I bought this for 2 reasons:
1) it was on sale on the Kindle for $1.99. I can't beat that price for a graphic novel.
2) My dad kickstarted the audio drama they're doing for the original teleplay (funded and over) and it tickled my interest to see this on sale.

I very likely saw the TV episode from the original Trek when I was younger. Dad swears I used to watch (and enjoy) it with him. I've been...less interested in the original Trek, far more fascinated by DS9, but I wanted to compare the two so I took out our DVD sets and watched the episode shortly after reading this.

So. Very. Different.

I don't just mean in overall tone--Ellison very clearly had a darker idea about Starfleet (which hey I agree and that's why DS9 is my go to love) then Roddenberry (who was notoriously possessive of his nie on perfect world utopia brainchild)--but in general.

The episode, if you haven't seen it, revolves around Bones McCoy getting himself infected, going batshit crazy and escaping into the mid-20th century past thanks to a somewhat smirky-sarcastic alien portal named the Guardian of Forever* that all but challenges Kirk and Spock to find the right answer OR ELSE.

Not one to let sleeping dogs lie, Kirk and Spock head back in time (not without Spock constantly getting sidetracked by science shit tho), but wind up slightly ahead of when Bones would arrive so they endeavor to live out in pre-WWII America...mostly by stealing, lying and romancing a lady. Yes Kirk gets his Kirk on and argues with Spock, who doesn't understand why Kirk would want to jeopardize their future when their ENTIRE MISSION is to save their future.

That's the episode. With some hijinks, mild racism (mostly Kirk about Spock being a "Chinaman"), and a whole lot of moralizing. Typical TOS Trek.

Ellison's original teleplay (which as I understand wasn't touched up at all really) was like FUCK UTOPIA STARFLEET WE GONNA MAKE THIS REAL WORLD. Drug dealing, insubordination of EVERYONE towards Kirk (including an epic argument between him and Spock), horrible (but accurate) racism, depression era horribleness, fascism (dude look Kirk's Lady was one step away from the bad kind of Socialist) and worst of all plausible morality. In the end, our drug-dealing enterprise crew member --who killed at least one man and was quite happily, and smugly, addicting folk to a really nasty drug -- chose to try and save Kirk's Lady (without knowing its Kirk's Lady) and ultimately died for the effort (so did the Lady).

In the show McCoy attempts to, but Kirk stops him having finally seen the logic of Spock's argument. It a painful scene to watch, as Bones (still rather crazy) accuses Kirk of allowing her to die and not caring. Spock, who was with Kirk that entire week he was seducing the Lady, tells Bones Kirk does understand and the three express a lot in just their tone and body language.

In the original teleplay and now the graphic novel, Spock asks Kirk why the crew man sacrificed himself after exhibiting nothing but selfish, greedy and destructive tendencies. He's puzzled by what prompted the man to try. Kirk says that's what it means to be human basically. We're selfish, greedy and destructive...but sometimes there's something we can't help but see as WRONG and want to correct it. For that crew man watching an innocent woman die when he could possibly prevent it meant he had to try. Despite being directly responsible for another's death.

In both cases I think there's an important emotional impact the other misses. In the televised version we see the direct result of Spock and Kirk's conversation--Kirk understands Spock's reasons and puts the needs of the many first. He does what a Starfleet Captain does--makes a heartbreaking choice knowing it will end in someone's death. In Ellison's version the conversation between Spock and Kirk is powerful--Kirk's condemnation of humanity is said in the same breath as his commendation. Spock's concise summation of "there is good in evil and evil in good" is on point.

While my natural inclination is to enjoy Ellison's original teleplay more, especially with the gorgeous artwork exhibited here, I do have a soft spot for the televised version and recommend both to be read/viewed together.

