Changes: Star Trek: Countdown

Revision as of 16:45, 4 July 2015

Template:Realworld

For the similarly named episode, please see Countdown.

For the similarly named comic book, please see Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness.

Star Trek: Countdown is a four-issue series of comics from IDW Publishing. The series is a prequel tie-in to the 2009 film, Star Trek. It serves as both a lead up to the film and a continuation of the Star Trek: The Next Generation era. The story details the back-story of Nero, the Romulan villain of the film. It takes place in the year 2387, eight years after Star Trek Nemesis, and explains how Nero and Spock ended up in the 23rd century. The first issue was released in January 2009, with one more issue following each month through April 2009.

The series is written by Mike Johnson and Tim Jones, based on a story by Star Trek screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. David Messina is the artist for the series. The official description for the series reads as follows:

The countdown to the motion picture event of 2009 begins here, in the exclusive comics prequel to STAR TREK, the upcoming blockbuster film from Paramount Pictures! JJ Abrams, Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman present the origin of Nero, the mysterious Romulan who will ultimately threaten the survival of the entire universe. Don't miss this story that brings STAR TREK back to the big screen!

The prequel connects the era of Star Trek: The Next Generation to the continuity of the film, inspired by "Unification I" and "Unification II". As such, familiar characters from the TNG era appear in the series. In addition to Nero, Spock from the 24th century, who was last seen in "Unification", is among the main characters of the series. [1] In 2010, the series was further connected to the film by its official comic-book retelling, where the scene in which Spock Prime mind-melds with young Kirk is shown as a collage which is an overview of the Countdown storyline.

Star Trek Online follows the continuity of this comic, although altering the meaning of a few details, such as Worf's rank of General being a temporary commission. Game developers have said that they intervened to ensure that the comic's story only destroyed the Prime Timeline version of Romulus, not other planets such as Vulcan and Earth. ^{(citation needed • edit)}

Publication history

Countdown came about after Anthony Pascale of TrekMovie kept asking the film's writers, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, to create a means for the characters of The Next Generation to "pass the baton" back to the characters of Star Trek: The Original Series. [2] Although comic co-writer Mike Johnson considers Countdown to be canon, Orci stated he was in no position to declare whether it was, though he felt it could be considered canon unless it is contradicted in a later film or TV episode. [3] He later implied it wasn't canon before outright stating, with encouragement from the interviewer, that it was. [4] [5]

Johnson and co-writer Tim Jones work for Kurtzman and Orci at their production company, K/O Productions, and, being fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation, they were asked to come up with a way to honor The Next Generation while connecting it with the new movie. Orci, Kurtzman, and J.J. Abrams provided direction for the comic, while Orci supervised the project. Johnson and Jones were permitted to read parts of the script and watch parts of the film in order to write the comic, particularly those parts which dealt with Nero. [6] [7]

According to Johnson, every scene Nero has in the film fed into the comic book, while the comic gives much more subtext to his scenes. The writers chose to give his Romulan crew informal dialogue to reflect they are miners, not politicians or warriors. Although it involves characters from The Next Generation, the main purpose of the comic was to explain Nero's motives in the film, to show the character's journey "from a proud Romulan patriot to a murderous arch villain." [8] [9]

The series ran for four issues, with one issue released each month from January through April 2009. According to IDW editor-in-chief Chris Ryall, the first issue of Star Trek: Countdown sold out within two weeks of its publication, despite the fact that more copies of the book were printed than originally intended. [10] Electronic versions of the comic books are available on the iPhone and iPod touch from iTunes. The third issue was the first comic to be released in stores and on the iPhone on the same day. [11] A trade paperback omnibus collecting all four issues was released on 7 April 2009, followed by a hardback release in October 2009.

Countdown was also published in issues 1 to 3 of Star Trek Comic. The first issue contained parts One and Two, issues 2 and 3 contained parts Three and Four, respectively.

Creators

File:Trek 09 comic logo art.jpg

Solicitation logo

Written by:
- Tim Jones and Mike Johnson (#1-4)
- Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (story #1-4)
Artists:
- David Messina (#1-4)
Color artists:
- David Messina (#1)
- Giovanna Niro (#1-4)
- Paolo Maddaleni (#1)
- Ilaria Traversi (#2-4)
Letter artists:
- Chris Mowry (#1)
- Neil Uyetake (#2)
- Robbie Robbins (#3-4)
Editors:
- Andy Schmidt (#1-2)
- Scott Dunbier (#3-4)

Issues

Characters

References

External links

Star Trek: Countdown at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
Tim Jones and Mike Johnson Interview at AMCtv.com

