"...and that concludes the final installment of DC's STAR TREK. Having had the knowledge of closing out these final issues' lettercols. I can't help feeling a twinge upon reading your mail, noting your enthusiasm, humor, and interest. "Amazing Grace" would be pretty appropriate now. I am heartened, though by the knowledge that Star Trek, now more than a force of nature than a saga, will continue in its various incarnations from generation to the next...and to the next...
The final words, as always, are best left to you readers and fans..."
An era has ended.
Earlier this month, I stopped by the local comic bookstore to pick up the latest issue of “Star Trek” that features the original cast. I will always be a fan of the original series, but for the past year, I have not had time to read the monthly comics because of school and work.
I always knew at the beginning of every month there would be a new issue of Star Trek waiting for me at the store. The series would never end. It could not.
My usual routine was to first read the back page entitled “Hailing Frequencies Open” of each issue to see what the writers at DC Comics had in store next month for Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy. Even after reading the editorial note on the back page twice of Issue 80, it still did not register I was reading the final issue of the Star Trek series.
The note said “... and that concludes the final installment of DC’s “Star Trek.”
“What?!!” I exclaimed. “Great!! This is what I get for paying more attention to such important things like studying and working for a living.”
The news was as sudden as learning a relative or friend just died.
The only question I could produce was why? My question was answered when I got home.
Rummaging through a pile of still un-filed comics I accumulated, I came across issue 79 which offered an explanation, however, vague.
The reason for the cancellation was not due to low revenues as I suspected; a major factor that contributed to Marvel Comics’ cancellation of “Star Wars” in 1986 after a nine-year run. The reason was because Margaret Clark, DC editor for both “Star Trek” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation” comics, was leaving to edit the franchise’s paperbacks and calendars at Pocket Books.
Along with that was the news The Next Generation comic would also be suspended.
Issue 80 of that series arrived in stores last week.
And so, it is officially over. Captains Kirk, Picard, and their respective crews are boldly going to an area they have explored once before in their television series. Cancellation.
I shed no tears, however, for The Next Generation. Their adventures will continue in motion pictures. As far as the original cast was concerned, I knew it was over for them in movies with “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” in 1991.
At least I still had the monthly comic book to look forward to. Until now.
It was a lengthy and enjoyable run while it lasted.
“The human adventure is only beginning,” was the sentence at the end of “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” when it premiered in 1979. Since the original TV series ended its run in 1969, there was always talk of bringing the cast back in a new television series. The comic book adventures began in 1980 when Marvel Comics adapted the original series. There was, however, some uncertainty about it. The publication had no idea where they wanted to go with the characters and as a result, the series lasted only 18 issues. It was not until “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982) was released that the popularity of the franchise exploded. All Trekkies ever talked about was how Spock would be brought back to life in the third film.
DC Comics was not going to wait for the answer and began publishing a comic book series of their own in February 1984; three months before the premiere of “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.” DC’s writers not only produced several new creative storylines, but they retained all the action, drama and humor of the original series and brought a few guest characters back. Spock and McCoy never failed to have their philosophical arguments.
I am astounded at how Trekkies are today by The Next Generation. I remember a friend of mine could not believe it when he saw the new Enterprise’s saucer section in Generation’s 1987 pilot, “Encounter at Farpoint”, separate from the stardrive. DC first pulled that stunt off three years before “The Next Generation” came to TV with the Mirror Universe storyline from the original series.
It did not take long, however, for the series’ studio, Paramount Pictures, to realize it had a hit on its hands. The first series went on a brief hiatus in 1988 while DC’s writers and Paramount’s executives negotiated their future.
Just as “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier” was released in theaters in the summer of 1989, “Star Trek: The Next Generation” comic was born.
The idea “Star Trek” has explored is unity. That was creator Gene Roddenberry’s reasoning for having an African American (Uhura), a Russian (Chekov), an Asian American (Sulu), an Englishman (Scotty), a Vulcan (Spock), and two Americans (Kirk and McCoy) serving on the Enterprise.
Today, Paramount Pictures is interested more in making money marketing the Star Trek franchise than producing better storylines.
Perhaps it was best DC Comics quit while they were ahead. Better to go out knowing you had high sales than to go out knowing you had none.
I just wish the publication could have given the original cast a first-class sendoff. I would rather remember them seeking out “new life and new civilizations” than to be retired.
Although their adventures will continue in a variety of hard and soft cover books, this is the end for the comics.
