JULY 29, 2021 - As all fans of Star Trek: The Original Series know, the five-year mission of the U.S.S. Enterprise was cut tragically short when the series was canceled by NBC after three seasons in 1969 (an event memorably and lovingly lampooned by the original cast of “Saturday Night Live” some years later). Over the years various novels and fan projects have sought to fill in the missing two years, and now IDW Comics, which acquired the rights to Star Trek in 2006, is bringing the story to a close.

IDW began publishing stories under the banner Star Trek: Year Four in 2007, even bringing along established franchise writers like D.C. Fontana and offering up sequels to Original Series episodes like “Assignment: Earth”. Two years ago they brought back the concept with Star Trek: Year Five, and this week we see the final movement of their story begin to unfold with the release of the penultimate issue.

But before you picture James T. Kirk and his stalwart crew coming back to Federation headquarters with great fanfare and a hero’s welcome, listen first to IDW’s description of the final stage of their story:

“A Tholian horde bearing down on Earth, a time-traveling madman out for blood, a rot festering within the highest levels of the Federation that’s about to explode – and that’s just where we begin!”

The story will conclude with issue #24 in September, and according to TrekMovie.com, will be followed up by an “oversized epilogue” with a 25th issue later this year.

You can purchase Star Trek: Year Five’s latest issue at Amazon.com, or you can read it on your mobile device through the digital comics service Comixology at Comixology.com. Or better yet, head down to your local comic book store and grab a copy there.