Year Five #15: Vote Mudd preview

This week brings us fifteenth issue(ad) of IDW's TOS comic maxiseries Year Five(ad), which launches a new story arc focused on Harry Mudd's run for Federation president. 

This series was delayed a few months earlier in the year due to Covid, so what might have come a couple of months ago as a warning of political events to come, has instead managed to land right on top of the US presidential elections, with Mudd slipping into Trump's analogous shoes all the more vividly as a result - Although Mudd is decidedly more charming, if also a little menacing, and this is a delightfully playful issue thanks to his long history with Kirk at this point in the timeline. 

Interestingly the image of Mudd is that of Rainn Wilson, as seen in Discovery, no doubt helping to side-step the issues of actor likeness that have long tripped up appearances by the character in previous comics. 

This new story arc is written by Jody Houser, with art by Silvia Califano, and colour from Charlie Kirchoff. The book is offered in two covers, either the main one(ad) by Steve Thompson (also coloured by Kirchoff), or the retail incentive(ad) by JJ Lendl, which this issue take the form of pro-Mudd graffiti - Lendl's covers for the first part of a story arc normally give us the title, so we can probably take that to be Vote Mudd, or maybe Vote Mudd For Federation President. 

Continue below to check out the covers, a five-page preview, and a look at some of the artwork from this issue.

Discovery 3x03 People of Earth previews, and other Disco updates

This week's episode of Discovery is People of Earth, as ever CBS have released an assortment of images and previews for the episode. There's also lots of updates around last week's episode, including behind the scenes photos, and the latest of the new social media logs. Continue below to check out all the Disco latest. 

To start, here's the blurb, and trailer (also on StarTrek.com if you can't view on YouTube), for the new episode

Finally reunited, Burnham and the U.S.S. Discovery crew journey to Earth, eager to learn what happened to the Federation in their absence.

IDW's Star Trek comics for January, and Eaglemoss' latest Graphic Novel Collection books

IDW have released their solicitations for January, which include two new Star Trek comics, both continuing current runs. Continue below for all the details of those, plus what sadly looks to be the last batch of title announcements from Eaglemoss' Star Trek Graphic Novel Collection.

Year Five(ad) #19 will be part two of the medical story On the Death of a Friend. The creative team continues from the previous issue, with the book written by Jim McCann, and art by Angel Hernandez. Here's the blurb:

A pandemic raging across Alpha Centauri. A powerful enemy aboard the Enterprise. With death lurking around every corner, the crew will face down one of their greatest challenges yet in the shocking conclusion to this episode from Eisner-winning writer Jim McCann (Return of the Dapper Men) and superstar artist Angel Hernandez (Star Trek: Picard)!

This issue will be available in the usual two covers. Either the main cover by Stephen Thompson, with a rather scary appearance by Isis. Or there's the retail incentive by J.J. Lendl, their latest travel poster, with a bit of a twist this time. 

UK Royal Mail issue Star Trek stamps

The Royal Mail in the UK have become the latest postal organisation to introduce a range of Star Trek postage stamps. Due out next month the new Star Trek collection will feature no less than eighteen different characters! These are split between a series of square portraits featuring TV characters from TOS, TNG, DS9, Voyager, Enterprise, and Discovery, and a separate miniature sheet focusing on movie characters from across the franchise. 

Royal Mail have a dizzying assortment of options for stamp collectors, art lovers, and post senders, with specific offers based around the different series, and everything from simple books of stamps to prestige format collectables. Continue below to check out the whole collection.

The next Picard novel, is a Titan novel!

