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Star Trek: Kelvin Timeline (IDW) #13
Star Trek: Khan
Witness the shocking origin of Khan Noonien Singh from his earliest years through his rise to power during the epic Eugenics Wars! Behold the events that led to his escape from Earth aboard the Botany Bay! Learn the truth behind his re-awakening by Admiral Marcus and Section 31! It's the origin of Star Trek's greatest villain!
124 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2014
31 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Mike Johnson
608 books53 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Mike Johnson is a comic book writer.
An almost lifelong Trekkie, he has scripted more Star Trek comic books than anyone else to date.
Mike Johnson is a comic book writer.
An almost lifelong Trekkie, he has scripted more Star Trek comic books than anyone else to date.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
December 19, 2015
The framing of this book is set post-Star Trek Into Darkness but as it’s Khan’s origin story it’s set mostly in the past.
How does a white guy get an Asian name like Khan Noonien Singh? Plastic surgery! Wha… ? Yeah, there’s a few weird revelations about Khan here. Like how he started life as an Indian orphan and became tyrant of Earth in the late 20th century without, somehow, leaving any records from the time to verify this!
Fair play to Mike Johnson, he tries his best to plug the holes in that movie’s awful script with this comic. We learn about where the magic blood came from (shades of Captain America) and some of the blanks as to Admiral Robocop’s motivations and how Khan fit into them are filled in (like why he was turned into a white guy with an English accent). There’s an ok Frankenstein’s Monster-type storyline here leading to James Bond-type villainy.
Because Khan’s written as a loner, his closeness to his dozens of followers (the ones in the torpedoes) is unconvincing and that was the part that really needed to hit home in order for the reader to buy into why Khan’s doing any of this. That and how they came to be floating in space in cryo-sleep for so long, as well as the lack of records on them (come on, we have records on major bad guys from 300 years ago and older!), really took me out of the story.
The art’s not much to write home about. The characters are drawn like the cast of the Abrams movies. Yay…?
It was a decent comic until the final act when Mike Johnson fails to make sense out of the movie’s moronic script. It’s not his fault that Into Darkness was a mess but the movie’s stupidity does taint anything it comes into (first) contact with, including this book.
LINDELOOOOOOOOOOOOOFFFF!!!
How does a white guy get an Asian name like Khan Noonien Singh? Plastic surgery! Wha… ? Yeah, there’s a few weird revelations about Khan here. Like how he started life as an Indian orphan and became tyrant of Earth in the late 20th century without, somehow, leaving any records from the time to verify this!
Fair play to Mike Johnson, he tries his best to plug the holes in that movie’s awful script with this comic. We learn about where the magic blood came from (shades of Captain America) and some of the blanks as to Admiral Robocop’s motivations and how Khan fit into them are filled in (like why he was turned into a white guy with an English accent). There’s an ok Frankenstein’s Monster-type storyline here leading to James Bond-type villainy.
Because Khan’s written as a loner, his closeness to his dozens of followers (the ones in the torpedoes) is unconvincing and that was the part that really needed to hit home in order for the reader to buy into why Khan’s doing any of this. That and how they came to be floating in space in cryo-sleep for so long, as well as the lack of records on them (come on, we have records on major bad guys from 300 years ago and older!), really took me out of the story.
The art’s not much to write home about. The characters are drawn like the cast of the Abrams movies. Yay…?
It was a decent comic until the final act when Mike Johnson fails to make sense out of the movie’s moronic script. It’s not his fault that Into Darkness was a mess but the movie’s stupidity does taint anything it comes into (first) contact with, including this book.
LINDELOOOOOOOOOOOOOFFFF!!!
April 17, 2014
Ever wondered how Khan Noonian Singh came to be, and, more specifically, how he came to be a white guy? Well this graphic novel sets out to answer the burning question that I actually hadn’t been asking because I was totally fine with just listening to Benedict Cumberbatch say words. Turns out he was actually a young, Indian amputee who, among others around the world, were taken from their lives of destitution and placed in a special (not)eugenics program. Singh showed particular leadership aptitude, among other traits, and eventually took over and led his people to a new world order that the 24th century came to know as the Eugenics War. There is little information available about the event, so Captain Kirk, Spock and the people at the tribunal against Khan after the events of the movie, Into Darkness are just going to have to take Khan’s word for it.
Each issue begins at the tribunal, then falls back in time as Khan unravels a rather uninspired backstory involving superhuman children growing up to literally take over the world. We know they are superior in intelligence and physicality, but what I had really wanted to know, was why Khan considered them his family and went through such pains over the 72 survivors after the Eugenics War. Toward the end of the story, we vaguely touch on this, but having him toss around the word “family” a few times doesn’t really make it so when the story doesn’t really give us moments to reveal how much he supposedly cares for them, one way or the other. At most, they are people who works with and some of them, he fights with and kills. But he otherwise does not develop strong relationships with any of them.
