Description

Star Trek: Manifest Destiny                                                                                        Comics Lot
Featuring the Complete Main Cover Collection by Angel Hernandez.  Awesome!!
Writers: Mike Johnson & Ryan Parrott
Artist: Angel Hernandez
Colorist: Esther Sanz
Letterer: Andworld Design
Editor: Sarah Gaydos
All Main Covers by: Angel Hernandez

To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before.Star Trek is an American space opera media franchise based on the science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry. The first television series, simply called Star Trek and now referred to as “The Original Series”, debuted in 1966 and aired for three seasons on the television network NBC. It followed the interstellar adventures of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his crew aboard the starship USS Enterprise, a space exploration vessel, built by the United Federation of Planets in the twenty-third century. The Star Trek canon of the franchise includes The Original Series, an animated series, five spin-off television series, the film franchise, and further adaptations in several media.

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Star Trek franchise in 2016 with this comics event! It’s Captain Kirk and the Enterprise crew vs. the Klingons in a classic, ultimate showdown!

And now, “Star Trek: Manifest Destiny”! Deep in unexplored space, the U.S.S. Enterprise detects a Starfleet beacon on a desolate planet. Sulu, Uhura and Dr. McCoy lead an away team to investigate, only to be ambushed by Klingon soldiers. In orbit, a Klingon warship attacks the Federation Flagship. It’s ruthless captain now leads a face-to-face assault on the hull of the Enterprise…

Story/Spoilers
In issue #1A, As the sun sets on a peaceful stone age world, a Klingon battalion arrives easily claiming the planet in the name of the Klingon Empire. Though Commander Blath is eager at their victory, Sho’Tokh is less so given the strength, or lack thereof, exhibited by the natives. In sharp contrast to the rites and customs of Klingon society, Sho’Tokh orders the execution of all prisoners, save the able-bodied men and fertile women, including the children. Blath’s protests of this dishonorable act earn him a sword through the stomach, the rest of the troops now cowed into following their orders.

A month later, aboard the USS Enterprise, McCoy and Scott perform the risky procedure of beaming a child directly out of her mother’s womb to safety. Though the procedure is successful, the father is not exactly grateful by McCoy touching his daughter. Only Khonodians may touch newborns before the fifth cycle given the uncleanness of other races. Later, McCoy rants to the bridge crew about the ungratefulness for his difficult act (an act as difficult as fishing a penny out of a fountain, during a snowstorm – while bouncing on a trampoline) as well as pondering the paradox that even in the advanced age they live in, people still cling to outdated superstitions and myths. Before the debate can proceed, Uhura picks up a Federation distress beacon from the Artel system and Kirk orders a course set.

Under Sulu’s command, the away team beams down to a dormant volcano and heads for the signal’s source only to find a transponder rigged to mimic Starfleet signals. No sooner had Sulu made the discovery is Slattery shot dead and the Klingons jump out, clipping Sulu in the shoulder. As Kirk tasks Scotty to “invent” a way of beaming the away team up directly while ordering a red alert. As if on cue, the IKS Chonnaq decloaks off to starboard and opens fire.

On the surface, McCoy is separated from the rest of the team and assaulted by two Klingons. He manages to kill one before drugging the second for use as a Klingon shield Before he can advance however, he his way is barred by Subcommander Divash.

In orbit, the Enterprise manages to angle itself so it can target the weapons on Chonnaq. Though this ends the barrage, they are hardly out of danger. The engines are off-line, the shields are seconds away from collapsing and the Klingons have donned space suits, intending to manually board the craft.

Next in issue #2A, Across the USS Enterprise rumors fly over the identify of their attackers before James T. Kirk takes command and outright says they are facing Klingons and that today, they are soldiers. Their objective is simple: Kill the Klingons. On the saucer, Sho’Tokh’s boarding party is met by Kirk’s force, a brutal firefight breaking out.

