Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness
Trade Paperback
Story by Roberto Orci and Mike Johnson
Script by Mike Johnson
Pencils by David Messina
Inks by Marina Castelvetro
Colors by Claudia Scarletgothica
Cover by David Messina and Claudia Scarletgothica
IDW Publishing
Release Date: April 23, 2013
Cover Price: $17.99

Anticipation is running high for the upcoming summer blockbuster season, and Star Trek Into Darkness is most certainly at the top of most fans’ lists as “˜must see’ material. The buzz surrounding the film has been so huge during the last year that it certainly feels to be an enthusing time to be a sci-fi geek. And in tradition to form with the previous Star Trek movie, IDW Publishing has released a prequel to the upcoming movie entitled Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness.

Prior to the events of the upcoming movie, the crew of the USS Enterprise, under the authority of Captain Kirk, arrives at the planet Phaedus to conduct a survey of the development of the intelligent race on the surface. Observing the protocol of the Prime Directive, the crew aims to observe the “iron age” home-grown species from orbit – until a high tech jamming signal from the planet disables communication and transporters.

Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness #3
Story by Roberto Orci & Mike Johnson
Script by Mike Johnson
Art by David Messina
Ink Assist by Marina Castelvetro
Colors by Claudia Scarletgothica
Letters by Chris Mowry
IDW Publishing
Release date: March 20, 2013
Cover price: $3.99

In the penultimate issue of Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness, the Enterprise hovers over the planet Phaedus, where on the ground, some of the crew’s Away Team is being held captive, while Kirk and Spock are still trying to figure out what the presumed dead Robert April is up to. The ship’s communications are still being jammed, so Uhura, who actually has the Conn, decides to leave her post to go in search of her comrades. And who does give the Conn to when she leaves? A most unlikely crew member, to humorous results.

But, there’s nothing funny about what’s happening down on the planet’s surface, where there’s two warring factions and everyone’s life is in danger. In Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness #3, Spock, who’s still reeling from the destruction of his home planet, Vulcan, risks his life once more in an attempt to free Sulu and Hendorff (“Cupcake”), who were part of the away team that was immediately captured. Meanwhile, Kirk has to decided whether to get involved in the Phaedus civil war, while also trying to figure out what to do about April, who’s technically a Starfleet deserter, and whose story seems to change with each issue.

Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness #2
Story by Roberto Orci & Mike Johnson
Script by Mike Johnson
Art by David Messina
Ink Assist by Marina Castelvetro
Colors by Claudia Scarletgothica
Letters by Chris Mowry
IDW Publishing
Release date: February 20, 2013
Cover price: $3.99

I am super-excited to see Star Trek Into Darkness, the sequel to 2009’s Star Trek, when it comes to theaters this May. But before we can head into darkness, first we must “countdown.” As with the first film, IDW Publishing is doing a 4-issue prequel comic book miniseries, this time called Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness.

Details about Star Trek Into Darkness have been scarce so far, and ever since the sequel was first announced, fan have been looking for any clues they could find of the appearance of famed Star Trek villain Khan Noonien Singh in the follow-up. The reveal in Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness #1 of an existing character who’s new to the rebooted Trek universe fueled the fire of that speculation. Now, with Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness #2 we find out a little more about this character and his motivation.