However, with 79 original episodes (80 if you consider “The Menagerie” was a two part episode), six feature films, 150 plus comic books, annuals, specials, movie adaptations, and 50 plus hard and soft cover novels and counting, there’s more than enough adventures for me to look back upon.
Farewell Captain Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A.
Live long and prosper.
©2/7/96
The final words, as always, are best left to you readers and fans..."
- The editors of DC Comics' Star Trek
 |
Feb. 1984 - Feb. 1996 Vol. 1 - 56 Issues - 3 Annuals |
Earlier this month, I stopped by the local comic bookstore to pick up the latest issue of “Star Trek” that features the original cast. I will always be a fan of the original series, but for the past year, I have not had time to read the monthly comics because of school and work.
I always knew at the beginning of every month there would be a new issue of Star Trek waiting for me at the store. The series would never end. It could not.
My usual routine was to first read the back page entitled “Hailing Frequencies Open” of each issue to see what the writers at DC Comics had in store next month for Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy. Even after reading the editorial note on the back page twice of Issue 80, it still did not register I was reading the final issue of the Star Trek series.
The note said “... and that concludes the final installment of DC’s “Star Trek.”
“What?!!” I exclaimed. “Great!! This is what I get for paying more attention to such important things like studying and working for a living.”
The news was as sudden as learning a relative or friend just died.
 |
| Vol. 2 - 80 Issues - 6 Annuals |
Rummaging through a pile of still un-filed comics I accumulated, I came across issue 79 which offered an explanation, however, vague.
The reason for the cancellation was not due to low revenues as I suspected; a major factor that contributed to Marvel Comics’ cancellation of “Star Wars” in 1986 after a nine-year run. The reason was because Margaret Clark, DC editor for both “Star Trek” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation” comics, was leaving to edit the franchise’s paperbacks and calendars at Pocket Books.
Along with that was the news The Next Generation comic would also be suspended.
Issue 80 of that series arrived in stores last week.
And so, it is officially over. Captains Kirk, Picard, and their respective crews are boldly going to an area they have explored once before in their television series. Cancellation.
I shed no tears, however, for The Next Generation. Their adventures will continue in motion pictures. As far as the original cast was concerned, I knew it was over for them in movies with “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” in 1991.
At least I still had the monthly comic book to look forward to. Until now.
In the Beginning
 |
| 1995 Miniseries 6 Issues |
“The human adventure is only beginning,” was the sentence at the end of “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” when it premiered in 1979. Since the original TV series ended its run in 1969, there was always talk of bringing the cast back in a new television series. The comic book adventures began in 1980 when Marvel Comics adapted the original series. There was, however, some uncertainty about it. The publication had no idea where they wanted to go with the characters and as a result, the series lasted only 18 issues. It was not until “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982) was released that the popularity of the franchise exploded. All Trekkies ever talked about was how Spock would be brought back to life in the third film.
DC Comics was not going to wait for the answer and began publishing a comic book series of their own in February 1984; three months before the premiere of “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.” DC’s writers not only produced several new creative storylines, but they retained all the action, drama and humor of the original series and brought a few guest characters back. Spock and McCoy never failed to have their philosophical arguments.
 |
| Oct. 1989 - Feb. 1996 Vol. 2 - 80 Issues - 6 Annuals |
It did not take long, however, for the series’ studio, Paramount Pictures, to realize it had a hit on its hands. The first series went on a brief hiatus in 1988 while DC’s writers and Paramount’s executives negotiated their future.
Just as “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier” was released in theaters in the summer of 1989, “Star Trek: The Next Generation” comic was born.
The idea “Star Trek” has explored is unity. That was creator Gene Roddenberry’s reasoning for having an African American (Uhura), a Russian (Chekov), an Asian American (Sulu), an Englishman (Scotty), a Vulcan (Spock), and two Americans (Kirk and McCoy) serving on the Enterprise.
And now
Today, Paramount Pictures is interested more in making money marketing the Star Trek franchise than producing better storylines.
Perhaps it was best DC Comics quit while they were ahead. Better to go out knowing you had high sales than to go out knowing you had none.
I just wish the publication could have given the original cast a first-class sendoff. I would rather remember them seeking out “new life and new civilizations” than to be retired.
Although their adventures will continue in a variety of hard and soft cover books, this is the end for the comics.
However, with 79 original episodes (80 if you consider “The Menagerie” was a two part episode), six feature films, 150 plus comic books, annuals, specials, movie adaptations, and 50 plus hard and soft cover novels and counting, there’s more than enough adventures for me to look back upon.
Farewell Captain Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A.
Live long and prosper.
©2/7/96