Simon and Schuster have revealed new details of the forthcoming second tie-in novel to Star Trek: Picard, which notably appears to be a Titan novel in a cunning disguise! The Dark Veil(ad) is written by James Swallow, and like the previous Picard novel, Last Best Hope(ad), will be a hardcover release, as well as ebook, and audiobook of course. Here's the cover, featuring Troi and Riker in Picard flashback uniforms. Continue below to find out more:

Discovery 3x02 Far From Home previews, and other Disco updates

This week's second episode of Discovery season three is Far From Home (if there's a part two to last week's That Hope Is You, Part 1, it's not coming right away). As ever CBS have released a selection of images to preview the episode. There's also lots of bits about related to last week's episode, including more stills, behind the scenes photos, the new logs social media feature, cat pics, and more! Continue below to check it all out, along with confirmation season four is on the way!

Here's the blurb for the new episode:

After the U.S.S. Discovery crash-lands on a strange planet, the crew finds themselves racing against time to repair their ship. Meanwhile, Saru and Tilly embark on a perilous first-contact mission in hopes of finding Burnham.

There's not an episode specific trailer, but there's plenty to enjoy in the new season trailer (also up on StarTrek.com if you prefer):

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What's coming up for crew of the U.S.S. Discovery? Find out with the sneak peek at the rest of the new season of #StarTrekDiscovery.

A post shared by Star Trek on CBS All Access (@startrekcbs) on Oct 15, 2020 at 5:00pm PDT

Book bits: New novels for 2021, To Lose the Earth excerpts, and more

Lots of Star Trek novels news today, including the first details of many new books coming next year, previews of the newly released Voyager novel, To Lose the Earth, and other covers and previews from the written world of Trek. Continue below for all the latest.

First up, as I reported earlier in the year, two new authors are joining the Star Trek fold, and now the first details of their books have been revealed, via an announcement on SyFy Wire. Both authors represent an effort to diversify the writing pool for Star Trek novels, and both happen to be to be set in the TV eras of their respective shows, which we've not seen for quite some time.

Specifically the TNG novel Shadows Have Offended, by Cassandra Rose Clark, is to be set in the seventh season. The book will focus on Deanna Troi, Beverly Crusher, and Worf.

A DS9 novel Revenant, by Alex R. White, doesn't have the timeline pinned down in the announcement, but set to feature Jadzia Dax and Kira Nerys, which would seem to limit it to the first six seasons.

They didn't formally announce publication dates for these yet, although Simon and Schuster have recently listed several forthcoming books, and the acronyms probably give us a clue. They are:

• Untitled TDV(ad), a Picard novel (in hardcover), due January 2021.
• Untitled SHO(ad), a TNG novel, due in April 2021 - Presumably this is Shadows Have Offended.
• Untitled DTP(ad), a Discovery novel, due in May 2021.
• Untitled OATW(ad), a TOS novel, due in June 2021.
• Untitled STR(ad), a DS9 novel, due in July 2021 - Presumably this is Revenant.

Starfleet deltas for every era and occasion!

Are you looking for a Starfleet delta to adorn your uniform? Or maybe just a little one to discretely add some Trek to your every day? Well you've suddenly got a lot of options; Starfleet deltas from multiple eras are suddenly popping up all over the place, with both full size replicas and mini pins in abundance. Continue below to check out the latest from FanSets, QMx, and Cufflinks.com:

Off the back of successes with full sized combadges earlier in the year FanSets have now embarked on a regular series of delta releases, with future deltas due to see simultaneous releases in three formats: Either full size with a pin-back, full size with a magnetic-back, or mini sized pins.

The first design to get this full spectrum of releases is the Lower Deck's combadge, which thanks to this release we can see realised as a 3D object for the first time. All three versions are currently up for pre-order, ahead of a November release.

Discovery season three episode stills, cast photos, titles, and more

The third season of Discovery is almost here, and of course CBS have been releasing lots of promo bits and bobs to get us in the mood to jump into the the distant future. Continue below for episode stills, cast photos, and the new title sequence.

Episode one is That Hope is You, Part 1, which will focus on Burnham and the new character Book. Here's how CBS describe it:

Arriving 930 years in the future, Burnham navigates a galaxy she no longer recognizes while searching for the rest of the U.S.S. Discovery crew.

