Final TOS retro print set

This month sees the twentieth, and final, set of prints in Juan Ortiz's series of TOS retro designs (don't worry about withdrawal though, the TAS series is still to come), and as usual StarTrek.com have previewed the set, with commentary on each design by Ortiz, highlights from which follow.

My favourite from this rounds has to be Where No Man Has Gone Before, as the title is a phrase used throughout Star Trek it makes quite a nice general Trek op-art poster.

Where No Man Has Gone Before

The image was created in Adobe Illustrator. A lot of it is by trying and failing until I get it right. I may have spent more time figuring out the color before finally settling in on the blue.

Shore Leave

It began with the rabbit. I tried several different illustration styles, but couldn't quite get the right level of seriousness. The collage direction was the way to go, for me. The grays and muted colors give it a more mature look, away from the obvious guy-in-a-rabbit-suit aspect of the episode.

Apparently this was one of Ortiz' favourite designs:

I seem to have a different favorite depending on my mood, but this one keeps popping up. I like when an idea comes together with ease, like this one did. It's simple, but works without being too illustrative or too colorful. It's the right balance of seriousness that I was trying to achieve, especially when your main image is a rabbit in a suit. I wanted it to be more thought-provoking. If you're a Star Trek fan, you'll get it. If you're not a Star Trek fan, you will hopefully want to watch the episode.

Metamorphosis

I wasn't trying for anything fancy on this one. I felt like I had a pretty good layout, so I kept it as is.

Turnabout Intruder

I had been inspired by Japanese posters. That's why the copy is so bold. It morphed into more of a magazine cover, instead. But that's okay. Where I start is not as important as where I end. I did spend a lot of time at the magazine section of the Japanese bookstore. So that may account for the course change.

Despite the obvious, I did not pick the pink and blue because of the male/female switch in the episode. I wanted something bold and the blue and black both really popped against the pink. I was worried that this one may not sit well with the rest of the group, but it makes a good segue into the more brighter Animated Series prints that I created the next year.

As ever all four designs will be released as a set of posters, as well as printed on T-shirts, and shot glasses.

To mark the end of the series, We Love Fine also have a promotional offer; if you want enough Star Trek T-shirts to keep you clothed for almost three months without doing any washing, you can buy the entire series of eighty designs for 20% off the full price, which takes it down to just $1600.

Continue after the jump for a look at how the designs from this final set translated to the different formats:

I, Enterprise preview

Out this week is the thirty-first issue of IDW's nuTrek ongoing series, the first half of a two-part story exploring the surprising origins of the Enterprise's cyborg crew-member, Science Officer 0718. Continue after the jump for the rest of the seven-page preview from I, Enterprise, Part One:

Latest Starships Collection previews

The Official Starships Collection website has been updated with new preview images, revealing the covers and come new model photos of issues sixteen to eighteen, the Ferengi Marauder, USS Dauntless, and Bajoran Solar Sailor:

A couple of online retailers, Forbidden Planet, and X-Comics have also added listings for a few issues, posting higher res versions of previously released preview images of the Bajoran Solar Sailor, Vor'cha class, USS Enterprise-E, and Krenim Temporal Weapon. Continue after the jump for a look at those:

Book bits: New titles, details, and German Destiny

Lots of books news today, starting with several new titles revealed by the latest additions to Amazon's listings. Several new titles have been added, in some cases revealing the titles and/or release dates. Perhaps most notable is that there are two titles being released under the DS9 banner, the first time since 2009 thanks to DS9 stories constantly occurring within crossovers recently! New titles on Amazon are:

New Deep Space 9

DS9: The Missing, by Una McCormack (January 2015)

• McCormack has confirmed this is the new title for the novel previously listed as TNG: Home Again.
• This story is set to feature Doctor Beverly Crusher as the temporary chief medical officer on DS9 following the events of The Fall.
• Pre-orders: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.es, Amazon.it, Amazon.co.jp.

TOS: Foul Deeds Will Rise, by Greg Cox (December 2014)

• This is apparently a TOS movie era novel, but no other details have been revealed so far.
• Pre-orders: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.co.jp.

Section 31: Disavowed, by David Mack (November 2014)

• Bashir follow-up to The Fall, obviously featuring Section 31. Mack has also noted there will be connections to his Mirror Universe novel Rise Like Lions, and related events from the middle book of his Cold Equations trilogy, Silent Weapons.
• Pre-orders: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.es, Amazon.it, Amazon.co.jp. 

