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Star Trek Archives #1
Star Trek Archives: Best of Peter David
Star Trek Archives Volume 1: Best of Peter David collects five Star Trek: The Original Series stories written by fan-favorite Peter David. Bill Mumy (Lost in Space) co-writes three issues and one issue is illustrated by legendary comic artist, Curt Swan. The stories in this volume focus on the first crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise -- Captain Kirk, Spock, Dr. McCoy, Scotty, and Mr. Chekov.
144 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2008
32 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Peter David
3,569 books1,365 followersaka David Peters
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 1, 2022
My first experience with Peter David was the novelization of the first Tobey Maguire Spider-Man flick, which I received as a Christmas gift all the way back in 2002. Like usual for such an adaptation, there were scenes and references that were not present in the flick; however, I found it to be very well-written. Years later, I found the literary adaptation of Spidey's second cinematic adventure, and enjoyed it even more; while Spider-Man 2 is easily one of the best superhero films ever made, Mr. David still augmented it with extra details that made the prose version a completely different experience.
Since then, I've discovered lots of other sci-fi/fantasy universes; I've become a fan of everything from X-Men to Star Trek. So, as you'd expect, I checked out Peter David's other works...and had a blast with them! His Spider-Man 2099 series was among the best comic book sagas I've ever read!
That brings us to this book. As a fan of Mr. David's work, of course I'd like a "best of" compilation by him. These were great comics featuring Kirk and crew; I only wish there were more of them. Still, I got this from a library app for free, and beggars can't be choosers.
Since then, I've discovered lots of other sci-fi/fantasy universes; I've become a fan of everything from X-Men to Star Trek. So, as you'd expect, I checked out Peter David's other works...and had a blast with them! His Spider-Man 2099 series was among the best comic book sagas I've ever read!
That brings us to this book. As a fan of Mr. David's work, of course I'd like a "best of" compilation by him. These were great comics featuring Kirk and crew; I only wish there were more of them. Still, I got this from a library app for free, and beggars can't be choosers.
August 29, 2021
The stories were good. The artstyle doesn't particularly appeal to me, but it didn't really get in the way of enjoying the stories. The "worthy" storyline felt like "the crew of the enterprise meets superheroes".
May 27, 2018
Some fine work revealing facets of the cast - particularly Scotty and Kirk. Peter David is one of my favorite of the Trek writers in all media (novels and comics). Art was solid, but hindered by wretched reproduction (IDW apparently just scanned in the actual published comics pages with no attempt to color correct or clean up dropped lines and shaky printing from the original DC Comics issues). Not sure "The Worthy" story required three issues to tell, but since this was David and co-writer Bill Mumy's tribute to the Lost in Space series, some indulgences are allowed.
August 26, 2019
The first story is about Scotty. His wife was dead. Peter died (Star Trek The Wrath of Khan if I remember correctly.) The story takes place just before The Search for Spock and is some of Scotty's back story.
Then there's a story about a flying robot that attacks the crew members on a planet. It's a story about the 'Worthy,' their legend and their return.
The Worthy story is pretty good.
Then there's a story about a flying robot that attacks the crew members on a planet. It's a story about the 'Worthy,' their legend and their return.
The Worthy story is pretty good.
April 21, 2021
Collecting five issues written or co-written by the legendary media tie-in writer Peter David, this collection of Original Series movie era Star Trek tales highlights some of his comic work for the franchise. From Scotty's great love in a story told in reverse to Kirk trying to eulogize a dead Ensign, David offers up two wonderfully written character pieces that explore the lives and characters of some of Trek's most beloved characters. The Scotty story gets a further boost by the presence of artwork by Curt Swan, who does some fine work capturing different eras of TOS as David's writing unfolds.
The majority of this collection, though, is given over to the three-issue Return of the Worthy. Co-written by Bill Mumy, this tale features Enterprise crew running across a group of long-lost explorers, including a young boy and his robotic best friend, now seeking a place in the cosmos they long ago left behind. As that brief description might suggest, Return of the Worthy plays as one part Trek story and one part homage to another icon of sixties TV SF in which Mumy appeared. It's perhaps a tad too long and self-indulgent for its own good, but it's a fun read all the same. And for Trek fans, what more can you ask of a comics collection?
