The Enterprise returns to Delta Vega, where Captain Kirk learns that his old friend Gary Mitchell is still very much alive.
A recap of Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Story
We begin with the Enterprise heading to Delta Vega to answer a distress call. Yes, the very same Delta Vega the Enterprise visited after Captain Kirk’s buddy Gary got zapped by mind rays and received godlike powers. Kirk was forced to kill him, but is there a chance he’s still alive?
Spock, Kirk, and McCoy arrive on Delta Vega
Delta Vega
Once the Enterprise enters orbit around the planet, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beam down to take a look.
Kirk relives a past event
They all relive some of Gary’s memories back when he served on the Enterprise. First a memory of Kirk saving his life during a Klingon attack and then Gary returning the favor during a tribal rodent attack on an away mission (I wish the tribal rodents had a comic to themselves).
Gary now sparkles like a Twilight vampire
Kirk and the others end up making contact with Gary, who is indeed alive, but incorporeal. When he was left for dead, he merged his essence with Delta Vega. He’s angry with Kirk and wants revenge, but Kirk tells him to stop being an asshole and he reneges.
Kirk vs. Mitchell – the rematch!
Gary’s essence leaves Delta Vega and goes out into the universe.
Gary ascends to a new plane or whatever
Thoughts
Ultimately this story didn’t break new ground; it’s tightly connected to the episode Where No Man Has Gone Before and serves as its sequel, but doesn’t add anything new. It’s slow to get started and is mired in lengthy flashbacks.
Number One cameo!
The Where No Man Has Gone Before flashbacks, which provided the Gary Mitchell backstory, were unnecessary, when a couple dialogue boxes would have sufficed instead. On the other hand, the flashbacks of Kirk’s first year in command, while also unnecessary, were a welcome addition. I find this era of Trek is vastly underexplored, more so than the Pike era, which at least has several comics (and its own comic series) under its belt.
McCoy takes on the role of Doctor Piper in the rodent flashback
But once we get past all the flashbacks and backstory, the comic starts winding down and we’re left with a resolution that’s too quick and tidy. Flawed overall, yes, but still a somewhat enjoyable read.
Rating
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