Volume 1
Written by Scott and David Tipton with Tony Lee, art by J.K. Woodward, additional art by The Sharp Brothers (Issue #3) and Gordon Purcell (Issue #4), letters by Shawn Lee and Robbie Robbins, edited by Denton J. Tipton

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2, Volume 1

Cover: Art by J.K. Woodward

This trade paperback collects the first four issues of Assimilation2, the Next Generation/Doctor Who crossover. The concluding volume will be published early next year. I’m impressed with J.K. Woodward’s painted art and I’ve enjoyed the story so far. If you’re a fan of Star Trek or Doctor Who, I have no trouble recommending this book.

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Hive #1 (of 4)
Story by Brannon Braga, script by Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett, art by Joe Corroney, colors by Hi-Fi, letters by Shawn Lee, edited by Scott Dunbier

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Hive #1 A Star Trek: The Next Generation - Hive #1 B

Cover A: Art by Joe Corroney, Cover B: Photo cover

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Hive #1 RI A Star Trek: The Next Generation - Hive #1 RI B

Cover RI A: Art by David Messina and colors by Ilaria Traversi, Cover RI B: Brannon Braga signed edition

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Hive #1 RE

Cover RE: Photo cover, Montreal Comiccon

Brannon Braga returns to Star Trek: The Next Generation with a four-issue mini-series titled Hive, featuring the Borg. In the 29th century the Borg have assimilated the entire galaxy without really know if it was worth doing. A spark of what’s left of Jean-Luc Picard awakens in Locutus and knows what must be done, starting 500 years in the past. In the 24th century, Picard is on vacation with Vash when he hears the collective calling. Returning to Starfleet Command, he learns that the Borg are massing and need to speak with Locutus of Borg. The Borg Queen brings news of a new threat, Species 1881, the Voldranaii. Failing to assimilate them, the Borg now find themselves on the run from a Voldranaii fleet with superior technology and a desire to exterminate all potential threats, including humans. The Queen sends her ambassador, Seven of Nine, to meet with Picard. In the 29th century, Locutus resurrects Data to help kill the Queen. Wow! There’s a whole lot of survivor’s guilt going on here, Locutus/Picard seems to be kind of a weenie. He wants a divorce but needs Data to help him. There are five covers for this issue. I’m not sure about the story, but Joe Corroney’s art is exotic and David Messina’s retailer incentive Famous Borg in History cover is the creepiest Star Trek comic cover I’ve ever encountered.

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Hive #2 (of 4)
Story by Brannon Braga, script by Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett, art by Joe Corroney, colors by Hi-Fi, letters by Shawn Lee, edited by Scott Dunbier

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Hive #2 A Star Trek: The Next Generation - Hive #2 B

Cover A: Art by Joe Corroney with ink assists by Matt Fillback and Shawn Fillback, Cover B: Photo cover

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Hive #2 RI

Cover RI: Art by David Messina and colors by Ilaria Traversi

Brannon Braga’s Borg story to end all Borg stories continues. Locutus needs Data’s help to destroy the Borg Queen. First order of business is to execute the Queen’s Sentinel, a monstrous drone that is Seven of Nine. 503 years in the past, Picard recruits Annika Hansen to return to the collective as a Federation spy. Three years later, Seven of Nine, the Queen’s ambassador, assures Starfleet that the Voldranaii threat is real. Starfleet and the Borg make plans to intercept the Voldranaii fleet. Worf and a team of Vulcan commandos board a Voldranaii ship to retrieve biological samples of the aliens. Examining the DNA data sent by Worf’s team, Seven learns that the Voldranaii were engineered by Borg nanoprobes. The Queen transmits the Sentinel protocol to Seven who becomes something monstrous. 500 years later, Data kills Seven. Locutus won’t let anyone stand in his way. 500 years in the past, Picard confronts the Queen’s Sentinel. Confused yet? Well, its sort of makes graphic sense if you read the comic. My prose description is inadequate. Still, I can’t help but find this storyline amusing for its melodrama. I’m not sure if that was the intent. That’s okay. The art is terrific. Joe Corroney seems to be drawing Trek while channeling H.R. Giger. David Messina’s Locutus in the style of the Lincoln Memorial is another winner.