Finally, the revelations about Admiral Marcus’ discovery of Khan and his friends on the Botany Bay and subsequent usery of Khan’s skill is lacklustre and filled with as many questionable holes as the movie itself. But, while the movie was entertaining enough for me to overlook these problems, this comic is, unfortunately, rather unfulfilling.
Each issue begins at the tribunal, then falls back in time as Khan unravels a rather uninspired backstory involving superhuman children growing up to literally take over the world. We know they are superior in intelligence and physicality, but what I had really wanted to know, was why Khan considered them his family and went through such pains over the 72 survivors after the Eugenics War. Toward the end of the story, we vaguely touch on this, but having him toss around the word “family” a few times doesn’t really make it so when the story doesn’t really give us moments to reveal how much he supposedly cares for them, one way or the other. At most, they are people who works with and some of them, he fights with and kills. But he otherwise does not develop strong relationships with any of them.
Finally, the revelations about Admiral Marcus’ discovery of Khan and his friends on the Botany Bay and subsequent usery of Khan’s skill is lacklustre and filled with as many questionable holes as the movie itself. But, while the movie was entertaining enough for me to overlook these problems, this comic is, unfortunately, rather unfulfilling.
July 14, 2014
The graphic novels that have accompanied the recent Star Trek reboot movies have been pretty good. They've shown behind the scenes action and expanded on the movie characters' stories. They also take time to reference the rest of the Star Trek universe, especially past series.
This graphic novel expands on the Kahn character we meet in the second reboot Star Trek movie, Into Darkness. It's really interesting to compare this graphic novel to the original series episode involving Kahn and the second original movie.
I give this graphic novel a 4/5 and recommend it to fans of Star Trek, both the new and old.
This graphic novel expands on the Kahn character we meet in the second reboot Star Trek movie, Into Darkness. It's really interesting to compare this graphic novel to the original series episode involving Kahn and the second original movie.
I give this graphic novel a 4/5 and recommend it to fans of Star Trek, both the new and old.
March 21, 2021
Very interesting comic that clears up a lot of Khan's backstory for me. I did not like the whole face alternating thing, etc., to explain away why a white actor was now playing Khan. Benedict was the perfect Khan but they could have come up with a more logical backstory. I loved the graphics and the pictures from the movie that were interspersed throughout the novel.
October 18, 2016
The trade of these comes out in the next week or so. I, being greedy, have almost all the individuals. Partly because I love Star Trek and partly because I'll buy most anything with Benedict Cumberbatch's face on it. I'm not even a little ashamed.
Anyway, I've put off reading these for a time when I could sit and really focus. I admit, I was half scared. I grew up on Star Trek, and Khan is one of those characters I always loved. Ricardo Montalbán had that hugely dramatic, somehow worship-able totally believable presence that really made an impact on a child who couldn't quite understand why everyone hated someone who loved his family SO MUCH. I thought his character had a great story arc despite being thrown from an episode in the sixties into movies made 15 years apart. With the new reboot of Star Trek (which I love both movies, please don't leave any hate comments because I don't need to hear them and we can all respect each other's opinions like adults) I couldn't have been more excited, or again scared, at the thought of them doing Khan again. Then they cast Benedict and I felt a little better just because I trust him as an actor. Whatever else is going on in a movie or show I trust him to be amazing, whatever the part. And, in my opinion, he did it. He wasn't Ricardo, but he still had presence. He seemed to me a more raw, abused Khan, already wild for revenge who still loved his family more than anything which for the character is just what I need.
Now the comic was here, and it was another chance. They could explain things I always wondered (and why he looked so drastically differed, altered timelines or not) or they could ruin a character I loved. Luckily, they did the first part.
The comic is good, the writing precise and clear, the art well done. It's the trial of Khan, after the movies, explaining how he reached this point, and yes, why he looks different. I would actually love this as a novel. I enjoyed the comic from first to last, am left curious about a couple of things that seem huge to not be plot points later on, but mostly I think a comic of all mediums is probably the least viable medium to portray the betrayal, pain and horror that makes up the story. They're not bad by any means and it ends just as it needs to, but (maybe because I love Khan and Star Trek so much) I want more.
Most importantly, though, the comic doesn't disappoint and doesn't ruin Khan. Please, if anyone reads this drop by and talk to me about it. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings on these knew things about him and have no one to talk to! (Unless I break down later and write a spoilery post. Which is very tempting....)
