New Star Trek Story Is Spinning A Classic TV Episode To Honor Both Nichelle Nichols And Uhura In An Unexpected Way

Although there won’t be any new Star Trek TV shows in 2025, the franchise will still offer plenty for fans in the new year. Besides the upcoming Starfleet Academy series featuring Holly Hunter, and anticipation for a possible movie, a range of comics are being released to celebrate classic Trek stories. One comic even reimagines a famous episode as a tribute to the life of actress Nichelle Nichols.

IDW’s Star Trek Deviations takes classic Star Trek episodes and reimagines them with a unique twist, similar to Marvel’s “What If?” comics. In February, a new issue will explore a significant moment in American history, using one of the show’s most memorable episodes as its starting point.

Uhura Will Travel Back To The Civil Rights Movement In A Retelling Of “The City On The Edge Of Forever”

A new one-shot comic, Star Trek Deviations: Threads of Destiny, offers a fresh look at the classic story “The City On The Edge Of Forever.” This time, the Guardian of Forever sends Uhura back in time to the 1960s, right in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement. According to a preview, Uhura will become involved in the movement, which will help her realize the vital importance of her job as a communications officer.

The Story Seems To Mirror Nichelle Nichols Meeting With Martin Luther King Jr.

After Nichelle Nichols passed away in 2022, many people celebrated her life and work. Interestingly, she almost quit Star Trek during the show’s original run. According to an interview with StarTrek.com, Nichols actually gave Gene Roddenberry, the show’s creator, her resignation letter, but he didn’t accept it right away, hoping she’d reconsider.

A few days later, Nichols met Martin Luther King Jr. at an NAACP fundraiser. King, a fan of Star Trek, asked for a private meeting with her. He explained that Star Trek was the only show he let his children watch, and he deeply admired her role as a smart, Black woman on the Enterprise.

Nichols tried to resign from her role, but Martin Luther King Jr. wouldn’t let her. He explained how important her character was to both adults and children, as Black representation on television was uncommon at the time. That conversation, as the actress recalled, was all it took to change her mind and stay on the show. It’s a wonderful story, and the book Star Trek Deviations: Threads of Destiny will likely introduce it to a wider audience.

Writer Stephanie Williams Is Perfect For This Story

Writer Stephanie Williams and artist Flaviano are teaming up to create Star Trek Deviations: Threads of Destiny. Williams has a strong background in comics, having worked on popular titles like DC’s Knight Terrors: Wonder Woman and Nubia & the Amazons, Marvel’s Spider-Man Unlimited Infinity Comic and Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, as well as projects with Ignition Press, Mad Cave Studios, and IDW. Her skill and perspective make her a great choice for this story, even though it doesn’t involve traditional superheroes.

Uhura Will Travel Back To The Civil Rights Movement In A Retelling Of “The City On The Edge Of Forever”

The Story Seems To Mirror Nichelle Nichols Meeting With Martin Luther King Jr.

Writer Stephanie Williams Is Perfect For This Story

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