Star Trek #36: "A Bomb in Time"

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The Star Trek fictional universe as created by Gene Roddenberry is the setting of six television series including the original 1966 Star Trek, which is the only one that I personally care for. While I prefer peace in real life similar to Captain Picard, it makes for awfully boring television. Give me the kick butt attitude of a Captain Kirk contrasted against a logical Mr. Spock every time. Captains Janeway and Archer were pretty cool, too.

The first Star Trek comics were published by Gold Key between 1967 and 1978. Originally they were illustrated by Alberto Giolitti, an Italian artist who had never seen the series and only had publicity photos to use as references. As comic book buffs know, Alberto Giolitti was not the original Star Trek artist. That distinction belongs to Nevio Zaccara. Other commitments forced Nevio to give it up after the second issue and Alberto took over.

These comics were highly stylized and diverged wildly from the TV series continuity. Nonetheless they are fondly remembered by fans to this day. The original issues, many of which featured photographic covers showing images from the series, are highly collectible. Writers included George Kashdan, Arnold Drake and Len Wein.

Most storylines used in the Gold Key series featured original characters and concepts, although later issues did include sequels to the TOS episodes "The City on the Edge of Forever", "Metamorphosis" and "I, Mudd". The series had a run of 61 issues.


Credits

Painted cover: George Wilson
Script: unknown
Pencils: Alberto Giolitti
Inks: Alden McWilliams

Reprinted:

• in Star Trek: The Enterprise Logs (Golden Press, 1976 series) #4
• in Star Trek: The Psychocrystals [Dynabrite Comics] (Whitman, 1976 series) #[nn]
  

Special surprise download: Star Trek article and episode guide in Starlog #1:

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Space: 1999 #1: "Moonless Night"

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When it comes to Science Fiction, I cut my eyeteeth on Robert A. Heinlein novels, Star Trek reruns (including the underrated novelized adaptations by James Blish) and comic books. However, when Space: 1999 hit the airwaves back in the 1970s, I watched every episode I could with rapt attention. After all, I was planning on still being alive in 1999 so this could affect me, or so I dreamed as a kid. We should have had a pioneering base on the moon by 1999 and our space program is woefully behind what 2001: A Space Odyssey predicted, but that's Congress and budget cuts at NASA for you. Space: 1999's second season would go on to be hated by hardcore science fiction fans as they apparently decided to go with B-movie monster schlock instead of hard science, but one good season is better than none at all.

The art quality went up and down in the magazine as the first two issues were drawn by Joe Staton, John Byrne issues #3-6, and Pat Boyette book-ended the final issue in #7. The very talented Nicola Cuti, who won last year's Inkpot Award, wrote issues #1-#5, John Byrne wrote #6 and Mike Pellowski wrote #7. While I prefer Byrne's art for the most part, I must say that Joe Staton provided the best-looking cover painting with issue #1 and I think this first issue is mostly given the short shrift due to Byrne's name in later issues. Enough reminiscing, please enjoy!



Credits:

Script: Nicola Cuti
Pencils and inks: Joe Staton
Colors: Wendy Fiore


























Special surprise bonus download: Starlog #2
Cover story featuring Space: 1999

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Worlds Unknown #4: Fredric Brown's "Arena"

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Many of you good folks out there are familiar with Star Trek's take on Fredric Brown's Arena with the Gorn playing the role of the mysterious Outsiders, but I first became aware of this classic Science Fiction short story through Marvel Comics' Worlds Unknown #4. While I heartily recommend the original short story, this adaptation, which was written by Gerry Conway and drawn by John Buscema and Dick Giordano, is actually quite good. I recall enjoying this one tremendously as a kid and again as an adult, which means this one receives an enthusiastic recommendation.


Credits

Cover: Dick Giordano
Script: Frederic Brown (Original Story), Gerry Conway (Adaptation)
Pencils: John Buscema
Inks: Dick Giordano

Reprinted:

• from Unknown Worlds Of Science Fiction Giant Size Special #1 (Marvel, 1973 series)
  

Surprise download: Fredric Brown's Arena published in Starlog #4:

Download Starlog #4




The teleplay for the original Star Trek series was credited to an original story by Fredric Brown, also titled "Arena," that was first published in 1944 on the pages of Astounding Science Fiction magazine, though Robert Justman and Herb Solow wrote in Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, that Gene L. Coon wrote his script as an original (over the course of a weekend), unaware of Brown's story, and only sought permission to "adapt" the story after the slight similarities were pointed out to him. Brown was more than happy to hear that Star Trek decided to use one of his stories, and probably never found out the real plot behind it.

In his final speech, the Metron informs Kirk that, because he demonstrated mercy, he will not be destroyed. Initially, they said they planned to destroy the loser, "in the interests of peace." In Coon's script, in dialog not aired, the Metron admits that they had, all along, planned to actually destroy the ship of the winner of the personal combat, because that race would represent the greater danger to them. James Blish preserves this disclosure in his novelization in Star Trek 2.

The Time Traveler Show podcast #3 is available now! The main content is an unabridged reading of Frederic Brown’s often adapted (though not always attributed) classic SF tale Arena. Originally published in the June 1944 issue of Astounding Science Fiction magazine this tale was first adapted as an episode of the original Outer Limits in 1964, then in 1967 for the original Star Trek television series (the infamous “Gorn” episode), and even as a comic in Marvel Comics magazine Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction in 1976. You can read the complete show notes for podcast #3 HERE or download the show HERE.

And if you haven’t already be sure to subscribe using this feed:

http://www.timetravelershow.com/shows/feed.xml