Anyway, I've put off reading these for a time when I could sit and really focus. I admit, I was half scared. I grew up on Star Trek, and Khan is one of those characters I always loved. Ricardo Montalbán had that hugely dramatic, somehow worship-able totally believable presence that really made an impact on a child who couldn't quite understand why everyone hated someone who loved his family SO MUCH. I thought his character had a great story arc despite being thrown from an episode in the sixties into movies made 15 years apart. With the new reboot of Star Trek (which I love both movies, please don't leave any hate comments because I don't need to hear them and we can all respect each other's opinions like adults) I couldn't have been more excited, or again scared, at the thought of them doing Khan again. Then they cast Benedict and I felt a little better just because I trust him as an actor. Whatever else is going on in a movie or show I trust him to be amazing, whatever the part. And, in my opinion, he did it. He wasn't Ricardo, but he still had presence. He seemed to me a more raw, abused Khan, already wild for revenge who still loved his family more than anything which for the character is just what I need.
Now the comic was here, and it was another chance. They could explain things I always wondered (and why he looked so drastically differed, altered timelines or not) or they could ruin a character I loved. Luckily, they did the first part.
The comic is good, the writing precise and clear, the art well done. It's the trial of Khan, after the movies, explaining how he reached this point, and yes, why he looks different. I would actually love this as a novel. I enjoyed the comic from first to last, am left curious about a couple of things that seem huge to not be plot points later on, but mostly I think a comic of all mediums is probably the least viable medium to portray the betrayal, pain and horror that makes up the story. They're not bad by any means and it ends just as it needs to, but (maybe because I love Khan and Star Trek so much) I want more.
Most importantly, though, the comic doesn't disappoint and doesn't ruin Khan. Please, if anyone reads this drop by and talk to me about it. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings on these knew things about him and have no one to talk to! (Unless I break down later and write a spoilery post. Which is very tempting....)
May 9, 2019
The whole Federation is watching Khan's trial. He reveals what he sees as the truth behind his identity and his deeds. Kirk is the first to doubt Khan's testimony and even his identity.
In the early 1970's a research company led by dr. Heisen kidnaps a bunch of children for education and genetic manipulation. Their goal is to create the perfect soldier called augment. Noonien Singh is a boy who stands out from the other kids due to his violent nature, exactly what the researchers are looking for. Years later Singh gathers a few of the students and escapes the school.
In the early 1970's a research company led by dr. Heisen kidnaps a bunch of children for education and genetic manipulation. Their goal is to create the perfect soldier called augment. Noonien Singh is a boy who stands out from the other kids due to his violent nature, exactly what the researchers are looking for. Years later Singh gathers a few of the students and escapes the school.
March 1, 2024
So let me start by saying the obvious: the films made a stupid, ridiculous decision in casting a white guy to play Khan. They should have cast an Indian actor. That decision however was not made by the creators of this comic and so I won’t be judging them for that.
It does attempt to explain the switch in ethnicity in a way which honours Khan’s Indian heritage. It would have been easy for them to just say that in this universe Khan was always white, but they don’t do this. Instead they rise to the challenge of showing Khan as Indian for most of his (conscious) life as he talks us through his history. I think they did a good job in explaining the switch in ethnicity, as in doing the best they could with what the films gave them.
I really enjoyed a lot of the things we saw in the past, and the glimpse into the eugenics wars was very interesting. Then, as we moved into his more recent history I even found myself sympathising with him at times. The beginning of Into Darkness makes a lot more sense thanks to this comic, and gives Khan the motivation he lacks in the film.
The thing I loved most about this comic however was the last few pages, which plant a seed of doubt in your mind and force you to reflect on everything you’ve read. I think that really added to the feeling that Khan is so much smarter than us, that’s he’s always two steps ahead. Very cleverly done.
It does attempt to explain the switch in ethnicity in a way which honours Khan’s Indian heritage. It would have been easy for them to just say that in this universe Khan was always white, but they don’t do this. Instead they rise to the challenge of showing Khan as Indian for most of his (conscious) life as he talks us through his history. I think they did a good job in explaining the switch in ethnicity, as in doing the best they could with what the films gave them.
I really enjoyed a lot of the things we saw in the past, and the glimpse into the eugenics wars was very interesting. Then, as we moved into his more recent history I even found myself sympathising with him at times. The beginning of Into Darkness makes a lot more sense thanks to this comic, and gives Khan the motivation he lacks in the film.
The thing I loved most about this comic however was the last few pages, which plant a seed of doubt in your mind and force you to reflect on everything you’ve read. I think that really added to the feeling that Khan is so much smarter than us, that’s he’s always two steps ahead. Very cleverly done.
