Brian Michael Bendis, Mike McMahan

Star Trek has been boldly going where few sci-fi franchises have since 1966. And Star Trek comics have been in the bridge for almost as long.

Now, for the storied franchise’s 60th anniversary, IDW is putting together a comic special with timeline and galaxy-spanning stories that will feature the Trek-writing debut of comics author Brian Michael Bendis; a story by David Gerrold, one of the last living writers who worked on The Original Series and created the iconic Tribbles; and one by Star Trek: Lower Decks creator Mike McMahan

The 68-page anthology, on sale Sept. 2, will also feature stories from Christopher Cantwell, David Walker, Ryan North, Meghan Camarena, Derek Charm, Michael Allred, Laura Allred, among others.

The seven-story collection will have tales based on the original Star Trek series, 1970s Star Trek: The Animated Series and modern shows Picard, Lower Decks and Starfleet Academy. It also feature a preview of the all-new Star Trek flagship title that IDW will be launching later in 2026.

Bendis also penned a story centered on Sulu after an encounter with George Takei, the actor who inhabited the character.

“I grew up in a house of Trekkies,” he said in a statement. “I am married to a Trekkie. Years ago, in real life, George Takai was so kind to me and my family that I jumped at a chance to express my affection for all things Star Trek by cooking up a classic Trek, Sulu-focused story.”

Bendis is working with Michael Gaydos, the artist who with whom he co-created Marvel heroine Jessica Jones, on the piece.

Gerrold wrote or co-wrote three of the original series’ episodes, including The Trouble with Tribbles, one of the best-remembered entries that centered on the fast-replicating furry creatures. His story follows interstellar con man Harry Mudd.  

“The reason why Star Trek has been an enduring part of our culture is that at its heart Star Trek has never been about finding enemies to defeat, it was always about finding allies and friends against the vast darkness of the universe,” said Gerrold. “I was privileged to be a part of that original vision. It was an amazing opportunity, and I made some of the best friends anyone could ever imagine. The chance to return to the Star Trek universe and write a new story, especially one that honors the original series, yes, it was a privilege.”

The issue will also include a Lower Decks story by McMahan and artists Mike and Laura Allred, a Star Trek The Animated Series story by writer Ryan North and artist Derek Charm and a Worf story by writer David Walker drawn by the Escorza Brothers, the artists from IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hit The Last Ronin.

Also in the issue will be an Enterprise one-pager gag from writer-artist Chris Fenoglio, a Scotty story from writer Dana Gould and artist Megan Levens;, a Next Generation-centric tale about Beverly Crusher, a Picard story by writer Dave Baker and artist Nicole Goux and a Starfleet Academy story from writer Meghan Camarena and artists Mari Rolins and JP Jordan.

Finally, the issue will feature a prelude of IDW’s relaunch of Star Trek with a tale by writer Christopher Cantwell and artist Isaac Sanchez.

“The prelude story I wrote in the oversized Star Trek 60th anniversary issue in a way sets up the most important question facing Star Trek right now: What’s next?” Cantwell posited. “We have six decades of incredible, deep legacy behind us, but where do we boldly go with it? That’s what editor Heather Antos and I have been wrestling with for years now when it comes to our latest approach. This story is a hand-off from Picard to something that is so new it’s nearly from whole cloth — soaring into the future — which is what Trek is when at its best.”

Trek comics started publishing in 1967 via now-defunct company Gold Key in a run that lasted over 12 years. Marvel tried its hand for about two years before DC took it over for most of the 1980s. IDW has been publishing the comics for about two decades now with its current flagship title Star Trek: The Last Starship enjoying strong reviews.

Check out some of the variant covers below.