IDW Publishing has announced that it is set to explore the U.S.S. Enterprises’ homeward journey with the brand new monthly ongoing series Star Trek: Year Five, which will launch in April with an opening story arc from writers Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and artist Stephen Thompson. Here’s a look at the cover to the first issue from legendary artist Greg Hildebrandt, painting Star Trek for the very first time.
“Year Five will be a vital, hard-hitting, character-focused look at Captain Kirk on his last year in command,” says Jackson Lanzing. “His actions will have huge ripple effects, from the outbreak of war in the Alpha Quadrant to an unprecedented strain of trust with Spock. We’ll turn a mirror on our modern society, just as Trek did in the 1960s, and go boldly towards meaningful, heartfelt stories.”
“The opportunity to be a part of this monumental legacy is an unbelievable trust. With Year Five, we don’t just want to thrill – we want to channel the power of Roddenberry’s original vision, to tell a story about the future that illuminates our present,” says Collin Kelly. “It’s time for the Enterprise to come home… but first, they’ll have to face an enemy that’s been waiting in the shadows since 1968.”
“I have been a fan of Star Trek right from the beginning in 1966,” says Greg Hildebrandt. “I admired the social, moral, and political statements that were obvious in Gene Roddenberry’s plot lines. I feel that the original was and is one of the best shows ever on TV, and clearly the inspiration for all the Space Operas that have followed. It was an honor to paint this cover art of the original cast. Having never painted Trek before, it was a kick for me at 80 years old.”
In Star Trek: Year Five, the crew of the Enterprise have traveled to strange new worlds, defeated impossible foes, and made universe-changing decisions. But with the end in sight, they’ll have to face their biggest challenge yet. Step aboard the Enterprise with Kirk, Spock, Bones, and Uhura on a voyage towards an uncertain future!
Star Trek: Year Five #1 will go on sale in April 2019.