Voyager: Acts of Contrition, by Kirsten Beyer (October 2014)

• Second book in a trilogy of stories in the Voyager relaunch, which started with the recently released novel, Protectors.
• Pre-orders: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.es, Amazon.it, Amazon.co.jp.

DS9: Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found), by Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann (September 2014)

• A Quark-focused ebook novella, set on the new DS9.
• Pre-orders: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.es, Amazon.it, Amazon.co.jp. 

Recent author interviews have also revealed new details of books to come. TrekCore talked to Kirsten Beyer about Protectors, and also got her to discuss the next books in the Voyager relaunch, including revealing the working title of the third book in the current Voyager trilogy; following Protectors, and Acts of Contrition, will be Atonement. Speaking about Acts of Contrition, Beyer gave this summary:

We’re going deep into the Worlds of the First Quadrant. If you know me at all, you should probably assume that’s not going to go terribly smoothly. We’re also going to continue to explore the catomic plague, and of course, Seven’s reunion with Axum. Doctor Sharak gets more development and a familiar face for Voyager fans who we haven’t see much of in the relaunch helps with that.

For Acts of Contrition, I decided to try my hand at writing the first actual scene ever written almost completely in Tamarian in any of the books. I sort of like how it turned out, so I hope others will too. Tom Paris will face his mother in mediation and that story will be resolved…mostly. And yes, we will learn more about the alliances being formed in the Delta Quadrant between former enemies that seem determined to undermine the fleet.

There’s a lot going on. One of the most consistent complaints I’m seeing about Protectors is that it felt too much like a set-up for another story. It was. I hope folks will be more understanding when they see how much more there is to come and how it all builds from what began in Protectors and is ultimately resolved in the final book.

Beyer also had lots to say about what she explored in Protectors, visit TrekCore for the full interview. Meanwhile TrekFM's Literary Treks podcast also interviewed an author recently, the newest contributor to the world of Star Trek, John Jackson Miller, who made his debut last month with the Titan ebook, Absent Enemies. One thing revealed in the interview was that Miller also started work in the Trekverse much earlier; he was set to write a novella for the Corps of Engineers series, but wasn't able to proceed when the series was cancelled!

While the interview was mainly focused on Absent Enemies, including comparisons with writing Star Wars, and decisions made when considering the shorter format of the novella, Miller did also look forward to his forthcoming Aventine novel, which he revealed will also feature the Enterprise-E, and characterised the book as a "sprawling adventure story".

Finally, Cross Cult have recently announced that, in August, they will be releasing a hardcover omnibus of their German translations of David Mack's Destiny trilogy. They have released cover art, which uses the triptych of covers from their versions of the individual books. Talking to my German expert, Jens Deffner, the point was raised that this could have been an opportunity for Cross Cult to update their translations to reflect the tweaks Mack made to Destiny when the US omnibus edition was release. Alas Jens believes they will be sticking with their existing translations.

Into Darkness deleted scenes and concept art

An original Constitution class from one of the Into Darkness cut scenes

As you might recall, Paramount did an impressive job of dividing up the extra features on the Into Darkness home video releases, so that you had to seek them out from as many different retailers and providers as possible if you wanted to see everything. One of those sources is X-Box SmartGlass, an app for mobile devices that displays extra bits on your second screen along-side the digital copy of the film on the X-Box. That includes exclusive behind-the-scenes clips, concept art (which I have posted a sampling of before), and the only place you'll find any of the deleted scenes (although some have been eluded to in other behind-the-scenes features).

For those without a X-Box those deleted scenes have remained a mystery, until now. The resourceful people over at TrekCore have tracked them down, and posted detailed descriptions of them all. There are nine deleted scenes available:

• An alternate take on the discussion between Pike and Kirk in Pike's office.
• The explanation of Carol Marcus' English accent.
• A different version of Uhura speaking to the Klingons on Qo'noS.
• And a different version of the start of the fight with the Klingons.
• Thomas Harewood's message to Admiral Marcus.
• A Captain's Log scene after the Nibiru incident.
• Kirk witnessing Pike's death.
• Scotty blagging his way into the Section 31 shipyard.
• Kirk meeting the Harewood's after his speech at the end of the film.

Check out TrekCore's coverage for full descriptions of all the scenes.

