Somehow, Captain Kirk returned. Wrong sci-fi franchise for that meme, but it’s true. IDW Publishing has just announced Star Trek: The Last Starship as a new addition to its line of Trek comics, and it’ll focus on a certain Starfleet hero who’s been dead since the big-screen events of 1994’s Star Trek: Generations.
How is this possible? Well, beyond the long-held notion that anything is possible in sci-fi, a notion that also applies to comic books, the Hollywood Reporter—which was the first to announce the news—says only that he’ll be “mysteriously resurrected.” So that must be a part of the story, written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing (whose previous collaborations include IDW’s Eisner-nominated Star Trek series, which launched in 2022) with art by Adrián Bonilla.
Speaking to THR, Lanzing promised Star Trek: The Last Starship will feature “a new crew, a new era, and a completely different tone” compared to other Star Trek works, and noted that even Trek newbies will be able to dive right into its world.
According to the trade, “the series takes place during the Burn, a galaxy-wide disaster which caused the destruction of every active warp core, killing trillions and shattering the peace and stability the United Federation of Planets provided for seven centuries. Facing a true wild west in space, a mysteriously resurrected Kirk will need to lead a new crew and ship in a seemingly impossible effort to uphold Starfleet’s mission of unity across the cosmos.”
Fans of Star Trek: Discovery will recall the show’s far-far-future third season investigated what caused the Burn, but this will be the first story taking place during the immediate aftermath the disaster itself. The distinctive visage of William Shatner will obviously provide the model for The Last Starship‘s Kirk, and THR reports the comic—debuting September 24—will become IDW’s new flagship Trek title, along with new limited series based around Strange New Worlds and Voyager.
Are you excited for Captain Kirk’s return? Do you prefer your Trek in live-action, animation, or comics, or do you consume a combination of all three? Head to THR to check out first looks at the cover variants.
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