Star Trek: The Newspaper Comics – Volume 1: 1979-1981
Stories and art by Thomas Warkentin, Ron Harris and Sharman DiVono. Edited and designed by Dean Mullaney, color restoration by Lorraine Turner, with an introduction by Rich Handley

Star Trek: The Newspaper Strips

Cover: Art by Thomas Warkentin

Rich Handley, who wrote the introduction for this oversize hardcover collection, began researching and collecting the Star Trek newspaper strips many years ago. He also made several unsuccessful attempts to interest publishers in reprinting the strips. IDW Publishing and Library of American Comics editor Dean Mullaney finally made the commitment to reintroduce the world to these lost comics. This volume features Sunday and daily strips from December 2, 1979 to October 25, 1981, plus a few interesting extras. They’ve done an amazing job. If you only buy one Star Trek comic this year, this is the one you want.

Star Trek: The Next Generation Omnibus

Star Trek: The Next Generation Omnibus

Cover: Art by Joe Corroney

This 472-page trade paperback omnibus collection includes four complete Next Generation mini-series from IDW Publishing: The Space Between, Intelligence Gathering, The Last Generation, and Ghosts. If you missed these when they first appeared in your local comic shop, the omnibus editions from IDW are a great bargain.

Kevin Keller #6
Written and penciled by Dan Parent, inked by Rich Koslowski, letters by Jack Morelli, colors by Digikore Studios, edited by Victor Gorelick

Kevin Keller #6 Kevin Keller #6 Variant

Cover art by Dan Parent

George Takei made a cameo appearance this month in Archie Comics ongoing series, Kevin Keller, carrying Star Trek‘s familiar message of IDIC.

Star Trek comics coming soon, plus a few odds and ends

A four-issue movie prequel mini-series, a retailer exclusive edition of the Next Generation/Doctor Who conclusion, a hardcover collection of John Byrne’s Star Trek comics, and a couple of comics-related magazines with a Star Trek twist are coming next year.

Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness #1 and #2 (of 4)
Written by Mike Johnson and Roberto Orci, art by David Messina

Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness #1 Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness #1

Cover A: Art by David Messina, Cover B: Photo cover

Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness #2

Cover A: Art by David Messina

Countdown to Darkness is a four-issue mini-series from IDW Publishing that leads into the new film, Star Trek: Into Darkness, and bridges the gap between the previous film. Readers will get an exclusive peek at the mysterious storyline. Variant issues will include photo covers and limited edition CGC-graded comics. What’s the story all about? We’ll have to wait and see. The first issue is scheduled to arrive in local comic shops at the end of January 2013.

Star Trek: The John Byrne Collection

Star Trek: The John Byrne Collection, Hardcover

Cover: Art by John Byrne (this is probably not the final art)

Coming in 2013 is a hardcover collection of John Byrne’s Star Trek comics, including Assignment: Earth, Crew, Leonard McCoy: Frontier Doctor, and Romulans. Byrne will be making corrections and providing new cover art. All of these comics have been collected in trade paperback, but here they are again for your hardcover reading pleasure.

Bleeding Cool Magazine #3

Bleeding Cool Magazine #3

Cover: Art by David Messina

The February 2013 issue of Bleeding Cool’s new print magazine will feature the latest Star Trek news and David Messina’s cover art for Countdown to Darkness #1.

Star Trek: The Official Magazine #44

Star Trek: The Official Magazibe #44

Retro comic cover for Star Trek: The Official Magazine #44

Issue #44 of Star Trek: The Official Magazine will feature a retro cover design based on Gold Key Star Trek #7, but with a Mirror Universe twist. The newsstand edition will feature Kirk, Spock and McCoy from the new film.

Mark Martinez is an obsessive-compulsive Star Trek comics reader and collector. You can visit his website, the Star Trek Comics Checklist for more than you ever needed to know about Star Trek comics.

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Love the comics,tides me over till new movie comes out,lol. And the Trek/Who crossover is pretty good. Love Who as well so it’s just win win for me. And the ongoing comic set in new universe is my fave right now.

Keep Trekkin’!

J-R!

im realy interested in the leed up comics for the movie. Lets see if they spoil John Harrison.

First?

This is pretty exciting! I particularly like the beauty shot of the Enterprise over Saturn.

This is the same image as that used on the cover of Cinefex magazine, a trade journal, back around May, 2009. I’ll be on the lookout for what Cinefex has to offer when STID is released.

The Romulans Treasury Edition by John Byrne is beautiful and is 9×14.

http://www.tfaw.com/Profile/Star-Trek-Romulans-Treasury-Ed___409418

Someone should put their foot down and stop these Dr Who Star Trek crossovers.

It’s so ridiculous.

No way would someone be allowed to make a batman tv show along the lines of the Adam West version as it would be deemed to be hurtful to the franchise in it’s current format. Even though such a show would be fun.