April 27, 2021
When Khan was discovered aboard the S.S. 'Botany Bay' by the U.S.S. 'Vanguard', Section 31 under the command of Admiral Marcus took the opportunity to co-opt one of history's most ruthless tyrants. Giving him a false memory and a new identity of Lt. John Harrison, Marcus ordered him to attack the Klingons. However, a tyrant like Khan is only interested in regaining what was once his and, when his memory is recovered, he sets his vengeance on Marcus and plans to attack the Earth.
Johnson uses this graphic novel to reconcile the differences between the Prime Universe and the Kelvin Universe in an ingenious way. The story makes internal sense and the artwork lends itself to the intensity of the story.
Johnson uses this graphic novel to reconcile the differences between the Prime Universe and the Kelvin Universe in an ingenious way. The story makes internal sense and the artwork lends itself to the intensity of the story.
September 2, 2016
2 stars
This review is based on an ARC ebook received for free from NetGalley. I am not being paid to review this book and what I write here is my own opinion. My rating scale is below.
brief
While testifying in his own defense, Khan describes his history to the court, illuminating a portion of Earth's history that casual fans of the series might not be aware of in this well-illustrated graphic novel.
full review
We were gods! Well, not quite, but that is more or less the line I would use if I had to sum up the theme this graphic novel in a sentence or less.
In this piece the war criminal known as Khan is brought to trial, and as part of that Kirk demands that he share his history with the court. Khan obliges, of course, and then the reader is allowed to glimpse an almost-familiar version of Earth as Khan describes his childhood in the slums of India, and how he was taken from there to be part of an experiment in brain and body modifications to create the perfect human weapon. It is a familiar story.
Eventually these highly-trained, extremely aggressive youths turn on their creators and an unsuspecting world is quickly subjugated, unable to stand against these young warriors' brilliant and ruthless tactics. Then the world is divided among the victors, most of whom become tyrants and begin to look toward conquest, which is probably unavoidable, given their enhanced aggression.
In another not-unfamiliar turn of events, the humans somehow manage to manufacture a means of fighting back against Khan's genetically superior people and employ it to such great effect that he and the remaining members of his group are forced to flee for their lives. And pretty much everything else that happens is as described in Star Trek: Into Darkness.
It is a nice piece of backstory and it explains how someone with such an obviously Indian name came to look like Benedict Cumberbatch, as well as offering new Star Trek fans insight into the period of Earth's history that they might not have otherwise been aware of. The narrative was somewhat stilted, perhaps to capture the way Khan speaks, but reading it is not the same as hearing it. Hearing it would have been fantastic though, especially if it was done in Cumberbatch's voice.
rating scale
1 star - I was barely able to finish it. I didn't like it.
2 stars - It was okay. I didn't dislike it.
3 stars - I liked it. It was interesting.
4 stars - It was excellent. I really liked it.
5 stars - OMG I WANT TO STALK THIS AUTHOR!
This review is based on an ARC ebook received for free from NetGalley. I am not being paid to review this book and what I write here is my own opinion. My rating scale is below.
brief
While testifying in his own defense, Khan describes his history to the court, illuminating a portion of Earth's history that casual fans of the series might not be aware of in this well-illustrated graphic novel.
full review
We were gods! Well, not quite, but that is more or less the line I would use if I had to sum up the theme this graphic novel in a sentence or less.
In this piece the war criminal known as Khan is brought to trial, and as part of that Kirk demands that he share his history with the court. Khan obliges, of course, and then the reader is allowed to glimpse an almost-familiar version of Earth as Khan describes his childhood in the slums of India, and how he was taken from there to be part of an experiment in brain and body modifications to create the perfect human weapon. It is a familiar story.
Eventually these highly-trained, extremely aggressive youths turn on their creators and an unsuspecting world is quickly subjugated, unable to stand against these young warriors' brilliant and ruthless tactics. Then the world is divided among the victors, most of whom become tyrants and begin to look toward conquest, which is probably unavoidable, given their enhanced aggression.
In another not-unfamiliar turn of events, the humans somehow manage to manufacture a means of fighting back against Khan's genetically superior people and employ it to such great effect that he and the remaining members of his group are forced to flee for their lives. And pretty much everything else that happens is as described in Star Trek: Into Darkness.
It is a nice piece of backstory and it explains how someone with such an obviously Indian name came to look like Benedict Cumberbatch, as well as offering new Star Trek fans insight into the period of Earth's history that they might not have otherwise been aware of. The narrative was somewhat stilted, perhaps to capture the way Khan speaks, but reading it is not the same as hearing it. Hearing it would have been fantastic though, especially if it was done in Cumberbatch's voice.
rating scale
1 star - I was barely able to finish it. I didn't like it.
2 stars - It was okay. I didn't dislike it.
3 stars - I liked it. It was interesting.
