Where Trek Comics Became Genuinely Good
DC Comics (1984–1996)
DC held the Trek licence for twelve years across two distinct publishing phases and, at its best, produced the strongest sustained run of Trek comics that had existed up to that point. Where Gold Key invented a parallel Trek and Marvel bridged a gap, DC settled in and told long-form stories. The first volume launched in February 1984, threading its narrative between the films — genuinely interesting creative space. The Mirror Universe Saga across issues #9–16 was the series finding its ambition. Who Killed Captain Kirk? in the late forties is still one of the better Trek comics stories ever told.
The second phase, from 1989, ran two parallel monthly titles: a TOS volume continuing the film-era stories, and a TNG series tracking alongside the television run. DC lost the licence in 1996 and the runs ended without conclusion. IDW later reprinted key story arcs, which is the most practical route to reading the material today.
The IDW arc reprints are out of print but findable. The majority of both DC ongoing series has no collected edition and requires back issues. The Eaglemoss Graphic Novel Collection reprinted further DC material before the line ended.
The Mirror Universe Saga (Vol.1 #9–16) is the best single arc to start with — it’s where the DC run found its ambition and holds up as a story in its own right. Who Killed Captain Kirk? is the other essential arc from the first volume.
You want to read the period of Trek comics history where the licence was first taken seriously as a long-form storytelling medium. The DC run is where the template for what Trek comics could be was genuinely established.
Review coming.
Complete Series Listing — 270+ Issues
Full issue-by-issue listing for 270+ issues available via Memory Alpha. Key series and arcs listed by run.