59 years later, a landmark Star Trek story is returning in a gorgeous new edition. In addition to movies and television shows, Star Trek has carried over into other forms of media as well. There has been a steady stream of Star Trek novels for decades. There are also numerous video and role-playing games, as well as nearly 60 years worth of comic books.
Star Trek premiered in America on September 8, 1966, and the first tie-in media began appearing within a year of the show’s debut. Gold Key Comics, one of the preeminent publishers of its day, was known for its titles tying into movies and television programs, and it quickly secured the rights to Star Trek. The company would hold the license for over a decade, and the franchise began its long and winding road in American comics. Major publishers, such as Marvel, DC and most recently, IDW, have all held the rights to make Star Trek comics at some point.
Today, the Gold Key Star Trek comics, particularly the early issues, go for top dollar on the secondary market. Gold Key’s first Star Trek books were released at the peak of the Silver Age of Comics, and not many copies have survived to the present day. Now, IDW is giving Star Trek fans a chance to revisit a piece of franchise history with a new facsimile edition.
The First Ever Star Trek Comic Is Being Reprinted Thanks To IDW Publishing
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IDW Publishing has announced its February solicitations, including those for its Star Trek family of titles, and of particular note is Star Trek: Gold Key Era . It reprints the first issue of Gold Key’s Star Trek comic from 1967, and comes with two different covers, one of which is a foil variant of the original. The original plot synopsis for Star Trek reads as follows:
An expedition team discovers its secret — too late…
This is the Enterprise, a ship of the Star Fleet. It’s a five-year mission in space: to probe the far reaches of the galaxy, to search the unknown and unlock its mysteries, to boldly go where no man has ever gone before!
The Enterprise and her thousands of crewmen are under the command of Captain James Kirk. A man of exceptional character and ability, he holds the loyalty and confidence of the entire crew. They would willingly follow him to the ends of the universe. Before their mission is completed, they may have to.
An expedition team discovers its secret — too late…
This is the Enterprise, a ship of the Star Fleet. It’s a five-year mission in space: to probe the far reaches of the galaxy, to search the unknown and unlock its mysteries, to boldly go where no man has ever gone before!
The Enterprise and her thousands of crewmen are under the command of Captain James Kirk. A man of exceptional character and ability, he holds the loyalty and confidence of the entire crew. They would willingly follow him to the ends of the universe. Before their mission is completed, they may have to.
This is not IDW’s first go at reprinting the Gold Key era of Star Trek. The publisher previously released a series of trades collecting the Gold Key run, but it was never finished.
The Gold Key Star Trek was written by Dick Wood and drawn by Nevio Zeccara.
Facsimile editions, such as Star Trek: Gold Key Era , have become popular in recent years. These books reprint classic, pivotal stories in a character’s history. The facsimile editions also feature remastered coloring and oftentimes even reprint the original advertisements. Publishers have upped the ante for these facsimile editions by offering variant and foil covers for them. IDW is giving one of the most important Star Trek stories ever the royal treatment in Gold Key Era #1.
Star Trek’s Gold Key Era Was Crucial To Its Survival
Gold Key’s Star Trek Comics Gave Fans New Stories In The Franchise’s “Wilderness Years”
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Star Trek’s Gold Key era was noteworthy on a few levels. First, it was the first Star Trek comic published in America, and it was proof that a devoted fan base already existed, one eager for more stories with Captain Kirk and Mister Spock. At this point, all fans had to tie themselves over with were James Blish’s short story adaptations of episodes. The first original Star Trek novels were still a few years away. Gold Key gave fans another outlet to scratch their Star Trek itch.
Next, the Gold Key Star Trek comics, particularly the early issues, were notorious for the lack of faithfulness to the source material. Uniforms were improperly colored, personnel acted out of character and the ship’s interior layout looked different. This was no slight on Gold Key’s part: the early creative personnel on the book lived in countries that had not yet seen Star Trek. As such, they had very little to work from. While this may seem a recipe for disaster, the Gold Key Star Trek books are not without their charm.
Finally, Gold Key provided a major service to Star Trek fans by publishing comics after the show went off the air.
Finally, Gold Key provided a major service to Star Trek fans by publishing comics after the show went off the air. Star Trek’s cancellation in 1969 should have meant the end of the line for the comic as well, but it was not. After NBC axed Trek, it found new life in syndication, gaining new fans and eventually a second lease on life. Yet the road from the show’s end in 69 to the premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture a decade later was a long one, with nothing new being produced save comics, novels and an animated series.
Will IDW Resume Reprinting The Gold Key Star Trek Comics?
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As noted earlier, IDW Publishing was in the midst of reprinting the entirety of Gold Key’s tenure with Star Trek, but the line was canceled for unknown reasons. This move disappointed fans, who were rediscovering these lost “gems in the rough” for the first time. While Star Trek: The Gold Key Era is only one issue, fans can hope this may lead to the return of the reprints, allowing this unique era in the franchise history to be seen in all its glory.
Star Trek: Gold Key Era is on sale February 3 from IDW Publishing!
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