4 stars - It was excellent. I really liked it.
5 stars - OMG I WANT TO STALK THIS AUTHOR!
May 29, 2014
Don't be cheated by the cover. Benedict Cumberbatch doesn't come up until much later through several volumes of this compilation of the new-ish non-TOS Star Trek canon detailing the past life of Khan Noonien Singh.
I don't know about you, the Khan we all love was Mexican Khan. He is not Sikh and TOS just gloss it out way more offensive than JJ Abrams did. I don't know about you, TOS series did use that evil foreigner villain trope and nope that isn't a good attempt to diversify anything. What this graphic novels did was atleast trying to correct the gross appropriation of the character origins... and eventually explain why he look like Benedict Cumberbatch in the end.
I think the graphic novels did more justice to the movies than Enterprise post-"Into Darkness" graphic sequels. For all I know, "Into Darkness" should be renamed as "Star Trek Khan". I don't think there's a direct impact from Spock's meddling into the timeline as this origin story was several hundred years before the current canon, you could consider it as well the origin story of the original TOS Khan without the actual TOS Khan episodes.
Moreover, it did explain why Khan was genuinely and deeply angry at Marcus for doing whatever he was doing to him prior to "Into Darkness" events and connect the relationship between him and the rest of his original crew. Also it did explain the canon before the utopian civilization happen and how Khan was directly involved with the future.
If you are a Trekkie or just someone who want to learn more about the character or Cumberbitches, Star Trek : Khan was a good modern novelization of your favourite character if you don't mind Cumberbatch being Khan since I do think he does a good job with it. I'm Asian, its an antagonist character historically played by non-Asian although the character was 100% Asian. Although now that the graphic novel solve the issue of how MexicanKhan become SikhKhan becoming KhanBatch, if JJ Abrams want to fix what Marcus did to Khan with a real older Sikh actor, I don't mind Ajay Devgan being him.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know about you, the Khan we all love was Mexican Khan. He is not Sikh and TOS just gloss it out way more offensive than JJ Abrams did. I don't know about you, TOS series did use that evil foreigner villain trope and nope that isn't a good attempt to diversify anything. What this graphic novels did was atleast trying to correct the gross appropriation of the character origins... and eventually explain why he look like Benedict Cumberbatch in the end.
I think the graphic novels did more justice to the movies than Enterprise post-"Into Darkness" graphic sequels. For all I know, "Into Darkness" should be renamed as "Star Trek Khan". I don't think there's a direct impact from Spock's meddling into the timeline as this origin story was several hundred years before the current canon, you could consider it as well the origin story of the original TOS Khan without the actual TOS Khan episodes.
Moreover, it did explain why Khan was genuinely and deeply angry at Marcus for doing whatever he was doing to him prior to "Into Darkness" events and connect the relationship between him and the rest of his original crew. Also it did explain the canon before the utopian civilization happen and how Khan was directly involved with the future.
If you are a Trekkie or just someone who want to learn more about the character or Cumberbitches, Star Trek : Khan was a good modern novelization of your favourite character if you don't mind Cumberbatch being Khan since I do think he does a good job with it. I'm Asian, its an antagonist character historically played by non-Asian although the character was 100% Asian. Although now that the graphic novel solve the issue of how MexicanKhan become SikhKhan becoming KhanBatch, if JJ Abrams want to fix what Marcus did to Khan with a real older Sikh actor, I don't mind Ajay Devgan being him.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2017
Star Trek: Khan takes place immediately following the events of the movie Star Trek:Into Darkness.
Khan has been captured and following his interrogation for his crimes he sheds light on his past. We see the rise of Khan from the slums of India to becoming one of a select group of children that were experimented upon to turn them into super soldiers. They were very successful. So successful that their new creations rebelled against their masters and started the Eugenics Wars causing great devastation to the Earth. Eventually they begin to fight among themselves. In the aftermath of that internecine conflict, Khan and his allied super soldiers leave Earth for space. We see Khan roused from hibernation by Admiral Marcus and him working for Markus developing a superweapon to be used against the Klingons. It also answers the questions about why a man named Khan Noonian Singh looks like Cumberbatch.
I really enjoyed the movie and its original Star Trek II:Wrath of Khan. If you've ever wanted to find out the whos, whats and whys of the entire Khan story and how it relates to the Federation than this is a great story for you. If you're not a Star Trek fan..well..uhh why did you read this review? Still- this is a good sci-fi story, even for those unfamiliar with Star Trek. But for Trekkies this is a must read. Well done with a good art style-this is a must have for fans of the movie or the series.