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{realworld}}
-{{Sidebar comic series|
+{{Sidebar comic series
-| Image             = Countdown poster art.jpg
+| image             = Countdown poster art.jpg
 | Publisher         = [[IDW Publishing]]
 | Series            =
@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 | Year              = [[2387]]
 }}
+{{disambiguation|the similarly named episode|Countdown (episode)|Countdown}}
+{{disambiguation|the similarly named comic book|Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness}}
 '''''Star Trek: Countdown''''' is a four-issue series of [[comics]] from [[IDW Publishing]]. The series is a prequel tie-in to the {{y|2009}} film, {{film|11}}. It serves as both a lead up to the film and a continuation of the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' era. The story details the back-story of [[Nero]], the [[Romulan]] villain of the film. It takes place in the year [[2387]], eight years after {{film|10}}, and explains how Nero and [[Spock]] ended up in the [[23rd century]]. The first issue was released in {{m|January|2009}}, with one more issue following each month through {{m|April|2009}}.
@@ Line 13: / Line 15: @@
 :''The countdown to the motion picture event of 2009 begins here, in the exclusive comics prequel to ''STAR TREK'', the upcoming blockbuster film from [[Paramount Pictures]]! JJ Abrams, Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman present the origin of Nero, the mysterious Romulan who will ultimately threaten the survival of the entire universe. Don't miss this story that brings ''STAR TREK'' back to the big screen!''
-The prequel connects the era of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' to the continuity of the film, inspired by the [[Unification I (episode)|two]]-[[Unification II (episode)|part]] episode "Unification". As such, familiar characters from the ''TNG'' era appear in the series. In addition to Nero, [[Spock]] from the [[24th century]], who was last seen in "Unification", is among the main characters of the series. [http://trekmovie.com/2008/10/17/exclusive-details-on-star-trek-movie-prequel-comic-series/]
+The prequel connects the era of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' to the continuity of the film, inspired by {{e|Unification I}} and {{e|Unification II}}. As such, familiar characters from the TNG era appear in the series. In addition to Nero, [[Spock]] from the [[24th century]], who was last seen in "Unification", is among the main characters of the series. [http://trekmovie.com/2008/10/17/exclusive-details-on-star-trek-movie-prequel-comic-series/] In 2010, the series was further connected to the film by its official [[Star Trek: The Official Motion Picture Adaptation|comic-book retelling]], where the scene in which Spock Prime mind-melds with young Kirk is shown as a collage which is an overview of the ''Countdown'' storyline.
+[[Star Trek Online]] follows the continuity of this comic, although altering the meaning of a few details, such as Worf's rank of General being a temporary commission.  Game developers have said that they intervened to ensure that the comic's story only destroyed the Prime Timeline version of Romulus, not other planets such as [[Vulcan]] and [[Earth]]. {{incite}}
 == Publication history ==
-''Countdown'' came about after [[Anthony Pascale]] of [http://www.trekmovie.com TrekMovie] kept asking the film's writers, [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]], to create a means for the characters of ''The Next Generation'' to "pass the baton" back to the characters of ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''. [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19114] Although comic co-writer Mike Johnson considers ''Countdown'' to be [[canon]], Orci stated he was in no position to declare whether it was, though he felt it could be considered canon unless it is contradicted in a later film or TV episode. [http://trekmovie.com/2008/12/09/exclusive-interview-roberto-orci-on-all-the-latest-with-star-trek-and-more/] He later implied that it was not canon. [http://trekmovie.com/2009/05/22/orci-and-kurtzman-reveal-star-trek-details-in-trekmovie-fan-qa/]
+''Countdown'' came about after [[Anthony Pascale]] of [http://www.trekmovie.com TrekMovie] kept asking the film's writers, [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]], to create a means for the characters of ''The Next Generation'' to "pass the baton" back to the characters of ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''. [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19114] Although comic co-writer Mike Johnson considers ''Countdown'' to be [[canon]], Orci stated he was in no position to declare whether it was, though he felt it could be considered canon unless it is contradicted in a later film or TV episode. [http://trekmovie.com/2008/12/09/exclusive-interview-roberto-orci-on-all-the-latest-with-star-trek-and-more/] He later implied it wasn't canon before outright stating, with encouragement from the interviewer, that it was. [http://trekmovie.com/2009/05/22/orci-and-kurtzman-reveal-star-trek-details-in-trekmovie-fan-qa/] [http://trekmovie.com/2012/07/17/exclusive-orci-says-star-trek-tv-talks-getting-real-declares-movie-tie-in-comics-game-as-canon/]
-Johnson and co-writer Tim Jones work for Kurtzman and Orci at their production company, K/O Productions, and, being fans of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', they were asked to come up with a way to honor ''The Next Generation'' while connecting it with the new movie. Orci, Kurtzman, and [[J.J. Abrams]] provided direction for the comic, while Orci supervised the project. Johnson and Jones were permitted to read parts of the script and watch parts of the film in order to write the comic, particularly those parts which dealt with Nero. [http://trekmovie.com/2009/03/03/wondercon-2009-idw-panel-report-exclusive-interview-with-countdown-writers/][http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19114]
