Sep 20th 2011 By: Andy Khouri

New 'Star Trek' Gets Old School In First Issue From IDW Publishing [Preview]

On sale this week from IDW Publishing is Star Trek Ongoing #1, launching a new series starring the modernized characters of director J.J. Abrams' 2009 motion picture in what IDW is calling "re-imaginings" of classic adventures from the original 1960s Star Trek television series. In other words, instead of William Shatner's Captain James T. Kirk fighting a Gorn or Leonard Nimoy's Mr. Spock going through Vulcan puberty, you'll get illustrated likenesses of Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto in new versions of those famous tales. The series is produced in cooperation with Abrams' Bad Robot Productions and Star Trek writer/producer Roberto Orci and is designed to tie-in with the forthcoming Star Trek sequel in 2012.

Written by Mike Johnson and featuring artwork by Stephen Molnar and covers by Tim Bradstreet and David Messina, Star Trek #1 finds the new cast on an adventure based on the original series episode, "Where No Man Has Gone Before." You can check out a preview below.

Star Trek Ongoing #1 goes on sale September 21 in finer comics stores and can also be purchased online from retailers like Things From Another World.

Star Trek Ongoing #1

Mike Johnson (w) • Stephen Molnar (a) • Tim Bradstreet, David Messina (c)
The adventures of the Starship Enterprise continue in this new ongoing series that picks up where the blockbuster 2009 film left off! Featuring the new cast of the film, these missions re-imagine the stories from the original series in the alternate timeline created by the film, along with new threats and characters never seen before! With creative
collaboration from STAR TREK writer/producer Roberto Orci, this new series begins the countdown to the much-anticipated movie sequel premiering in 2012. Join Kirk, Spock and the crew as they boldly go into a new future! Up first, a drastic new envisioning of "Where No Man Has Gone Before."

2 regular covers will be shipped in a 4-to-1 ratio (4 Tim Bradstreet, 1 David Messina)

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Variants: Four different free variant photo covers! The four covers will be distributed evenly, making each one a unique 1-in-40 variant!
Star Trek Ongoing #1, autographed by writer Mike Johnson, and STAR TREK writer/producer Roberto Orci!

Bullet points:
- Fully sanctioned by J.J. Abrams, Bad Robot and Paramount pictures, with direct ties to the new movie in 2012!
- The new adventures start here! Classic Star Trek episodes updated in the new mythology!
- Each issue features a unique "Golden Ticket," a lottery with amazing prizes! Details coming soon!

Tags: david messina - DavidMessina - j.j. abrams - J.j.Abrams - mike johnson - MikeJohnson - roberto orci - RobertoOrci - star trek - StarTrek - stephen molnar - StephenMolnar - TIM BRADSTREET - TimBradstreet

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Dale Simpson

Well with the alternate timeline, I would assume that Kirk takes command almost a whole decade before he was suppose to! So, the Enterprise would be doing Pike's missions, except with Kirk in the center seat.......

September 22 2011 at 8:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Stephen McMillan

I think it makes sense that if the Enterprise is sent to the same region that they were sent in the original series they would encounter the same things, as the altered timeline has only been altered for a relatively short period of time. Both timelines still have the Valient in roughly the same region of space. The further we go the more things will change. Maybe this encounter starts in a similar way but will end in a totally different way. We don't know yet. If, several issues in, it continues to look like a rehash of what has already gone before then there is little point continuing to read it if you already know what is going to happen.

September 22 2011 at 8:20 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Stephen McMillan's comment

Jon G Hames

Exactly. The comic's got a wonderful opportunity to play with the Trek Tapestry. This Enterprise crew is different than the previous one in many ways, and this will cause differences in approach and outcome. And Kirk is friends with Gary still, but is already much closer to Spock in particular and the rest of the bridge crew in general due to what they've gone through, which if written right will cause some friction between Gary and Kirk that wasn't there before. Now add godlike powers to the mix. I doubt if Kirk'll be able to win it with a Phaser rifle this time around.

September 22 2011 at 5:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Fahad Arman

Being such a huge fan of David Messina's art on Star Trek: Countdown I really wish they got him to work on this. That said, I'm going to pick this series up because I love the idea of Abrams' rebooted universe.