Every bad perception that the general public have of trekkies is magnified in these crossover stories.

i am looking forward to the last issue of star trek next gen/doctor who crossover its been a blast, i hope they can something akin to it again with ds9(who would be the bad guys in it?)

would like to get the newspaper reprint i bet they will be fun

into darkness countdown. OK i thought the on going comics was supposed to fill the in between years! i will get them i just a bit puzzled why and how will they fit i with the on going comics i.e what order do you read them in?( i am planing on re-reading all the comics in order starting with Spock reflection,35 issue so far)

#2 fair play, just one question why read about something your not going to read and then make a comment? by the way you should read countdown to trek 09 it is a very good story and ties in to next gen and explains a lot thats not in the movie

I’m happy they DID finally make a Trek/Who crossover as I like both! And a few other things,lol! Guess you have to be a little more open minded to enjoy it,but I take it for what it is…..FUN!

J-R!

Re: Brannon Braga’s ‘Hive’ plot line.

Da fuq did I just read?

And for anyone who moans about the Doctor and the Ponds on the bridge of the Enterprise, what would you prefer? Jar-Jar Binks and the Ewoks?

Anthony, wasn’t the episode titled “The Trouble with Tribbles?” Not trying to nitpick, I just wanted to point it out

Really need to seek out that Star Trek Magazine #44 with the retro cover. (I have a real soft spot in my heart for the old Gold Key comics.)

Fact: Karen Gillan is an inch taller than Patrick Stewart.

Hmm. I wonder what Star Trek would look like today if they had stuck with Ron Moore rather than Brannon Braga?

Hope they fix Scotty’s hair color on the cover of # 14.
Unless he dabbles with a bottle of peroxide instead of Scotch. ;-D

I got a little confused there (Why are they releasing older comics) but I get it now — volumes.

Has anybody here read the Who/Trek comics? I enjoy both shows, but haven’t read the crossovers.

If you read my previous posts you know I read’em,lol! And I enjoy both shows too,and this crossover series. But that’s ME,I’m kinda easy and cheap,lol!

J-R!

Thank you for keeping up with the comics- they’re helping me stay sane until the movie comes out. The stories have been excellent- especially the one about “Cupcake”- kudos to Bob Orci and co for excellent writing and art.

Now I just want #16- the cliffhanger in that one was awesome.

@9, why does it have to be a choice between several bad options?

You cannot justify a bad idea by saying it could be worse.

Hold on a tick …

So there’s going to be BOTH an Ongoing comic AND a Countdown comic?

Isn’t that sort of double-dipping?

@5

Batman the brave and the bold

How much exposure does the public eye get to this comic? What exactly is bad about this crossover? I don’t see it.

There should be no confusion, Trek Ongoing is specifically the retelling of classic TOS episode stories, the Countdown comic are stories specifically geared to lead into a richer understanding of the new feature.

No double dipping, just different comics. Enjoy!

Nice Alfred Eisenstaedt »V-J Day in Times Square« reference up there at
Hive RI A, Mr. Messina.

@23 A terrific cover by David Messina

I just read #14 the other day and loved the glossy artwork, except that they got the Enterprise very, very wrong. Instead of the JJ-verse version, the engines drawn in the comic are the original ST movie refit version. Frankly, I prefer the look of the original refit, but it is completely wrong for comics set in the new universe.

the doctor who star trek the next generation cross over is TONS of fun. the artwork is great, the story is…well look, i got over the borg once they became techno-vampires in first contact (though at least them assimilating every crew member made sense then), but it’s FUN to read. If you like TNG and Doctor Who AND comic books its a win-win-win. If you don’t I think it’s a hard sell, but frankly I’ve never heard of someone (before) saying that a comic story hurt somethings franchise, unless that franchise was a comic book to begin with.

the comic stories are great because they let us comic fans get what we’re looking for, and they’re easy to dismiss if you don’t like comics.

My goodness, after seeing the second trailer, wherein our good starship Enterprise gets the hell bashed out of it, I’m definitely gonna want to look for that Cinefex with that beauty shot on its cover.

Great.

Not a canon based story in the whole update.

Canon?

We ain’t got no canon.
We don’t need no canon!
I don’t have to show you any stinkin’ canon!

;-)

29# this is not about cannon its about the comic books thats on sale or will be on sale thats set in the star trek unverise, it ment to be fun and thats it nothing more nothing less,

@30…

I’m a Nikon guy anyway, Mark!
;))

#31… dude, it’s canon…. not cannon.

I got the Newsparer Comics & was surprised by the art & fun stories, it helps to fill the gap of the second five year mission :)