Darkest Star Trek comic books

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by The Overlord, Nov 12, 2018.

  1. The Overlord

    The Overlord Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    What are the darkest Star Trek comic stories?
     
  2. ryan123450

    ryan123450 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    The first thing that came to mind is one of the early Gold Keys where the Enterprise discovers a planet of sentient plant life and then carpet bombs the entire planet.
     
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  3. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    A type 13 planet in it's final stage
    Alien Spotlight: Borg is wonderfully bleak.
     
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  4. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    The spores of which turned every living thing into giant, man-eating plant monsters. And in the whacky context of the Gold Key universe, the spores were already travelling through space and thus a risk to every inhabited planet.
     
  5. Therin of Andor

    Therin of Andor Admiral Moderator

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    During the honeymoon of Nancy Bryce and Konom the Klingon, the Enterprise crew are drawn into the Circles of Hell (as described in "Dante's Inferno") when a sleeping, telepathic crewman causes his shipmates to share hallucinations. Spock uses a mind-meld to restore sanity to the ship - and then Ensign Bearclaw plunges a knife into Kirk's chest. (Issues #51-52, Series I, DC.)
     
    Last edited: Nov 12, 2018
  6. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    That was the very first issue. I wouldn't call it "dark" in-story, though, since by the morality intended by the writer, the characters were performing an unambiguously heroic act. It's only in retrospect, filtered through a knowledge of Star Trek's moral baseline that the writer of that comic didn't yet have, that it looks shocking.

    Probably a list of the darkest Trek comic stories would include Peter David's work (including the issues Therin just mentioned). He gets perceived as a comedic writer, but the humor in his work is balanced by some pretty dark, disquieting plots and themes.
     
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  7. Allyn Gibson

    Allyn Gibson Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I remember Marvel's Star Trek: Operation Assimilation being very dark. I should dig that up and read it; it's the only Star Trek work by Paul Jenkins.
     
  8. BillJ

    BillJ The King of Kings Premium Member

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    DC #37 (first run), can't remember the name of the story, but it was about a terrorist trying to destroy the 1701-A on her maiden voyage. By Len Wein and Curt Swan, IIRC.

    I'd also pick Star Trek Annual #2, "The Final Mission" where the Enterprise returns to Talos IV.
     
  9. DarKush

    DarKush Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I thought the Discovery miniseries "Succession",
    set in the Mirror Universe, had some nice dark moments, more so than the also recent TNG Mirror Universe books-Mirror Broken, Through the Mirror, and Terra Incognita.
    I also thought the Discovery miniseries "The Light of Kahless" had some dark moments as well.
     
  10. Therin of Andor

    Therin of Andor Admiral Moderator

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    #37 Apr 1987
    "Choices"
    Following Kirk's demotion to captain and reassignment to the Enterprise, his fellow officers consider their future and rejoin him for new adventures. A religious fanatic attempts to destroy the newly refitted Enterprise, but is thwarted by Spock. Stardate 8925.2.

    The first post-ST IV comic and the reintroduction of Arex and M'Ress from TAS.

    Thanks Mark Martinez: https://www.startrekcomics.info
     
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