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{{realworld}}
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{{real world}}
 
{{Sidebar comic series
 
{{Sidebar comic series
| image = Countdown poster art.jpg
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|image = Countdown poster art.jpg
| Publisher = [[IDW Publishing]]
+
|publisher = [[IDW Publishing]]
| Series =
+
|series =
| Published = {{m|January|2009}} to {{m|April|2009}}
+
|published = {{m|January|2009}} - {{m|April|2009}}
| Issues = 4
+
|issues = 4
| Year = [[2387]]
+
|year = [[2387]]
  +
|stardate = 64333.4–64467.14
 
}}
 
}}
  +
: ''For the comic series with a similar title, please see [[Star Trek: Picard - Countdown]]''
'''''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}}.
 
  +
'''''Star Trek: Countdown''''' is a four-issue [[comics]] miniseries published by [[IDW Publishing]] and released in {{y|2009}}. Written by [[Mike Johnson]] and {{dis|Tim Jones|comic author}}, based on a story by screenwriters [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]], the series is a prequel to the film {{film|11}}, detailing the back-story of [[Nero]]. It takes place in the year [[2387]], eight years after {{film|10}}, and connects the era of {{s|TNG}} to the continuity of the film (inspired by {{e|Unification I}} and {{e|Unification II}}), and explains how Nero and [[Spock]] ended up in the [[23rd century]].
   
  +
A {{dis|Star Trek: Countdown|omnibus|trade paperback collection}} was released in {{m|April|2009}}, shortly after the last issue of the series, followed by a hardback release in {{m|October|2009}}; the series was also collected in the first volume of the ''[[Star Trek Graphic Novel Collection]]'' in {{m|January|2017}}.
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:
 
  +
  +
== Summary ==
  +
;Solicitation blurb
 
:''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 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!''
  +
{{review}}
 
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.
 
 
== 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 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]
 
 
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 [[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.
 
   
 
== Creators ==
 
== Creators ==
[[File:Trek 09 comic logo art.jpg|thumb|Solicitation logo]]
+
[[File:Star Trek Countdown logo art.jpg|thumb|Solicitation logo]]
 
<div class="appear">
 
<div class="appear">
 
* Written by:
 
* Written by:
** [[Tim Jones]] and [[Mike Johnson]] (#1-4)
+
** {{dis|Tim Jones|comic author}} and [[Mike Johnson]] (#1-4)
 
** [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]] (story #1-4)
 
** [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]] (story #1-4)
 
* Artists:
 
* Artists:
Line 53: Line 46:
 
# "[[Countdown, Number Three]]"
 
# "[[Countdown, Number Three]]"
 
# "[[Countdown, Number Four]]"
 
# "[[Countdown, Number Four]]"
  +
  +
== Background information ==
  +
*''Countdown'' came about after [[Anthony Pascale]] of {{TrekMovie.com}} 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 {{s|TOS}}. [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19114]
  +
 
* Johnson and co-writer Tim Jones worked for Kurtzman and Orci at their production company, K/O Productions, and, being fans of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', 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. {{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." {{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 IDW editor-in-chief [[Chris Ryall]], the first issue of the series 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]
  +
  +
* Digital editions of the issues were released through [[iTunes]]. The third issue was the first comic to be released in stores and in digital format on the same day. [http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/04/03/brainstorming-digital-comics-11/]
  +
 
* ''Countdown'' was republished in issues 1-3 of ''[[Star Trek Comic]]''. The first issue contained parts One and Two, issues 2 and 3 contained parts Three and Four, respectively.
  +
 
* Although co-writer Mike Johnson considered ''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 was contradicted in a later film or TV episode. {{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 stating, with encouragement from the interviewer, that it was. {{TrekMovie.com|2009/05/22/orci-and-kurtzman-reveal-star-trek-details-in-trekmovie-fan-qa/}} {{TrekMovie.com|2012/07/17/exclusive-orci-says-star-trek-tv-talks-getting-real-declares-movie-tie-in-comics-game-as-canon/}}
  +
** Portions of ''Countdown'' would later be confirmed as non-canon with the release of ''[[Star Trek: Picard]]'' (notably co-produced and co-written by Alex Kurtzman, who helped come up with the premise of the comic) which directly contradicted several elements of the comic (the most notable being that [[Data]]'s memories and personality did not eventually emerge in [[B-4]], the transfer instead failing leading to B-4 being dismantled). Some elements however, were seemingly retained and possibly inspired by the comic, such as the idea of a Romulan faction utilizing Borg technology in the aftermath of Romulus' destruction.
  +
  +
* The {{y|2010}} [[Star Trek: The Official Motion Picture Adaptation|comic-book adaptation of the film]] contains further connections to this series; the scene in which Spock Prime mind-melds with young {{alt|James T. Kirk|Kirk}} is portrayed as a collage overview of the ''Countdown'' story line.
  +
  +
*Most of the team for the comic reunited for the four-issue miniseries ''[[Star Trek: Nero]]'', which told the story of Nero and his crew's capture by the Klingon Empire after the Kelvin's sacrifice, until their subsequent escape and the fulfillment of their quest to find Ambassador Spock.
  +
  +
*''[[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}}
   