*Seriously I love the Guardian of Forever (who is a big pest in the formerly canonical tie-in novels--especially [b:Spock vs. Q Collection|18926899|Spock vs. Q Collection (Star Trek)|Cecilia Fannon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389119931s/18926899.jpg|26933682], [b:Imzadi|217890|Imzadi (Star Trek the Next Generation)|Peter David|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387669112s/217890.jpg|1192048] and the [b:Millennium Omnibus|131629|Millennium Omnibus (Star Trek Deep Space Nine)|Judith Reeves-Stevens|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1172002925s/131629.jpg|126773] books for DS9, but that's not here or there). His answer to everything is basically "You didn't ask". ( )

Alternate versions of a well-known story are funny things. One is usually drawn to them based on fond memories or the reputation of the original. Yet, the very reason for their existence is that they are different than the original. Here is a good case in point.

COTEOF is often touted as one of the best, or at least a favorite, episode of the original series. It's a rock solid Kirk and Spock adventure, with bonus time travel, WWII, Joan Collins and drugged-out Dr. McCoy. Who needs to mess with that? Apparently, the irascible Ellison, who has repeatedly mourned the changes to his original script.

The differences are many and varied, though the overall plot remains. Which version is better? Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I think the TV producers made the right choice in sending McCoy back, rather than yet-another-Redshirt. And many elements had to be jettisoned due to time and budget constraints. Face it. The finished version of a television show or film cannot be the same as its source material, even if the source is a well-written screenplay. I think both can stand on their own. This version of COTEOF is a worthy addition to the Star Trek universe.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review. ( )

I thought that Star Trek: City on the Edge of Forever would be a graphic novel about the episode. What I didn't know was that it would be instead a graphic novel of Harlan Ellison's Star Trek teleplay script; “The City on the Edge of Forever”. I may have glossed over the fact in my joy of finding a Star Trek graphic novel on NetGalley...



What about the graphic novel then?

I loved it! I loved the story, I loved the changes in the story from the episode I have seen to the version Harlan Ellison has written. I mean the episode is epic but damn it, this graphic novel is just as good and frankly in some way better because it isn't restricted to a time limit instead it can have many more wonderful scenes (I do miss Kirk's explanation for Spock's ears to the policeman)...

The art?

Breathtaking! I mean it's so gorgeous and so well drawn that every expression on Spock and Kirk's faces is just perfect, it's almost uncanny watching the art and seeing how well the expressions are drawn.




The verdict?

5 stars! I want this volume, I need this volume!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!! ( )

First let me state that this my first time reading anything from Harlan Ellison. Second, this was a story that was meant for the audience watching the Star Trek the Original Series. Now with that out of the way, I liked this story. It starts out with a drug dealer aboard the Enterprise. Yes, one of the crew, a Gold shirt by the way, is dealing illegal drugs on the Enterprise. When he gets caught its while the Enterprise is around a planet that is caused a disturbance in the clocks of the Enterprise. The drug dealer beams down to this planet and Kirk, Spock, and a group of red shirts pursue. Without anymore spoilers Kirk and Spock end up pursuing the drug dealer through time to Depression Era America in the year 1930.

This leads to a story where Kirk and Spock debate the value of one persons choice against the will of the universe. Someone must decide whether to make a choice that is selfish. The other must choose what right for the universe. It's the kind of story that we've seen many times today. It reminds me of the Doctor Who Special, The Waters of Mars where fighting against the will of the universe and time is what The Doctor tries to do. I enjoyed the story but had to remind myself that this was supposed to be seen on television.

The art is a lovely painted style which really helps the story. I don't this book would have worked well without this kind of art style. The artist goes for capturing the feel of the television show rather than creating something different. I liked that and thought it kept me in the mindset of someone watching the television show. I'm not the biggest fan of Star Trek but I know what it used to look like. The artist does a good job of carrying that feeling of classic Trek into this book.

I received a copy of this through NetGalley and I thank them for it. #NetGalley ( )

(Very) short story in five parts about time travel. Great colour artwork. This graphic novel edition included a reprint of the 1960s Gold Key comic Star Trek #2, "The Devil's Isle of Space" & " The Secret of Execution Asteroid". ( )