"Ultimate Star Trek" what a perfect way to sum it up :)

September 20 2011 at 5:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

cptnsqash

Unfortunately, since we're now dealing with a new time line based on events that should've never happened (one of which is the birth of Kirk's brother George which will never happen), I believe that the series needs to take a fresh approach to the missions and NOT follow the original series. By bringing in Gary Mitchell, and the Valliant, they are taking us down a familiar path which will lead us to a familiar outcome.. STTNG, STDS9, STV.. etc... (Boring). Something has to be done that addresses the early years of the crew.. even when the original series was on, Kirk was already a savy Captain. I'd rather they go down a path that explores some of the missions which made him the savy Captain we saw in STOS and NOT disrupt the Original Series... in other words... 'The slate is clean.. give us the stores that made this crew one of the most celebrated in all the series.. tell us the stores that made them the best and bonded them together during their early days of exploration'... Nuff said.

September 20 2011 at 5:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to cptnsqash's comment

TNez

Isn't George older that Jim? I'm pretty sure that was him running away from home at the beginning of STXI.

I agree that new story lines would be great - I'm going to be pretty pissed if I buy these and they stick 100% to the TOS storyline, just with different faces and different scenery. But honestly, I'll be fine with revisiting old ground as long as there are changes to the story that reflect that we're in a new universe now. It makes sense that Kirk would still be friends with Gary Mitchell in this universe - no reason for them not to be. But we're dealing with a different, jumpier, more scarred Kirk in this universe, and a probably PTSD Spock as well. Hopefully the new version of Where No Man Has Gone Before will reflect this.

I think the only way I'll burst into flaming rage over this storyline is if they don't upgrade Bones back to being part of the original trio. Seriously, what's up with the tiny little McCoy on the cover?!

September 20 2011 at 6:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Nick Ahlhelm

Ah, Ultimate Star Trek.

September 20 2011 at 1:48 PM Report abuse Permalink +5 rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Nick Ahlhelm's comment

J Cecil

Wait until people see a black Jean Luc Picard!

September 20 2011 at 6:05 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to J Cecil's comment

Road Flare

Jean Luc Picard as portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson would actually be incredible to watch.

September 20 2011 at 11:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down

J Cecil

I hope the Mirror Universe Spock in THIS altered reality is just Sylar with pointy ears

September 20 2011 at 12:58 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

Ejaz Farooqui

I can't think of a worse way of publishing stories in the new timeline than rehashes of old stories that will probably be better anyway. Isn't the whole point of the reboot that we can have NEW stories?

September 20 2011 at 11:19 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to Ejaz Farooqui's comment

Michael P.

Yeah, I really don't know who this is for.

September 20 2011 at 12:37 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down Reply

Eric Brune

Actually, I think telling the old stories in a new way... with the old characters having their new attitudes... is a good idea.

September 20 2011 at 1:33 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Eric Brune's comment

Ejaz Farooqui

But I don't see how it could be that new when the writer is just using a template from a previous story. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that this story is going to end in a very similar way to the original story - unless the new universe is going to have megalomaniacal mutant super-villains running around. I'd be happy if Magneto turned up maybe.
I would have thought for the first comic story in the new universe, it would have been better served with an original story. I don't know, it just strikes me as a little lazy I suppose.

September 21 2011 at 6:25 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down

James

So, Tim Bradstreet is really a collage artist, isn't he?

Collage is a great thing of course, but I never really realised he just slapped some pictures together and then went to the Photoshop Filter Gallery...

September 20 2011 at 11:08 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to James's comment

ely

that's a pretty heavy accusation of an artist with little to no proof to back it up, especially to one with mr. Bradstreet's long list of accolades and accomplishments. Unless you can provide photo-reference material side by side with his cover art, or failing that provide your own critically acclaimed portfolio, I'd urge you to keep these comments to yourself.

September 20 2011 at 11:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to ely's comment

Jamie McKelvie

Five seconds with google gives you this:

Spock and Kirk: http://www.treksinscifi.com/trekdaily/pictures/2009-09-22_New_Spock_Kirk.jpg

Uhura: http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/startrek1.jpg

I don't claim to know his whole process, though I believe it has changed with the onset of computers, but he has always traced photos. He usually photographs his own models, but obviously that ain't going to happen with an image that needs these likenesses.

September 21 2011 at 10:45 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down

Henry

Ely, James is spot on. It's a very nice collage of photographs layed out well, with a PS filter applied. That doesn't take away from his design sense, but it isn't original art (if that's what you were thinking it was).

September 22 2011 at 5:58 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down