 
== Characters ==
 
== Characters ==
 
<gallery heights="150" widths="150">
 
<gallery heights="150" widths="150">
 
File:Countdown Ayel.jpg|[[Ayel]]
 
File:Countdown Ayel.jpg|[[Ayel]]
Captain-Data-Countdown-1.jpg|[[Data]] / [[B-4]]
+
File:Captain-Data-Countdown-1.jpg|[[Data]] / [[B-4]]
 
File:Geordi La Forge, Countdown.jpg|[[Geordi La Forge]]
 
File:Geordi La Forge, Countdown.jpg|[[Geordi La Forge]]
 
File:Countdown Picard.jpg|[[Jean-Luc Picard]]
 
File:Countdown Picard.jpg|[[Jean-Luc Picard]]
File:Countdown Mandana.jpg|[[Unnamed Romulans (24th century)#Nero's wife|Mandana]]
+
File:Countdown Mandana.jpg|[[Mandana]]
 
File:Countdown Nero.jpg|[[Nero]]
 
File:Countdown Nero.jpg|[[Nero]]
 
File:Countdown Spock.jpg|[[Spock]]
 
File:Countdown Spock.jpg|[[Spock]]
 
File:Countdown Worf.jpg|[[Worf]]
 
File:Countdown Worf.jpg|[[Worf]]
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 
== References ==
 
*{{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}}
 
*'''Hobus Star'''
 
*''[[Jellyfish (ship)|Jellyfish]]''
 
*''[[Narada]]''
 
*{{Class|Olympic}}
 
*[[Red matter]]
 
*[[Romulus]]
 
*[[Vulcan (planet)|Vulcan]]
 
   
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
Line 80: Line 85:
   
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
* {{NCwiki-title}}
+
* {{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]
 
* [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]
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{{Comic nav
 
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|series = ''{{dis|Star Trek: The Next Generation|IDW}}''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Countdown}}
 
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|prev = "[[Star Trek: The Next Generation - Intelligence Gathering|Intelligence Gathering]]"
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|next = "[[Star Trek: The Last Generation]]"
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}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT|Countdown}}
 
[[fr:Countdown (IDW Publishing)]]
 
[[fr:Countdown (IDW Publishing)]]
 
[[it:Star Trek: Countdown]]
 
[[it:Star Trek: Countdown]]

Latest revision as of 05:01, 14 February 2024

Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)

For the comic series with a similar title, please see Star Trek: Picard - Countdown

Star Trek: Countdown is a four-issue comics miniseries published by IDW Publishing and released in 2009. Written by Mike Johnson and Tim Jones, based on a story by screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, the series is a prequel to the film Star Trek, detailing the back-story of Nero. It takes place in the year 2387, eight years after Star Trek Nemesis, and connects the era of Star Trek: The Next Generation to the continuity of the film (inspired by "Unification I" and "Unification II"), and explains how Nero and Spock ended up in the 23rd century.

A trade paperback collection was released in April 2009, shortly after the last issue of the series, followed by a hardback release in October 2009; the series was also collected in the first volume of the Star Trek Graphic Novel Collection in January 2017.

Summary

Solicitation blurb
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!

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

Creators

Star Trek Countdown logo art

Solicitation logo

Issues

  1. "Countdown, Number One"
  2. "Countdown, Number Two"
  3. "Countdown, Number Three"
  4. "Countdown, Number Four"

Background information

  • Johnson and co-writer Tim Jones worked for Kurtzman and Orci at their production company, K/O Productions, and, being fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation, 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. [2] [3]
  • 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." [4] [5]
  • According to IDW editor-in-chief Chris Ryall, the first issue of the series sold out within two weeks of its publication, despite the fact that more copies of the book were printed than originally intended. [6]
  • Digital editions of the issues were released through iTunes. The third issue was the first comic to be released in stores and in digital format on the same day. [7]
  • Countdown was republished in issues 1-3 of Star Trek Comic. The first issue contained parts One and Two, issues 2 and 3 contained parts Three and Four, respectively.
  • Although co-writer Mike Johnson considered 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 was contradicted in a later film or TV episode. [8] He later implied it wasn't canon before stating, with encouragement from the interviewer, that it was. [9] [10]
    • Portions of Countdown would later be confirmed as non-canon with the release of Star Trek: Picard (notably co-produced and co-written by Alex Kurtzman, who helped come up with the premise of the comic) which directly contradicted several elements of the comic (the most notable being that Data's memories and personality did not eventually emerge in B-4, the transfer instead failing leading to B-4 being dismantled). Some elements however, were seemingly retained and possibly inspired by the comic, such as the idea of a Romulan faction utilizing Borg technology in the aftermath of Romulus' destruction.
  • The 2010 comic-book adaptation of the film contains further connections to this series; the scene in which Spock Prime mind-melds with young Kirk is portrayed as a collage overview of the Countdown story line.
  • Most of the team for the comic reunited for the four-issue miniseries Star Trek: Nero, which told the story of Nero and his crew's capture by the Klingon Empire after the Kelvin's sacrifice, until their subsequent escape and the fulfillment of their quest to find Ambassador Spock.
  • 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 needededit)

Characters

See also

External links

Previous issue: Series Next issue:
"Intelligence Gathering" Star Trek: The Next Generation "Star Trek: The Last Generation"