Meanwhile, one of the film's production artists, Victor Martinez, has posted some samples of his work form the film on his website. Including artwork of Qo'noS, the Enterprise's warp core, and England, like these:

Anovos' Admiral Kirk uniform

Anovos have announced their second The Wrath of Khan uniform replica, following their initial Captain Spock offering, they now have Admiral Kirk's uniform available for pre-order. As before, they have recreated every detail, as they describe:

The result of years of research and development, this uniform is the most accurate and complex garment we have ever offered -- even for a Standard Line Offering. Admiral Kirk’s Standard Uniform boasts the same level of quality and attention to detail found in our Captain Spock Standard Uniform, but adds the Flag Officer details only seen in Admiral Kirk’s Uniform.

No expense was spared in our research and development of Admiral Kirk's Standard Uniform. Not only were costume designer Robert Fletcher’s iconic uniforms examined from a plethora of reference material, we went so far as to reverse engineer a screen used Star Trek II uniform from our personal archives.

Our Admiral Kirk Standard Uniform uses a custom milled and dyed cavalry twill which replicates the look and feel of the original uniform’s wool élastique, while being more comfortable, durable, and cost effective. We also added the correct gold soutache trim on the jacket and pant to signify a Flag Officer of Admiral Kirk’s rank, as well as the distinctive black and gold check (Rear Admiral) ribbon to the left arm as only seen in The Wrath of Khan movie. Lastly, we recreated the Officer’s Chest Insignia, rank accouterments, and lapel chain from original screen used examples as physical reference. Thus creating the most accurate representation of rank, badges, and chain without the distortions of time from mould shrinkage or interpretation. Every detail was scrutinized and sourced to provide you our most exacting uniform to date.

As with previous release, Anovos are offering the uniform on tiered pre-order, with the first eighty at $1150, stepping up as each tier sells out to the final price of $1400. Continue after the jump for more images.

Hot Wheels' new small USS Vengeance crashing into cities near you now

Hot Wheels' latest model Star Trek starship, the small-scale (toy-car sized) version of the USS Vengeance, is starting to show up around the world now. The ever-diligent Hot Wheels fans at T-Hunted have been lavishing this release with coverage, including releasing Mattel's official images of the new model:

T-Hunted also posted the rendering of the ship used on the packaging:

And having got their hands on the real thing, posted a photo of the actual packaging too:

On top of all that T-Hunted have also posted a review of the ship, showing it in comparison to the previously released same-size USS Enterprise model. Check out T-Hunted to see how they compare.

New TNG bluray trailers

CBS have released new trailers for the next Star Trek: The Next Generation bluray releases. Coming later this year will be the season six box-set, and stand-alone feature-length edit of Chain of Command.

UPDATE: Higher res cover to look at, via Amazon's listings:

Here are the trailers:

IDW adapting The City on the Edge of Forever teleplay as comic series

IDW have just announced their next Star Trek comic series will be a five-part adaptation of Harlan Ellison's original screenplay for The City on the Edge of Forever.

The series will be adapted by IDW writing regulars Scott and David Tipton, with painted artwork from J.K. Woodward; the same team that brought us the TNG/Doctor Who crossover last year.

Each issue will feature covers by Juan Ortiz, creator of the TOS retro print series, who, based on the issue one cover (pictured), appears to be going for pulp fiction style.

There will also be variant covers by movie poster master, Paul Shipper, who recently did the covers for the Khan series. UPDATE: IDW editor Chris Ryall has posted Paul Shipper's art for issue one. He noted the title design may not be final:

And further update, StarTrek.com have posted three pages of J.K. Woodward's amazing interior art:

The series will start in June. Continue after the jump for the full text of IDW's press release:

Star Trek Magazine #49 details

Things From Another World have added listing for issue 176 (UK)/49 (US) of the Star Trek Magazine. This edition will be focusing on Khan, both versions of which adorn the regular cover. Beverly Crusher is featured on the Previews Exclusive cover, to highlight a feature interview with Gates McFadden. Here are the covers and description:

One year on from Star Trek Into Darkness and our perception of Star Trek's greatest villain has been changed forever. In this issue we take a fresh look at the exploits of Khan Noonien Singh and ask if his actions were ever justified. Starfleet's involvement in Project Genesis also comes under the spotlight as we explore the organization's sometimes dubious role in galactic affairs. Gates McFadden speaks about life aboard the Enterprise-D in an exclusive new interview, and we celebrate Star Trek's guest stars in a new feature, 'Short Hops.' Available in Newsstand and PREVIEWS Exclusive editions.