Khan has been captured and following his interrogation for his crimes he sheds light on his past. We see the rise of Khan from the slums of India to becoming one of a select group of children that were experimented upon to turn them into super soldiers. They were very successful. So successful that their new creations rebelled against their masters and started the Eugenics Wars causing great devastation to the Earth. Eventually they begin to fight among themselves. In the aftermath of that internecine conflict, Khan and his allied super soldiers leave Earth for space. We see Khan roused from hibernation by Admiral Marcus and him working for Markus developing a superweapon to be used against the Klingons. It also answers the questions about why a man named Khan Noonian Singh looks like Cumberbatch.
I really enjoyed the movie and its original Star Trek II:Wrath of Khan. If you've ever wanted to find out the whos, whats and whys of the entire Khan story and how it relates to the Federation than this is a great story for you. If you're not a Star Trek fan..well..uhh why did you read this review? Still- this is a good sci-fi story, even for those unfamiliar with Star Trek. But for Trekkies this is a must read. Well done with a good art style-this is a must have for fans of the movie or the series.
June 4, 2014
Last summer's Star Trek Into Darkness introduced us to the rebooted version of Khan.
Now this limited run comic book series gives us a bit of the background of the character and looks at his trial for the events that took place during Into Darkness.
My feelings about the rebooted take on classic Trek tales has run hot and cold. Some of them have really worked well (the Gary Mitchell storyline) and some haven't (the tribbles, the story of the Archons).
This storyline is a bit of both. As with last summer's blockbuster film, I couldn't get comparisons to other works out of my head. In this case, it's Greg Cox's wonderfully done Khan trilogy of novels that came out a couple of years ago.
Here I feel like we see the history of Khan, but don't get enough of a look at what motivates Khan. Yes, he's genetically engineered to be a superior being, but there should or could be more to him than that.
Overall, I felt like this was a missed opportunity.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Now this limited run comic book series gives us a bit of the background of the character and looks at his trial for the events that took place during Into Darkness.
My feelings about the rebooted take on classic Trek tales has run hot and cold. Some of them have really worked well (the Gary Mitchell storyline) and some haven't (the tribbles, the story of the Archons).
This storyline is a bit of both. As with last summer's blockbuster film, I couldn't get comparisons to other works out of my head. In this case, it's Greg Cox's wonderfully done Khan trilogy of novels that came out a couple of years ago.
Here I feel like we see the history of Khan, but don't get enough of a look at what motivates Khan. Yes, he's genetically engineered to be a superior being, but there should or could be more to him than that.
Overall, I felt like this was a missed opportunity.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2016
In the past, I have marveled at how well the Star Trek comics support and flesh out the Star Trek universe established in the movies and I was hoping Khan would do the same thing for Star Trek: Into Darkness. Unfortunately, it does not do this very well. While the story is set after the movie while Khan is on trial, all of the real story takes place in the past which is not a good storytelling technique. Many elements of the story seem too far-fetched and a few ideas (which I won't spoil) are laughable. Perhaps this new version of Khan is very similar to the much loved older version of Khan, I can't really say. What I can say is that this did not fill in the backstory of the character in a satisfying way and I felt like the art was not quite as good as other volumes of Star Trek too. Benedict Cumberbatch has a hard likeness to draw and some panels lacked detail. I gave this three stars because it was of average quality but I cannot recommend this. It was never fun to read and is ultimately forgettable other than some amusingly wacky details from Khan's past.
April 9, 2014
This review is for a copy I received from NetGalley.
I've never watched the Star Trek shows or any of the original movies. However, I have seen the J. J. Abrams movies and loved them. I should also mention that I am a huge Benedict Cumberbatch fan. So when I saw the comics had his face on the cover, how could I resist? I was pleasantly surprised that they were more than just a pretty cover. They provided an interesting back story on where Khan came from and how he came to be, told from his point of view. Whether or not it's true, is left up to the reader to decide.
The artwork is just so so. I could easily recognize the different characters but I wasn't impressed. Some frames just seemed to lack detail and depth. The story and the echo of Cumberbatch's voice is what carries it.
I've never watched the Star Trek shows or any of the original movies. However, I have seen the J. J. Abrams movies and loved them. I should also mention that I am a huge Benedict Cumberbatch fan. So when I saw the comics had his face on the cover, how could I resist? I was pleasantly surprised that they were more than just a pretty cover. They provided an interesting back story on where Khan came from and how he came to be, told from his point of view. Whether or not it's true, is left up to the reader to decide.
The artwork is just so so. I could easily recognize the different characters but I wasn't impressed. Some frames just seemed to lack detail and depth. The story and the echo of Cumberbatch's voice is what carries it.
March 1, 2018
Great backstory connecting Khan's story from Star Trek: TOS to Star Trek: Into Darkness. From briefly covering the eugenics wars to a section 31 tie-in. I'm thankful to Mike Johnson for filling in all the blanks.
