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To mark six decades of the franchise, IDW is releasing a 68-page Star Trek anthology that stitches together stories from across the franchise’s timeline and teases a major comics relaunch. The special, out Sept. 2, assembles veteran writers and new voices — and includes the comics debut of a high-profile creator long associated with superhero comics.
The collection matters now because it both celebrates the series’ legacy and signals the shape of IDW’s next phase for Trek storytelling, with a preview that leads into a new flagship title planned for 2026.
What’s in the anniversary issue
The anthology spans multiple eras of the franchise: tales tied to the original 1960s series, the 1970s Animated Series, and recent shows including Picard, Lower Decks and Starfleet Academy. It also carries a lead-in to IDW’s upcoming relaunch of Star Trek.
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- Brian Michael Bendis — writing his first Trek comic, a Sulu-centered story inspired by a real-life meeting with George Takei; art by Michael Gaydos.
- David Gerrold — one of the surviving writers from the original series (creator of the Tribbles), returns with a story focused on con man Harry Mudd.
- Mike McMahan — creator of Lower Decks, contributes a story drawn by Mike and Laura Allred.
- Other contributors include Christopher Cantwell, David Walker, Ryan North, Meghan Camarena, Derek Charm, Michael Allred, Laura Allred and the Escorza Brothers.
- Short pieces cover a range of characters and tones: a Worf story, a Beverly Crusher tale, a Scotty strip, a one-page Enterprise gag, a Picard story, and a Starfleet Academy entry.
Among the creative pairings: Ryan North teams with Derek Charm for an animated-era story, David Walker writes Worf’s entry illustrated by the Escorza Brothers (known for IDW’s The Last Ronin), and Christopher Cantwell contributes the prelude that sets up IDW’s 2026 flagship title, with art by Isaac Sanchez.
Voices from the creators
Bendis framed his contribution as personal: raised around Trek fandom and moved by an early act of kindness from George Takei, he said he wanted to celebrate the character of Sulu in a traditional Trek adventure. Gerrold — who penned several original-series scripts including the famed Tribbles episode — described returning to Trek as an honor and emphasized the franchise’s long-standing focus on cooperation and connection, rather than conflict. Cantwell called his prelude a way of asking “what comes next?” for the franchise and said the story functions as a handoff toward something deliberately new.
Why this release matters to fans and the comics market
The anthology performs several functions at once: it marks a high-profile anniversary, brings notable mainstream comics creators into Trek’s universe, and previews IDW’s editorial direction. For readers, that means both celebration — shorter, varied pieces that revisit familiar eras and characters — and the promise of a fresh ongoing series next year.
For IDW, the special is a way to spotlight the publisher’s long tenure with Trek comics and to build momentum ahead of a relaunch. Trek comics have shifted through multiple publishers since 1967 — beginning with Gold Key, then short stints at Marvel and DC, and roughly two decades under IDW — and this issue underscores the imprint’s continuing role in stewarding the franchise on the page.
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Sulu story by Brian Michael Bendis | High-profile comics writer brings mainstream attention and fans from outside Trek; personal connection to George Takei adds human interest. |
| Gerrold’s Harry Mudd tale | Ties the anniversary issue back to the original series’ creative DNA and one of its best-remembered writers. |
| Prelude by Christopher Cantwell | Serves as a narrative bridge to IDW’s 2026 flagship, framing the publisher’s future direction. |
The issue is also a showcase of artistic variety, with contributors ranging from indie-comics stalwarts to TV showrunners, so readers can expect a mix of tones: comedic one-offs, character-driven pieces and forward-looking continuity hooks.
Release details: the 68-page, oversized anthology goes on sale Sept. 2 and will include a selection of variant covers from IDW. For fans tracking the franchise beyond screens, this issue is both a retrospective and a first look at what IDW plans to do with Trek in the coming year.