And here are some images from the episode, including in this first shot an interesting mix of new and familiar aliens:

Lower Decks canonises the Luna class USS Titan, and other series updates

Something very exciting happened in the last episode of Lower Decks, the Captain Riker's ship, the USS Titan, made its on-screen debut, a decade and a half after being named in Nemesis! To mark this historic moment CBS released a fun little social media poster featuring the ship, Riker, and Troi, who all appeared in the episode. Continue below for more on this, and other updates from Lower Decks.

Discovery season 3 trailer, clip, cast photos and more

The third season of Discovery is just a week away, and ahead of the start of the new far future adventures of the USS Discovery CBS have of course been releasing lots of promotional materials. Continue below for the latest trailer, a new clip, loads of cast photos and other art, details of the new Discovery logs social media, and more!

First up, there's a new season trailer (shared to the web by Nación Trek). Note the view outside the viewscreen at the start; new ships?

Janeway to return in Star Trek Prodigy

Very exciting news! Captain Kathryn Janeway will soon be returning to Star Trek. 

As part of New York Comic Con virtual Star Trek panel, executive producer Alex Kurtzman revealed the casting, introducing Kate Mulgrew and the news that she will be reprising the role of the once-captain of the USS Voyager in the new Nickelodeon animated series for kids, Star Trek Prodigy. Check out this joyous moment, and Mulgrew's obvious enthusiasm to bring back one of Trek's greatest captains:

Lower Decks 1x10: No Small Parts previews, and other updates from the series

This week brings us the final episode of the first season of Lower Decks,  No Small Parts. As ever CBS have released a bunch of preview material for the new episode, and lots of new media around the previous episode too, including an awesome cinema-style poster for that movie-inspired episode. Continue below to check it all out. 

Here's the blurb for this week's episode:

The U.S.S. Cerritos encounters a familiar enemy. Tendi helps a struggling recruit find her footing.

And the trailer (also on StarTrek.com if you prefer):

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The #StarTrekLowerDecks Season 1 finale is only a few hours away! Stream it at 12am PT, only on @CBSAllAccess.

A post shared by Star Trek on CBS All Access (@startrekcbs) on Oct 7, 2020 at 7:00pm PDT

DS9: Too Long a Sacrifice #3 covers and excerpt

Out this week is the third (and penultimate) issue(ad) of IDW's DS9 comic miniseries, Too Long a Sacrifice(ad). This time we get an Odo is joined by a new Betazoid character, giving us an interesting insight into the status of the Betazoid people in the Dominion War, and even a tie in to the novel The Battle of Betazed(ad).

The book, and series, is written by Scott and David Tipton, with art by Greg Scott and colourist Felipe Sobreiro. It comes in a choice of three covers: Either the A cover(ad) by Richardo Drumond, featuring Odo in action, chasing someones down a corridor. The B cover(ad) is a photo cover, also featuring Quark and Rom. And there's also a retail incentive cover(ad), with art by JK Woodward, showing the station's investigator's on the hunt for Garak.

Continue below to check out all those covers, and a five-page preview.

Lower Decks 1x09: Crisis Point previews, and other updates from the series

This week brings us already to the penultimate episode of Lower Decks season one. The ensigns appear to be off for some holodeck shenanigans again in Crisis Point. As ever CBS have released preview images and a trailer. Continue below to check out those, plus some other Lower Decks updates. First, here's the blurb for the new episode:

Mariner repurposes Boimler’s holodeck program to cast herself as the villain in a Lower Decks style movie.

And the trailer (also on StarTrek.com if you prefer):

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We're going to the movies! Get a sneak peek at the new episode of #StarTrekLowerDecks now and then report promptly to the holodeck at 12am PT.

A post shared by Star Trek on CBS All Access (@startrekcbs) on Sep 30, 2020 at 7:00pm PDT