The majority of this collection, though, is given over to the three-issue Return of the Worthy. Co-written by Bill Mumy, this tale features Enterprise crew running across a group of long-lost explorers, including a young boy and his robotic best friend, now seeking a place in the cosmos they long ago left behind. As that brief description might suggest, Return of the Worthy plays as one part Trek story and one part homage to another icon of sixties TV SF in which Mumy appeared. It's perhaps a tad too long and self-indulgent for its own good, but it's a fun read all the same. And for Trek fans, what more can you ask of a comics collection?
February 5, 2022
A fun collection of stories from the "red jacket" movie era that does an especially good job of making Star Trek work in the comics medium. The actor likenesses are accurate without looking like traced photos, and the new characters look like something that could have been realized on screen in the 1980s.
September 14, 2019
Would have been better, would it not be for Admiral Tomlinson to be such a annoying character that should not be allowed to keep his job - and for the racist slurs Scotty used. Especially since islamophobic slurs against aliens are not only, well, slurs, but also extremely illogical.
May 8, 2022
Love the author, Peter David. That the first three were co-written by Bill Mumy was kind of cool, too. I like the way that David is able to inject humor into the books as sort of Easter Eggs. Nice shout out to Douglas Adams. Had a good time with this.
November 10, 2020
Excellent!
A very good graphic novel. I definitely give it five *****'s! Love Peter David's material and some of these tales were also co-written by Bill Mumy, too. 😀
A very good graphic novel. I definitely give it five *****'s! Love Peter David's material and some of these tales were also co-written by Bill Mumy, too. 😀
December 17, 2020
Trekkies, I suppose, will love this collection but I found it wanting. That’s not to say that the cartooning wasn’t excellent, though.
October 9, 2021
I really love these collections of 'Best Of' that they created! These felt like they could have been recreated from the TV series as the characterization was so spot-on.
November 24, 2022
Classic read
A beautifully written set of tales by a sci-fi master. The best part is that the voices of the characters (and actors) come alive through the dialogue. A joy to read.
A beautifully written set of tales by a sci-fi master. The best part is that the voices of the characters (and actors) come alive through the dialogue. A joy to read.
August 14, 2025
Meh. Fun to see the artwork but the story was pretty thin.
February 7, 2017
Good stories, but weak art.
November 16, 2021
Why they wanted a whole issue making up a wife for Scotty is inexplicable, but the Worthy storyline wasn't bad, and the one-shot of Kirk trying to compose a eulogy for a crewman he didn't know is very good.
August 28, 2013
Star Trek Archives Volume 1: Best of Peter David is a collection of five Star Trek comics. Three of them were co-written with Bill Mumy and comprised a single story and two one-shot stories.
Ironically, the best of the stories collected in here is the first one entitled Scotty's Story where we find out that Scotty was married and that his wife had died and we are told the story about the women who won Scotty's heart from her death to their first meeting.
This was a delightful tale which gave the character of Scotty more background than he had ever seen before and made me like him even more than I did before.
The bulk of the book was taken up with the three issue story featuring a group of characters named the Worthy who were discovered in a derelict spaceship and who they were and what they meant to the crew of the Enterprise.
The artwork contained within the book were generally good but the best off all was seen in Scotty's Story with the main characters often being given passable likenesses to themselves in the other issues.
Again one for the fans only.
Ironically, the best of the stories collected in here is the first one entitled Scotty's Story where we find out that Scotty was married and that his wife had died and we are told the story about the women who won Scotty's heart from her death to their first meeting.
This was a delightful tale which gave the character of Scotty more background than he had ever seen before and made me like him even more than I did before.
The bulk of the book was taken up with the three issue story featuring a group of characters named the Worthy who were discovered in a derelict spaceship and who they were and what they meant to the crew of the Enterprise.
The artwork contained within the book were generally good but the best off all was seen in Scotty's Story with the main characters often being given passable likenesses to themselves in the other issues.
Again one for the fans only.
