Star Trek Revives Kirk in 31st Century

The Star Trek universe is bringing back William Shatner's iconic Captain James T. Kirk in a new comic series titled Star Trek: The Last Starship. Picking up a narrative thread from the live-action series Star Trek: Discovery, this story finds Kirk assuming command of a new vessel during the Federation's most desperate crisis.

The Last Starship takes place in the wake of The Burn, a catastrophic 31st-century event that caused the simultaneous destruction of every active warp core in the galaxy, resulting in the deaths of trillions. With the Federation in ruins and space descending into complete anarchy, a mysteriously restored and youthful Kirk must assemble a new crew to keep Starfleet's ideals alive.

Explore the slideshow gallery below for an exclusive preview of the first issue of Star Trek: The Last Starship:

Star Trek: The Last Starship #1 Preview Gallery

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The Last Starship is written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, the creative team behind the recently concluded Star Trek: Lore War crossover at IDW. The series art is handled by Star Trek veteran Adrián Bonilla, with colors by Heather Moore (Doctor Strange). The debut issue showcases cover art from Francesco Francavilla, Skylar Patridge, Michael Cho, and Malachi Ward.

This isn't the franchise's first attempt to revive its most legendary captain. 1994's Star Trek Generations bridged the original series and Star Trek: The Next Generation by uniting Shatner's Kirk with Patrick Stewart's Jean-Luc Picard. Although Kirk dies in Generations, Shatner later revived the character in a series of non-canon novels, now known as "The Shatnerverse." However, The Last Starship appears to feature a younger version of Kirk, reminiscent of his original series days.

"Forget everything you know about Star Trek," Lanzing stated. "The Last Starship introduces a new crew, a new era, and a completely different tone. We aimed for a literary, intense, and innovative approach that's also highly accessible. Through Adrián Bonilla's brilliant, noir-inspired artwork, we're immersing readers in the Federation's darkest hour with no prior knowledge required."

Lanzing added, "While longtime Trek fans will find a deep and engaging experience—this is an unexplored pivotal moment in Trek history—above all, The Last Starship is a dark, complex sci-fi story anyone can enjoy. After eight years celebrating Trek's legacy, it's time to rebuild it from the ground up and explore its future potential."

"The only familiar face is the one you'd least expect in this era: Captain James T. Kirk," Kelly explained. "William Shatner's iconic performance made Kirk a timeless figure in modern fiction. He was also the first Star Trek character we ever wrote—a leader and warrior poet full of tragedy and contradiction. We're honored to guide this character into truly uncharted territory in The Last Starship, where the Federation's greatest pioneer must confront the inferno threatening to consume his entire legacy."

Star Trek: The Last Starship #1 is scheduled for release on September 24, 2025.

For more, read William Shatner's reflections on his own mortality and discover how many seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are left.