Spoiler alert: the ending makes you think. I didn't really like the ending where Kirk questioned Khan's honesty, I'll have to rewatch the Khan episodes from the TOS to see if he's dishonest or not. Also, re-freezing Khan is lame but what else is starfleet to do? Maybe section 31 will wake him up in another 300 years...
Spoiler alert: the ending makes you think. I didn't really like the ending where Kirk questioned Khan's honesty, I'll have to rewatch the Khan episodes from the TOS to see if he's dishonest or not. Also, re-freezing Khan is lame but what else is starfleet to do? Maybe section 31 will wake him up in another 300 years...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2017
A modern take on Khan and his times
A prequel to the events in the film, the writer does a good job of defining the characters. It's very much like a feature film in comic book form. It combines the best elements of the classic episode of the original series and the events in the movie, Star Trek: Into Darkness.
A prequel to the events in the film, the writer does a good job of defining the characters. It's very much like a feature film in comic book form. It combines the best elements of the classic episode of the original series and the events in the movie, Star Trek: Into Darkness.
May 19, 2014
I really wish that this graphic novel had come out before the film "Star Trek Into Darkness", because it would have explained so much more and I probably would have been able to enjoy the film more.
August 6, 2015
first comic book I have ever read and the reason i'm only giving it 4 stars is because personally I prefer a full read
January 3, 2023
It is a truism that the greatest heroes are made by going against strong villains. Those villains must exude an aura of power, capability and have the genuine opportunity to win the fight. In the Star Trek universe, there has never been a better villain than Khan. His power was magnified by the superior performances by the two actors that played Khan, Ricardo Montalban and Benedict Cumberbatch.
This graphic novel develops the history of Khan from his early days as a destitute child on the streets of New Delhi, through his participation in the program where he and others were turned into modified superbeings, to the time where those superbeings carved out empires to the time where they turned on each other in a cataclysmic war.
Within the confines of the science fiction world, the events of how Khan came into existence and was turned into a powerful and unreliable weapon named John Harrison are plausible. While the science of DNA modification is extended beyond what is likely possible, it is not unreasonably so.
This is a great graphic novel. It expands previous stories featuring Khan in the Star Trek universe and does so without going way out in a scientifically and culturally implausible manner.
This graphic novel develops the history of Khan from his early days as a destitute child on the streets of New Delhi, through his participation in the program where he and others were turned into modified superbeings, to the time where those superbeings carved out empires to the time where they turned on each other in a cataclysmic war.
Within the confines of the science fiction world, the events of how Khan came into existence and was turned into a powerful and unreliable weapon named John Harrison are plausible. While the science of DNA modification is extended beyond what is likely possible, it is not unreasonably so.
This is a great graphic novel. It expands previous stories featuring Khan in the Star Trek universe and does so without going way out in a scientifically and culturally implausible manner.
February 9, 2019
Now, I'm one of those rare people who actually like Into Darkness. And I thought this comic did an excellent job of highlighting Khan's past as well as explaining his appearance. I'm sure people have criticized the casting directors for white-washing Khan. Well, here they canonized it by having him literally white-washed by Marcus. And it's honestly pretty genius.
This comic shows perfectly why audiences loved Khan: he was eloquent, intelligent, cunning, he ruled with grace, he always put his people first, and he had a certain dignity and nobility to his character. Yet he was still a threatening presence. The conclusion was bittersweet but fitting for the character.
So yeah, this was great and I wish this was put in the movie. I think audiences would've responded a lot better to AOS!Khan with this history in mind. I know that when I re-watch the movie, I'll be looking at it through a different lens. I might end up liking it even more!
This comic shows perfectly why audiences loved Khan: he was eloquent, intelligent, cunning, he ruled with grace, he always put his people first, and he had a certain dignity and nobility to his character. Yet he was still a threatening presence. The conclusion was bittersweet but fitting for the character.
So yeah, this was great and I wish this was put in the movie. I think audiences would've responded a lot better to AOS!Khan with this history in mind. I know that when I re-watch the movie, I'll be looking at it through a different lens. I might end up liking it even more!
January 2, 2024
Is this entire book just an attempt to explain why Benedict Cumberbatch doesn't look like Ricardo Montalban? Quite possibly. Obviously the Khan reveal of Into Darkness has ruffled feathers for a while, and I don't have particularly strong feelings on the matter, but it's hard to imagine this book satisfying anyone who hated the change.
This part of the Trek timeline has always felt a little out of place to me. It's close enough to our time that the inaccuracies are glaring. When DS9 shows us the Bell Riots, it's kind of cute in its Escape from New York kitchy charm, but this is closer to one of those endless Tom Clancy branded books (or, actually, it's super similar to the Ender's Shadow series by Orson Scott Card).
