Resurrected Captain Kirk Returns in IDW’s New ‘Star Trek’ Comic Series

William Shatner’s iconic character, Captain Kirk, is making a comeback from death in a new comic series from IDW Publishing. The series, “Star Trek: The Last Starship,” is set to debut in September and will feature a mysteriously resurrected Kirk tackling a galaxy-wide disaster. The plot is set in the modern Starfleet future and will introduce a brand-new crew alongside the legendary captain.

– Captain Kirk, known from the Star Trek universe, is coming back from the dead in the new comic series “Star Trek: The Last Starship”, to be published by IDW Publishing. The series, set in the modern Starfleet future, will see Kirk witnessing the destruction of the Starfleet.
– Written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing and illustrated by Adrián Bonilla, the series will be set during the galaxy-wide disaster called The Burn, where Kirk mysteriously comes back to life and must lead a new crew to uphold Starfleet’s mission of unifying the cosmos.
– The IDW plans to launch the series in September, intending it to be the flagship title of the Star Trek comic line, with additional series such as “Star Trek: Red Shirts” and “Star Trek: Voyager – Homecoming” to be released later in the year.

The character of Captain Kirk, synonymous with the acting of William Shatner, is being brought back to life with a fresh comic series. This marked event is presented by the successful comic front-runners, IDW Publishing.

Instead of retracing his past glory or exploits, this comic brings Kirk back from the beyond. As followers of Star Trek undoubtedly know, our celebrated captain met his fate in the 1994 film “Star Trek: Generations”. Any following narrative, whether part of a film or a comic, was set prior to this event. This story, in contrast, unfolds in the advanced future of Starfleet. The beloved captain’s return coincides with the tragic downfall of the Starfleet he loved.

September will mark the release of this anticipated comic, “Star Trek: The Last Starship”, penned by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing with Adrián Bonilla lending his artistic talent. This trio, including the film graduates Kelly and Lanzing, have made their mark writing for revered Marvel and DC, along with other esteemed publishers. They are no strangers to the world of Star Trek as they have previously authored Trek comics for IDW, gaining a notable Gottfredson Award nomination for their efforts in 2023.

“Abandon your preconceptions about Star Trek. ‘The Last Starship’ signifies a new crew, era and tone. We aspire to be innovative, profound, literary and, most importantly, universally understood,” stated Lanzing in conversation with The Hollywood Reporter.

Lanzing went on to elucidate that the series is designed to be approachable for a diverse audience. “By utilizing the rich, noir tone set by artist Adrián Bonilla, we aim to immerse our readers in the Federation’s darkest period, no prior knowledge necessary,” he added.

This comic series is set during The Burn, a catastrophic event shaking the entirety of the galaxy, leading to the annihilation of every active warp core. The resultant death toll and chaos breaks the centuries-long peace ensured by the United Federation of Planets. After being brought back in unexpected circumstances, the reborn Kirk is entrusted with uniting a new crew and guiding a fresh ship through the post-apocalyptic space, holding onto the Starfleet’s all-important unify-the-cosmos mission.

The main characters will be fresh faces, save for the legendary Captain Kirk, the only recognizable character for the fans. “William Shatner’s portrayal transcends global barriers and elevates Kirk to being one of the great characters in modern fiction”, expressed Kelly.

Kirk was the first Star Trek character the duo composed, noted for his leadership and deeply conflicted persona. “Having the honor of guiding this character through unfamiliar and groundbreaking territory in ‘The Last Starship’, as he confronts the blaze threatening his legacy, is truly exciting for us,” Kelly added.

Intended to be the flagship of IDW’s Star Trek line-up, it will be released among several other comics starting with limited series “Star Trek: Red Shirts”, and then “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Seeds of Salvation”. Lastly, preceding the launch of “The Last Starship” on September 24th, “Star Trek: Voyager – Homecoming” is set to debut.

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