Vintage Star Trek Comic - The Choice Part One

I was going through my box of comics this morning, and I came across the Star Trek comic from 1978 that I got at an antique book store: Star Trek: A Dynabrite Comic - The Evictors and The Choice. The price on the cover is 69 cents - I only wish comics still cost that much, instead of the 5-20 dollars I am used to.

As always, click images for larger, readable scans.

How impossibly epic!

While reading the introduction (out loud, to all of those around me - whether they cared or not) I used my epic-shatner voice. It's the only way to do it. But wait - who is that with Kirk? And why are they fencing, of all things?

But fencing is Sulu's forte!

Then suddenly: atoms, and the birthplace of the universe! No origin story has ever been so captivating! I can hardly tear my eyes from the page! They are practically glued on with excitement!

The birthplace of the universe!

Atoms! Comets! Planets! Moons!

And back to the Enterprise.

Now on to the action - where we see Scotty running to his station while shouting in a... Jamaican accent?

Aye, mon, makin' like hares, mon.

All of the sudden, STUFF happens (oh no, not STUFF!) and they find themselves... NOWHERE! (Insert dramatic music)

Mr. Spock, assess the situation!

Nowhere! (To be precise)

We find out that they may just be in... someplace RADICAL! A capsule floats around outside... menacingly and capsule-like.

In the atom... everything is fine?

Inside the primal atom, they prepare to board a pod that is controlled by Lt. Nova - she wears a suit that allows her to control the pod with her movements. I can just imagine her sitting there, wiggling her arms around.

I want that suit. Really badly.

Just moments after the cylinder is captured and brought on board, it begins to open, unaided by the crew! (Suspense!)

Gee, could it be someone's double? Again?

Somehow Kirk often seems to gain a double, and this is no different. "Kirk" jumps out dramatically and immediately begins giving orders.

Except he wear a blue uniform. And not even a cool science-blue like Spock or McCoy.

Finally we get an explanation by "Kirk" himself! I won't ruin it for you, you will have to read it for yourself, before moving on.

Over and over! And over! And over!

Finally we come to the end of part one - where we find out why exactly he had to get to this Enterprise... and we end with an agreement: A fight to the death! The last panel is my favorite. I don't know why, but I find it highly amusing every time I see him wave out his hand and declare, "I'm GAME!"

I'm GAME!

That's it for part one of "The Choice". I regret I will have to keep you in suspense, check back in a day or two for the conclusion!