Shaqui Le Vesconte researched the Star Trek strips in TV Comic, a weekly British comic strip publication, for a feature in Titan's Star Trek Magazine, published in the UK. The Gold Key reprint information wasn't used due to space limitations and is made available here with permission. Shaqui is also editor of The Gerry Anderson Complete Comic History website.
TV Comic Gold Key Star Trek reprints
'Star Trek' was introduced in Polystyle Publications' TV Comic when the title became 'Mighty TV Comic' with issue #1292, dated 18 September 1976. The Star Trek comic strips were serialised b&w reprints of Gold Key Star Trek comics and over the next two years, worked their way through seven of the first nine stories, with the other two appearing in 'Star Trek Winter Special' late in 1976. Initially, each page of art was enlarged to fill the entire tabloid newspaper format, resulting in somewhat crude reproduction, and requiring a masthead squashed along the top of the first panel. From issue #1298, the art was reduced to a size consistent with earlier reprints in the World Distributor annuals, and given a surrounding frame with photos of the Enterprise, Kirk, Spock and the other main characters - including Chekov, who did not appear in any of these Gold Key comics. This frame underwent a revamp, filling the whole spread from issue #1312, and remained for the duration of the run.
The strip was quite nicely promoted by full colour photos on the cover until the publication resumed printing comic strips on the front page from issue #1323. Late in 1977, the title reverted to 'TV Comic' (from issue #1353?) and in spring the following year, returned to a standard comic format from issue #1377. In order to bring the Gold Key reprints to an end shortly after, the final pages of 'The Legacy of Lazarus' were abridged to a rushed conclusion, ending with issue #1381, dated 3 June 1978.
TV Comic Gold Key Star Trek reprint checklist:
#1292-1303: The Planet Of No Return (Gold Key #1)
#1304-1316: The Peril Of Planet Quick Change (Gold Key #4)
Note: Early chapters were incorrectly titled 'The Peril Of Planet Quick Chance'
#1317-1329: The Ghost Planet (Gold Key #5)
#1330-1345: When Planets Collide (Gold Key #6)
#1346-1358: The Voodoo Planet (Gold Key #7)
#1359-1371: The Youth Trap (Gold Key #8)
#1372-1381: The Legacy Of Lazarus (Gold Key #9)
Mighty Midget Comic (free gift with issue #1293): The Perfect Dream (Gold Key #26)
Star Trek Winter Special: 'The Devil's Isle of Space' (Gold Key #2) and 'Invasion of the City Builders' (Gold Key #3)
#1293 25 Sep 1976
Mighty TV Comic
Polystyle Publications
British weekly comic strip publication, tabloid newspaper format. Contains
a variety of comic strips including serialized b&w reprints
of Gold Key Star Trek comics beginning with issue #1292 and continuing
thru issue #1381.
#2 1976
Star Trek Mighty Midget Comic
Polystyle Publications
16-page 8 1/4" x 11 1/4" comic distributed as a free insert with
Mighty TV Comic #1293, 25 Sep 1976. Contains an abridged b&w version
of Gold Key #26. Also has a b&w photo of Kirk on the inside back cover.
Described in the indicia as New Mighty TV Comic No. 2 Mighty Midget Star Trek.
Although similar to the original Gold Key cover art by George Wilson, the Mighty
Midget cover was repainted by John Canning, an artist with a distinctive style
who worked for TV Comic for over 20 years.
1975
Star Trek Winter Special
Polystyle Publications
Reprints Gold Key #2 and #3 in b&w.
Cover art of the Enterprise by John Canning, magazine format.