I would rather have Trek's spirit of optimism be untethered from the specifics of any particular dark times except for the ones we're living through right now.
This part of the Trek timeline has always felt a little out of place to me. It's close enough to our time that the inaccuracies are glaring. When DS9 shows us the Bell Riots, it's kind of cute in its Escape from New York kitchy charm, but this is closer to one of those endless Tom Clancy branded books (or, actually, it's super similar to the Ender's Shadow series by Orson Scott Card).
I would rather have Trek's spirit of optimism be untethered from the specifics of any particular dark times except for the ones we're living through right now.
March 9, 2020
This graphic novel contains the story of what happened to Khan after Star Trek Into Darkness.
He is under trial from the Federation of planets for the destruction and immense death toll his actions brought on earth.We get a bridge between the original series and the new movies,where we learn how he was changed from his authentic appearance by Marcus in a bid to manipulate him.
We don't get that much interaction with Jim Kirk and his crew,but instead we learn about Khan's crew and the reasons that lead them to abandoning earth in the first place.
Good addition to the comics and worth reading.
He is under trial from the Federation of planets for the destruction and immense death toll his actions brought on earth.We get a bridge between the original series and the new movies,where we learn how he was changed from his authentic appearance by Marcus in a bid to manipulate him.
We don't get that much interaction with Jim Kirk and his crew,but instead we learn about Khan's crew and the reasons that lead them to abandoning earth in the first place.
Good addition to the comics and worth reading.
December 12, 2020
Die Handlung setzt kurz nach Ende des Films „Star Trek Into Darkness“ ein: Khan steht vor Gericht und erzählt etwas widerwillig seine Lebensgeschichte - also wie er sich vom verkrüppelten Jungen aus einem indischen Slum zum Herrscher der Erde und einem der schlimmsten Schurken der Galaxis entwickelt hat.
Der Film ist eine große Enttäuschung, die Graphic Novel holt aber das Bestmögliche aus der Story heraus und vermittelt einige wissenswerte Infos zu Khan, die auch für Star Trek Fans interessant sind, die die Kelvin-Zeitlinie strikt ablehnen. Daher 4 von 5 Sternen ****
Der Film ist eine große Enttäuschung, die Graphic Novel holt aber das Bestmögliche aus der Story heraus und vermittelt einige wissenswerte Infos zu Khan, die auch für Star Trek Fans interessant sind, die die Kelvin-Zeitlinie strikt ablehnen. Daher 4 von 5 Sternen ****
March 14, 2020
Let’s just call this what this is: an attempt to explain away the whitewashing they did of Khan in Into Darkness. I love Benedict Cumberbatch as much as any red-blooded woman, but the character of Khan is an INDIAN MAN. And I can easily name several Indian actors who would’ve made an excellent Khan. As if brown face in The Original Series wasn’t bad enough, we had to go and add insult to injury with whitewashing AND THEN make this graphic novel story to justify it all. Disgusting.
June 6, 2022
Figured there would be no harm in reading this, hoping it would fill in some gaps that were clearly missing in the film by way of explanation for the plot holes.
I got the ‘past’ part of this. I was very familiar with a lot of that stuff and the original Star Trek series ideas etc.
The rest…?
Well, I’ve been trying to determine what I could say about it, and while the art work was very good, I got nothin’.
Seriously.
Like, that’s it.
I got the ‘past’ part of this. I was very familiar with a lot of that stuff and the original Star Trek series ideas etc.
The rest…?
Well, I’ve been trying to determine what I could say about it, and while the art work was very good, I got nothin’.
Seriously.
Like, that’s it.
January 2, 2022
I wasn't a huge fan of Khan in the Kelvinverse movies and this book seemed more like an extended excuse as to why he was played by a white British guy. I thought the background of Khan was pretty thin here and much better done in the Khan novels. Due to when they happened, that's something that really shouldn't have altered.
December 24, 2023
A more acute retelling of the story of one of Star Trek's most notorious characters and one of its best villains. This connects very well the old tale on TOS with the Movie Into Darkness, giving us the history of the eugenic wars, the tale of someone modified to be perfect in every sense and how that manages to be an impossiblity. Very fun read.
September 30, 2024
This just okay volume goes into detail about the history of Khan (which we've seen in various different versions now) and his rise to power during the Eugenics Wars and then how he was discovered in the Kelvin timeline and subsequently how he became Cumberbatch instead of Montalban.
February 12, 2018
Pretty informational.
July 18, 2019
Lived this back Story to Khan. Keeps the door open for future stories, and -to some extent- humanizes the character
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