[CORRECTION: The last two stories listed in the previous entry "The Brain Shockers" (Gold Key: Star Trek #11) and "Flight of the Buccaneers" (Gold Key: Star Trek #12) actually take place in 2264, not 2262. The correct entries for the last two stories set in 2262 should have been:
– "Enterprises Mutiny" (Gold Key: Star Trek #14)
– "Uhura’s Story" (DC Comics: Star Trek #30) ]
2263
The Cosmic Cavemen
Stardate: 19:24.3
Comic: Star Trek #17
Publisher: Gold Key
Date: February 1973
Synopsis:
Writer: Unknown / Artist: Alberto Giolitti (& Giovanni Ticci?)
A landing party from the Enterprise beams down to the newly discovered plant Neesan, where they find that the local inhabitants are only at a stone-age level of development. Despite trying to follow the Prime Directive and stay unobserved, the landing party is attacked. They surrender to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and are brought before the tribe’s ruler. The landing party is accused of trespassing on sacred ground and is brought before the sacred statue of the tribe’s god to face punishment. The landing party is astonished to discover that the statue is of Spock!
The Hijacked Planet
Stardate: 32:48.6
Comic: Star Trek #18
Publisher: Gold Key
Date: May 1973
Synopsis:
Writer: Unknown / Artist: Alberto Giolitti (& Giovanni Ticci?)
The Enterprise is transporting a sphere containing bio-magnetic recordings of the inhabitants of a dying planet when it comes across a small wrecked spacecraft with a single occupant. Spock rescues the craft’s crew member, a beautiful girl who soon bewitches Spock. A few days later the Enterprise is attacked by an unknown vessel, and the sphere and the girl disappear. The thief, who is the girl’s partner, contacts the Enterprise demanding a ransom. The Federation goes through the motions of discussing his terms to give Kirk time to track him down and recover the sphere. Once the thieves have been located, Spock tricks them by using a similar sphere that contains the bio-recordings of Kirk, Scotty, and several security guards.
The Haunted Asteroid
Stardate: 24:92.5
Comic: Star Trek #19
Publisher: Gold Key
Date: July 1973
Synopsis:
Writer: Unknown / Artist: Alberto Giolitti
The Enterprise is sent to investigate reports of a supposedly haunted asteroid that had been transformed 600 years ago into a mausoleum for a poisoned princess. On arrival they find that although the top portion of the asteroid is a veritable paradise, it is also home to strange apparitions and the bones of many dead travelers. Eventually they discover that the asteroid is not a mausoleum, but a palace for the still-living and near-immortal princess.
A World Gone Mad
Stardate: 32:47.2
Comic: Star Trek #20
Publisher: Gold Key
Date: September 1973
Synopsis:
Writer: Unknown / Artist: Alberto Giolitti
The Enterprise and crew are acting as escort returning Crown Prince Raviki to resume his throne, but are concerned that the regent, General Vlas, will not give it up so easily. When they arrive on the Prince’s planet, they narrowly escape what appear to be several assassination attempts. Spock realizes that the whole planet is suffering from a madness resulting from the passage of a strange comet just a few days before. He believes that the comet’s tail contained a gas that invoked violent thoughts. Vlas hopes to use the unrest to seize control of the throne. Scotty and McCoy use the Enterprise to track down the comet, collect samples of its tail gases and develop an antidote. Scotty then overflies the planet with a shuttlecraft, dispersing the antidote into the atmosphere and quelling the unrest.
Siege in Superspace
Stardate: 36:24.3
Comic: Star Trek #22
Publisher: Gold Key
Date:January 1974
Synopsis:
Writer: Unknown / Artist: Alberto Giolitti
The Enterprise is sucked through a black hole and emerges in orbit around a planet in another universe. While repairs are made, Kirk and McCoy beam down to the planet’s surface, which they discover is guarded by a species of plant creatures. They rescue a girl from the plant creatures and follow her down to an underground city, but they are followed by the creatures, who attack. Kirk eventually realizes that a piece of jewelry that that the girl wears is attracting the creatures, so he destroys it with his phaser. Meanwhile, Spock has discovered a nearby star that is due to collapse and will provide them with another black hole that will return the Enterprise to the correct universe.
The Trial of Captain Kirk
Stardate: 36:24.3
Comic: Star Trek #24
Publisher: Gold Key
Date: May 1974
Synopsis:
Writer: Unknown / Artist: Alberto Giolitti
The Enterprise is sent to investigate reports of illegal mining in an asteroid belt and discovers a pirate ship at work, which it then destroys. Back on Earth, Kirk is accused of collaborating with the pirates and is scheduled for court martial. Kirk goes undercover to find out who is framing him, while the Enterprise returns to the asteroid belt in search of evidence. In the asteroid belt, they discover another pirate ship and chase it. When the pirate ship fires a torpedo down to the surface of a poisonous planet, Spock and McCoy go to retrieve it by placing their brain patterns in "cerebots." Back on Earth, Kirk uncovers a plot between the smugglers and the Vice Chairman of the Supreme Council. Kirk’s findings are corroborated by the evidence that Spock and McCoy retrieved, and he is exonerated.
NEXT POST: 2263- Part 2
Previous Entries
– 1953
– 2056
– 2063
– 2250
– 2251 – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
– 2253-2259
– 2262 – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
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NOTES:
(1) This timeline covers Star Trek comics published in the USA and UK between 1967 to 2007 (i.e. from Gold Key to TokyoPop) – it does not include any stories from current Star Trek comics publisher IDW.
(2) Check out the first post in this series for the Time Line Introduction explaining the background, definitions and considerations for this Star Trek Comics Time Line project.
(3) For more information on the history of Star Trek in comics check out my book STAR TREK: A Comics History. now available in stores.