October 29, 2013
The artwork suffered from "80s syndrome" (that is to say, coloring off, characters off, and the pages just sometimes being downright unattractive). And there was a single spot of characterization that didn't quite work for me in the final chapter. (Kirk's pleased to send some criminals off to be tortured and killed -- really??) Still, the three stories in this collection had clever ideas, were paced well, and had some humorous and downright inspired moments of dialog.
I'm awarding an additional star than I otherwise would have because I read the bulk of this collection while sitting in a hospital waiting room. I was there waiting for a family member who was undergoing a routine procedure, and everything worked out just beautifully -- but I was on pins and needles waiting just the same! This collection helped focus my mind elsewhere for a time -- and any book that served as "security blanket" during a stressful morning deserves an extra star for sure. ;-)
I'm awarding an additional star than I otherwise would have because I read the bulk of this collection while sitting in a hospital waiting room. I was there waiting for a family member who was undergoing a routine procedure, and everything worked out just beautifully -- but I was on pins and needles waiting just the same! This collection helped focus my mind elsewhere for a time -- and any book that served as "security blanket" during a stressful morning deserves an extra star for sure. ;-)
August 9, 2016
Published in the 80s and 90s, three main stories are featured in this volume: Scotty's relationship with his wife is reminisced after her death, where he recalls all their ups and downs even to their first encounters as children. Then, a group of lost explorers, very similar to the Enterprise cast, is found in stasis after centuries of their original voyages, and the challenges and opportunities they have to face to recover their place in the current galaxy. And finally, a moving piece of Kirk trying to fill all the pieces of the puzzle a dead crewmen left.
Good compilation of old time comics, featuring the TOS cast.
Good compilation of old time comics, featuring the TOS cast.
September 23, 2016
The artwork isn't really my taste, but I got used to it. "Retrospect" was a nice stroll down Scotty's memory lane as he remembers his deceased wife. It adds a bit more to his character in my opinion. "The Return of the Worthy" involves legends being released from suspended animation and then figuring out what to do. This is a three-parter, but it's my least favorite of the stories here. The others are more personal. The last story, "Once A Hero," has Kirk realizing that he does not want to deliver a generic eulogy again for a stranger who saved his life, and he calls for each crew member to get to know each other better since life and death can be unpredictable.
August 1, 2011
Peter David has always been a favorite writer of mine (since The Hulk in the 90s).
Here are some rather satisfying post-Wrath of Khan TOS tales, starting with DC Star Ttek Annual 3, focusing on Scotty's forgotten marriage! The annual issue was drawn by none other than Superman artist Curt Swan.
The other tales are good too, the Scotty tale at the front was the highlight for me. The art and the stories compliment well the more modern John Byrne Star Trek stories being published by IDW.
Here are some rather satisfying post-Wrath of Khan TOS tales, starting with DC Star Ttek Annual 3, focusing on Scotty's forgotten marriage! The annual issue was drawn by none other than Superman artist Curt Swan.
The other tales are good too, the Scotty tale at the front was the highlight for me. The art and the stories compliment well the more modern John Byrne Star Trek stories being published by IDW.
August 8, 2016
As much as I love star trek, I've never delved much into the expanded universe too much but after hanging out with crew of the post "star trek: the movie" era, it was kind of great. Peter David, a writer I've always enjoyed did a great job of capturing the essence of the middle aged enterprise crew. I may really have to explore the extended universe more. Art could been a wee bit better but otherwise, it was great
June 15, 2013
The Worthy is one the best plots I've read in Trek comics.
Peter David is one of the best Trek writers. I've always loved his work, but this collection highlights how well he knew Trek, its principles and characters.
Peter David is one of the best Trek writers. I've always loved his work, but this collection highlights how well he knew Trek, its principles and characters.
January 31, 2011
Nope, didn't really like any of these.
November 15, 2011
Awful art, but PAD's post-Wrath of Khan stories make up for it -- mostly.
June 30, 2013
As one would expect from anything with Peter David, thoughtful, interesting stories with well-placed humor.
December 14, 2015
Solid collection of movie era Trek stories. Nothing spectacular, but it was nice to see the supporting cast get some development.
October 29, 2016
The stories are all mature and enjoyable but otherwise kind of generic and predictable.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews