Star Trek Officially Rewrites Its Best Original Series Episode In Honor Of Black History Month

by

As a lifelong Trek fan, I’m really intrigued by the news of their latest film! They’re tackling “The City on the Edge of Forever” – a classic episode many consider the pinnacle of the original series. It’s a powerful story about Kirk making a devastating personal sacrifice to save the timeline, and now they’re revisiting it. The exciting twist? This time around, the story will be told through the eyes of Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, and it’s being released in celebration of Black History Month. I’m eager to see how they reimagine this beloved tale with Uhura at the center.

IDW Publishing is releasing a special one-shot comic called Star Trek Deviations: Threads of Destiny. In this alternate take on Star Trek, Lieutenant Uhura, instead of Kirk, travels through time via the Guardian of Forever and ends up in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement. The “Deviations” series is similar to Marvel’s “What If?” stories, offering fresh and imaginative twists on familiar Star Trek events.

Here’s IDW’s full solicit for the one-shot, which will be released on February 25, 2026.

This issue focuses on Lieutenant Nyota Uhura. We see her in the 23rd century traveling the galaxy with the crew of the Enterprise, working to connect with new life and foster understanding. The story also flashes back to the 20th century, where African Americans on Earth fought for civil rights, bravely protesting to end segregation and discrimination.

Thanks to the Guardian of Forever, Uhura is sent back in time to 1963. There, she’ll participate in the struggle for equality and justice, and rediscover the vital importance of her role as a communications officer.

This Is the Perfect Way To Honor Nichelle Nichols

Nichelle Nichols’ portrayal of Lieutenant Uhura was groundbreaking, not only as a Black actress in a recurring TV role but also as a symbol of the civil rights movement. Gene Roddenberry intentionally cast her to represent a hopeful future where race was no longer a barrier. Uhura’s character famously shared television’s first interracial kiss, even if it occurred during a forced encounter with an alien being.

Nichelle Nichols was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement and had a close relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., often speaking fondly of him. She even considered quitting Star Trek at one point, but Dr. King persuaded her to stay. In a 2010 interview with StarTrek.com, she explained that…

During dinner, an event organizer approached me, apologizing for the interruption, but explained that a fan was eager to meet me. He mentioned this person claimed to be my biggest admirer. When I turned around, I was amazed to see Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. walking towards me with a rare smile. I immediately thought that whoever had wanted to meet me could wait, because meeting Dr. King was far more important. He came over and said, ‘Ms. Nichols, I am your greatest fan.’ I’m usually quite talkative, but I was so shocked that I could only open and close my mouth in stunned silence.

Considering Nichelle Nichols’ involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, it’s fitting that Star Trek is marking Black History Month with a special issue honoring the actress and her connection to the movement. Nichols passed away in 2022, but her impact lives on, as this issue proves. Stephanie Williams is writing the story, with art by Greg Maldonado and Anthony Fowler Jr.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/the-next-generation-legend-reacts-to-new-star-trek-movie-announcement/embed/#

Read More

2025-11-20 16:40