Following the successful launch of the fan-favourite Paramount+ original series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds back in May, IDW in Partnership with Paramount Consumer Products recently announced an all-new tie-in comic book miniseries, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Illyrian Enigma, debuting in December 2022, set between the show’s first season and its eagerly-anticipated second season.
The four-issue Illyrian Enigma reunites the acclaimed co-executive producer for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Kirsten Beyer and prolific Star Trek author Mike Johnson, whose recent collaborations include the miniseries Star Trek: Discovery–Adventures in the 32nd Century and Star Trek: Picard – Stargazer.
Fan-favourite artist Megan Levens (Star Trek: The Mirror War – Troi, Star Wars Adventures) and colourist Charlie Kirchoff (Star Trek: Year Five) also join the creative team, bringing this far-flung space adventure to vibrant life on the comic page.
In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Ilyrian Enigma, Commander Una Chin-Riley— first officer and helmsman of the U.S.S. Enterprise — stands accused of unlawful genetic modification by Starfleet. Sparing no time, Captain Pike and his crew set out in search of evidence to prove her innocence!
In a joint statement, Johnson, Beyer, and Kirchoff say, “The only thing more fun than Strange New Worlds is more Strange New Worlds. We’re thrilled to bring fans the first comic book adventure starring everyone’s new favorite crew, in an all-new story that picks up where Season One left off. We couldn’t be happier that Megan Levens is beaming aboard to join us!”
“What ultimately draws me to any project is the characters, and after only one short season, I’m already so deeply invested in the entire cast of Strange New Worlds,” says Levens. “It’s remarkable that they’ve been able to successfully bring together new interpretations of classic characters we’ve known and loved for over half a century, and fresh faces that are already as compelling and relatable as their more established crewmates. Bringing this cast onto the comic page for the first time has been a delight for me, both as a Trekkie and as an artist!”
“When Strange New Worlds came out we knew that the show was something special,” says Senior Editor Heather Antos. “We’re thrilled to bring in Kirsten and Mike’s expertise from behind the scenes, as well as an artistic duo who captures the warmth and whimsy of this universe as effortlessly as Megan and Charlie, to explore even stranger new worlds in comics.”
IDW Publishing’s Strange New Worlds tie-in is the latest in a series of well-received Star Trek projects based on Paramount+ streaming series, expanding the scope of such beloved shows as Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Discovery, and Star Trek: Lower Decks. In addition to the several tie-in miniseries in 2022, IDW recently announced the October launch of its biggest Star Trek comic book initiative yet: an all-new ongoing series, simply titled Star Trek, featuring a new universe of continuity where Benjamin Sisko takes the helm of the U.S.S. Enterprise with a crew assembled from many different iterations of Star Trek canon.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds –The Ilyrian Enigma #1 will be available with four cover variants, including Cover A by Megan Levens, Cover B by Jake Bartok, and two retailer incentive editions by Liana Kangas and Malachi Ward, respectively.
Kirsten Beyer is a co-executive producer on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, co-creator and co-executive producer for Star Trek: Picard on Paramount+ and has worked as a writer on the streaming service’s Star Trek: Discovery. She contributed to multiple Star Trek comic series from IDW, and is also the New York Times-bestselling author of many Star Trek: Voyager novels, including A Pocket Full of Lies, Acts of Contrition, Protectors, The Eternal Tide, Children of the Storm, Unworthy, Full Circle, and String Theory: Fusion. She is also an actor for theatre, movies, television, and commercials. She lives with her family in Los Angeles.
A highly imaginative and engaging writer who has written stories for some of the biggest characters in comic book history including Batman and Superman, Mike Johnson has the distinction of having scripted more Star Trek comic book stories than any writer ever. Johnson’s first work for IDW was in 2009, when he wrote the miniseries Star Trek: Countdown, a well-received prequel to the 2009 J.J. Abrams film. He would follow that with many more Star Trek stories, including Khan, Starfleet Academy, Nero, the crossover Star Trek/Green Lantern, and both of IDW’s ongoing Star Trek series. His most recent Trek credits are Discovery — Adventures in the 32nd Century and Picard: Countdown. A lifelong Trek fan, his favourite characters are Data and Spock.
Megan Levens draws comics like Angel City, Spell on Wheels, Star Trek, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer for publishers like Dark Horse, Image, IDW, and Oni Press.
• For information on how to acquire copies of Star Trek comic books, please contact your local comic shop or visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you
• For more Star Trek features, interviews and more, check out Titan Comics’ Star Trek Explorer magazine, available from newsagents and comic shops | Physical and digital subscription information here
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.
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