The United Federation of Planet’s far-flung future is explored in a new four-issue miniseries launching this Wednesday in comic shops from IDW. Star Trek: Discovery – Adventures in the 32nd Century rightly opens with the true star of the SF show, Grudge the Cat, with an incentive cover by Aaron Harvey out there to track down, as well as the standard cover by series artist Angel Hernandez.
The new series reunites co-writers Kirsten Beyer and Mike Johnson, whose previous collaboration on Star Trek: Discovery comics included The Light of Kahless, Succession, and Aftermath. The authors are joined by artist Angel Hernandez, celebrated by fans for his work on Star Trek / Green Lantern: The Spectrum War and, most recently, Star Trek: Manifest Destiny.
Each issue of Adventures in the 32nd Century will spotlight a different cast member, and the first issue’s focus promises a unique perspective from the Star Trek franchise, as it reveals the secret history of the queen herself: Grudge the Cat!
A flashback tale of her first meeting with Cleveland “Book” Booker sets the stage for a trajectory establishing Grudge as the greatest feline spacefarer of all.
Subsequent issues will focus on ensign Adira Tal, Lieutenant Keyla Detmer, and science officer Linus.
Star Trek: Discovery – Adventures in the 32nd Century will be available with two cover variants for retailers and fans to enjoy, including Cover A by interior artist Angel Hernandez and a Retailer Incentive edition by Aaron Harvey.
Grudge the Cat, a Maine Coon, a naturally large breed of cat, instantly become one of the most popular characters in Star Trek: Discovery the show’s fans since debuting in the series.
Grudge – actually played on screen by two brothers, Leeu and Durban, was created by writer/producer Jenny Lumet, who based Grudge on a Pekingese dog, Nelly, that belonged to her grandmother, Lena Horne, who used to keep Nelly in the sleeve of her kimono. According to Lumet, Nelly “never did anything.”
The space feline even has has her own Twitter account, and a book centring on the cat, The Book of Grudge, is due for general release from Hero Collector.
“Discovery‘s arrival in the 32nd century opens up a whole new universe of adventure for the crew, from the feline to the Saurian,” says Mike Johnson. “It’s a blast telling stories eight hundred years in the future of Star Trek, where we really have never been before, exploring different facets of their lives.”
“It’s no secret that Star Trek: Discovery’s television series has an amazing cast of characters, and being able to translate those characters and their stories into the comics is a real treat for not only the fans, but also us as well,” says editor Heather Antos. “Diving deeper into Queen Grudge’s mind, to Adira’s relationship with Gray and more, Star Trek: Discovery – Adventures in the 32nd Century gives readers an incredibly detailed perspective of these fan-favourite characters.”
Star Trek: Discovery currently streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the US. Internationally, the series is available on Paramount+ in Australia, Latin America and the Nordics, and on Pluto TV in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom on the Pluto TV Sci-Fi channel. In Canada, it airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave.
• Order Star Trek: Discovery – Adventures in the 32nd Century #1 here from Forbidden Planet (Affiliate Link) – or pick up a copy from your local comic shop on Wednesday 2nd March 2022
• Pre-order The Book of Grudge by Robb Pearlman from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
Sharper than a claw and more stunning than a phaser blast, The Book of Grudge‘s Prime Directive features her take on everything from space travel to the proper care and training of an array of alien species, Star Trek-inspired quotes, and haiku meditations on Grudge’s most favorite things, including napping and people (as long as they’re far enough away).
Make no mistake, Cleveland Booker’s massive – and massively cool – cat, Grudge is no mundane mouser. This taciturn tabby is, in fact, “a Queen.” She knows it, and everyone aboard the Discovery knows it, too… though some realise it just a bit too late!
Web Links
• Follow Grudge the Cat on Twitter
• Follow Mike Johnson on Twitter
• Follow Aaron Harvey on Twitter
• Memory Alpha – Grudge the Cat
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Comics, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, Star Trek, Television, US Comics
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