+Johnson and co-writer Tim Jones work for Kurtzman and Orci at their production company, K/O Productions, and, being fans of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', they were asked to come up with a way to honor ''The Next Generation'' while connecting it with the new movie. Orci, Kurtzman, and [[J.J. Abrams]] provided direction for the comic, while Orci supervised the project. Johnson and Jones were permitted to read parts of the script and watch parts of the film in order to write the comic, particularly those parts which dealt with Nero. [http://trekmovie.com/2009/03/03/wondercon-2009-idw-panel-report-exclusive-interview-with-countdown-writers/] [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19114]
-According to Johnson, every scene Nero has in the film fed into the comic book, while the comic gives much more subtext to his scenes. The writers chose to give his Romulan crew informal dialogue to reflect they are miners, not politicians or warriors. Although it involves characters from ''The Next Generation'', the main purpose of the comic was to explain Nero's motives in the film, to show the character's journey "from a proud Romulan patriot to a murderous arch villain."[http://trekmovie.com/2009/03/03/wondercon-2009-idw-panel-report-exclusive-interview-with-countdown-writers/][http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19114]
+According to Johnson, every scene Nero has in the film fed into the comic book, while the comic gives much more subtext to his scenes. The writers chose to give his Romulan crew informal dialogue to reflect they are miners, not politicians or warriors. Although it involves characters from ''The Next Generation'', the main purpose of the comic was to explain Nero's motives in the film, to show the character's journey "from a proud Romulan patriot to a murderous arch villain." [http://trekmovie.com/2009/03/03/wondercon-2009-idw-panel-report-exclusive-interview-with-countdown-writers/] [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19114]
-The series ran for four issues, with one issue released each month from January through April 2009. According to IDW editor-in-chief Chris Ryall, the first issue of ''Star Trek: Countdown'' sold out within two weeks of its publication, despite the fact that more copies of the book were printed than originally intended.[http://ryalltime.blogspot.com/2009/01/counting-up.html] Electronic versions of the comic books are available on the iPhone and iPod touch from Apple's App Store. The third issue was the first comic to be released in stores and on the iPhone on the same day.[http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/04/03/brainstorming-digital-comics-11/] A [[Star Trek: Countdown (comic)|trade paperback]] collecting all four issues was released on {{d|7|April|2009}}.
+The series ran for four issues, with one issue released each month from January through April 2009. According to IDW editor-in-chief Chris Ryall, the first issue of ''Star Trek: Countdown'' sold out within two weeks of its publication, despite the fact that more copies of the book were printed than originally intended. [http://ryalltime.blogspot.com/2009/01/counting-up.html] Electronic versions of the comic books are available on the iPhone and iPod touch from [[iTunes]]. The third issue was the first comic to be released in stores and on the iPhone on the same day. [http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/04/03/brainstorming-digital-comics-11/] A [[Star Trek: Countdown (omnibus)|trade paperback omnibus]] collecting all four issues was released on {{d|7|April|2009}}, followed by a hardback release in {{m|October|2009}}.
 ''Countdown'' was also published in issues 1 to 3 of ''[[Star Trek Comic]]''. The first issue contained parts One and Two, issues 2 and 3 contained parts Three and Four, respectively.
@@ Line 57: / Line 61: @@
 <gallery heights="150" widths="150">
 File:Countdown Ayel.jpg|[[Ayel]]
-Captain-Data-Countdown-1.jpg|[[Data]]/[[B-4]]
+Captain-Data-Countdown-1.jpg|[[Data]] / [[B-4]]
 File:Geordi La Forge, Countdown.jpg|[[Geordi La Forge]]
 File:Countdown Picard.jpg|[[Jean-Luc Picard]]
@@ Line 69: / Line 73: @@
 *{{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}}
 *'''Hobus Star'''
-*[[Jellyfish (ship)|''Jellyfish'']]
+*''[[Jellyfish (ship)|Jellyfish]]''
-*[[Narada|''Narada'']]
+*''[[Narada]]''
-*{{ShipClass|Olympic}}
+*{{Class|Olympic}}
 *[[Red matter]]
 *[[Romulus]]
 *[[Vulcan (planet)|Vulcan]]
-== External link ==
+== See also ==
+*''[[Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness]]'', the prequel comic miniseries for {{film|12}}.
-* {{NCwiki-title}}
-*[http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner/2009/05/star-trek-countdown-interview.php Tim Jones and Mike Johnson Interview at AMCtv.com]
+== External links ==
+* {{mbeta-title}}
+* [http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner/2009/05/star-trek-countdown-interview.php Tim Jones and Mike Johnson Interview] at [http://amctv.com AMCtv.com]
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Countdown}}
+[[fr:Countdown (IDW Publishing)]]
+[[it:Star Trek: Countdown]]
 [[Category:Comic series]]
-[[Category:Memory Alpha articles related to Star Trek (film) production]]
-[[fr:Star Trek: Countdown]]
-[[it:Star Trek: Countdown]]