On the surface, McCoy attempts to use his shield as a hostage before Divash reveals she has captured the rest of the away team. After she agrees to not render any harm onto the humans, McCoy returns his prisoner who promptly slays himself for his weakness much to McCoy’s disgust and only confirms his views of what savage barbarians the Klingons truly are.

On the hull, Kirk’s party is stemming the tide while Spock finds himself outnumbered and outflanked. To even the scales, Kai makes the daring move of letting himself briefly float above their foes and guns them down from behind. As Sho’Tokh pierces the hull, he orders the IKS Chonnaq to send in the fighters to mop any resistance, over the protests that such an act will claim Klingon lives. Sardonically promising to remember the fallen, Sho’Tokh enters the Enterprise. Regrouping after the fighter barrage, Kirk can only mutter that such a tactic was unbecoming of a Klingon. Entering the ship, Spock believes the Klingon Empire has finally declared war on the Federation, but Kirk disagrees. If war were to be declared, why is it being done so far from charted space? And why was the flagship itself lured out?

As the Klingons reach their shuttle, a crewman challenges Divash for the position of second-in-command only for the woman to casually kill him. As McCoy wonders how there are any Klingons left in light of their casual murdering of one another, Divash says the humans are going to help her kill her captain…

On the bridge, Pavel Chekov manages to evacuate the crew with less than a second to spare. Arriving too late, Kirk is ready to charge before Spock convinces him otherwise. Controlling a bridge and controlling the ship are not the same thing.

On the bridge, the invaders find themselves locked out of all systems. Unconcerned, Sho’Tokh sits in the captain’s chair and orders the slaughter to commence.

Next in issue #3A, Leonard McCoy is thrown violently against the shuttle by Divash in light of his refusal to aid her in overthrowing Sho’Tokh. His life is saved by Uhura managing to impress the Klingons with her grasp on their language. As she helps him up, the doctor can only hope the rest of the crew is having better luck.

Chaos mounts all over the USS Enterprise as Klingons reak havoc. Addressing the crew, Sho’Tokh introduces himself, emphasizes that this was an act of conquest, not war, and gives the Enterprise crew one hour to surrender.

Aboard the IKS Chonnaq, Sulu is handed off to the Klingon medic, Ow’rik, while Divash explains their ship’s history. The Chonnaq is crewed by orphans and outcasts. These misfits were sent out into deep space to find new conquests. Recently however it has become clear that the only conquests Sho’Tokh are interested in are his own and that he cares not for honor. As such, mutiny is brewing to depose him. Permanently.

Running into engineering, Kirk is informed that the only good news is that the Klingons have no access to most systems. As Kirk orders Kai to being prepping defences, Scotty detects non-Klingon life signs in the saucer. Without hesitation, Spock runs off to the rescue. On the bridge, the Klingons observe the fortifications around engineering prompting Sho’Tokh to order an assault, much to the shock of his men as the promised hour has not yet elapsed. Again, Sho’Tokh overrules the Klingon customs of honor in favour of brutal efficiency.

As the Enterprise crew waits, Kirk takes a moment to have a long overdue conversation with Kai about Kirk’s encounters with Gaila and his using her to beat the Kobayashi Maru scenario. Kai is blunt, if the two were to be having this conversation in say, an Iowa bar, they would likely find themselves at odds. But now they are on a starship, proudly wearing their uniforms and there is no other captain who’s side he’d rather be fighting along. No sooner is the hatchet buried do the Klingons burst in, phaser rifles at full power.

In the saucer, the Khonodian family hides before Spock enters, beckoning that they follow him to safety. On the bridge, Sho’Tokh is unmoved by his troops being slaughtered. In fact, it is all going according to plan. By having the crew underestimate the Klingons, they underestimate him.

On the bridge of the Chonnaq, Divash’s attempts at mutiny are met with resistance from Sho’Tokh’s loyalists. Seizing a weapon, Uhura addresses the crew in perfect Klingon. The Klingon species is unlikable, misogynistic and frankly smelly. Their one redeeming feature is their sense of honor. By following Sho’Tokh, they turn their back on honor. Will they continue this path or allow themselves to be redeemed?

Just as Kirk’s group finishes off their foes, a fresh batch of troops beam in, Kai is impaled by an expertly thrown bat’leth and more crewmen fall. Seizing his opposite, Sho’Tokh gloats of his victory and how none will come to Kirk’s rescue…

…unaware that Spock and the Khonodian are nearing engineering, rifles in hand.

Finally in issue #4A, Sho’Tokh’s albinism resulted in him being cast out from his house. Living on the stress of the First City, his natural savage fury drew the military’s attention, and they could not turn a blind eye to such talent. Eventually he was given command of the IKS Chonnaq but his rage still burned. The military needed a man like him, but he had no need of it. With the Chonnaq he can blaze his own conquests and form his own empire.

And that empire begins with the USS Enterprise and her crew in chains. As Sho’Tokh finishes his tale and ponders making Kirk his slave, the Chonnaq fires on the Enterprise. Though Sho’Tokh attempts to smooth talk Divash back under his command, the female is immovable and Sho’Tokh orders the Chonnaq destroyed.

On the Chonnaq, McCoy protests destroying the Enterprise. The crew may still be alive and to kill prisoners would be an honorless act. Caving to that point, Divash asks for a weak point to non-fatally exploit. Limping in, and after being briefed on the odd alliances, Sulu advises that they keep their nose pointed directly at the Enterprise to throw off her sensors and of a chink in her rear port shields.

In the brig, Kirk is roused by a despondent Scott who is ready to throw in the towel. As Kirk strategizes, a smoke bomb rolls in, blinding the guards and allowing Spock to make a dramatic entrance.

On the bridge, it transpires that Sulu’s advice has worked too well. A warp core breach is imminent. Hailing the bridge, Kirk offers aid in exchange for surrender, but Sho’Tokh is immovable. When channels are closed however, he and his lieutenants retreat to a shuttle, intending to use the death of the Enterprise as a distraction to retake the Chonnaq only for his men to be shot dead by Kirk.

As the human and Klingon duel, the shuttle erratically falls into the planet’s gravity well. Kirk emerges as the victor but refuses to slay his foe with Sho’Tokh mocking that the Federation’s propensity for sparing their foes will only result in those same foes coming at them again and again and again. Unamused, Kirk knocks his foe out and sets course back to the Enterprise.

After exchanging prisoners, both ships go their separate ways. In sickbay, McCoy is examined before Kirk walks in. McCoy confesses to his friend that, quite unexpectedly, this whole experience has made him more empathetic towards the Klingons. Despite the Klingons’ best efforts to convince them otherwise, it would appear they are not mindless killing machines. Even still, Kirk points out the Klingon urge to conquer everything in their line of sight means that one day, war will come. McCoy is now in disagreement of that, but Kirk cannot muster any joy at that…

…not when they are so many friends to bury.

Sitting in his chair, Kirk reflects on the paradox of Starfleet’s mission. Starfleet officers are enticed to join by a desire to explore the galaxy and see its wonders. Their mission is to expand knowledge not territory. And yet, there is the moral obligation, the natural urge, to help those who cannot help themselves. To fight back against those threats that would endanger worlds. But protecting the world requires sacrifice and after so long among the crew, Kirk considers them to be his family. And to sacrifice even one, even for the greater good, is steadily becoming one too many.

Comics lot contains: Star Trek: Manifest Destiny {Complete Cover A Collection} (2016) Issues #1-4.  IDW Publishing

Comics are bagged & boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

All First Printings
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Publication Date: 2016
Format per comic: FC, 32 pages, Comic, 10.25″ x 6.75″
UPC: 827714010619

Collectible Entertainment note: Comics 1A,2A,3A,4A are in Fine to Fine + condition.  Nice Set!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Star Trek collector and/or enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Very Highly Recommended.

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