Star Trek Color and Activity Books - 1978

Once upon a time, there was a girl (me) who dragged her boyfriend along to the other end of the city in the hopes of picking up a couple of coloring books from a random man on a suburban street past all of the homeless people and drunks with knives. I thought it sounded like fun. My boyfriend, not so much.

We did finally get there, however, and I retrieved the books - even getting an extra two for only ten more dollars. By that time (it took five hours because I have no sense of direction), hardly any of the buses were running, so we had to walk for an hour or so to find one. I love walking. He doesn't. I pointed out the illogic of his discontentment, but I don't think that helped him at all.

Anyways, I present to you: Star Trek Color and Activity books from 1978, and a few select pages for your enjoyment.

Warning: Some of the faces look ultra-derpy. Click to enlarge.

This first book was mostly for coloring purposes, and had a story to go along with it as well (I have not scanned those pages as of yet). Feel free to print these of and color to your heart's content.

Moving on the the second book (this book also had a story, which I will get to at a later date), we find some actual activities:

Wow, these sure are difficult activities aren't they? A diorama? And just what does Spock's message say? I won't ruin the fun, even if it is obvious.

It was SO worth the five hour trip, and I am not being sarcastic. I don't actually color inside the book, but I do make copies and color/complete those. Print these out and join the fun!

Play, laugh, grow.

Vintage Star Trek Comic - The Choice Part Two

A couple of days ago I started putting up "The Choice" from a 1987 Star Trek comic. If you missed that, I would suggest reading part one before continuing. Whether you have already read part one, or just don't care - prepare yourself for the exciting conclusion!

Click images to enlarge.

Where we last left off, the Enterprise was within an atom, there were two Kirks, and they were about to fight to the death. The previous universe's Kirk came to take over the ship and forewarn the solitary being that possesses "free will" about "the choice" that will have an impact on the universe.

Spock just stands there LIKE A BOSS.

With Spock as Kirk's second and the Previous-universe Kirk choosing not to have a second, they choose their weapons and engage in battle.

Throo-woom m... uuurrrUUURRRuuurrrUUURRRuuurrr...

Suddenly the Enterprise in under attack! By... the ENTERPRISE! Previous-universe Kirk was supplied with it and is able to control it mentally. I guess Kirk turns into a pretty epic multi-tasker later in his life and can fight "enemies" and control ships with him mind at the same time. I'll bet this alternate Kirk is also designing a wedding dress and playing chess across the universe in his mind right now...

Ka-ZING! Fffzzap! Fffzzap!

Shheroosh! ZZZWISH! (I'm really loving the sound effects)

Kirk orders Spock to get Lt. Nova to the bridge with her cybernetic helmet and have her plug into the ship's guidance system. She does, and the Enterprise "comes to life".

Now things get strange (for me, anyways) when Spock answers Kirk. His words are just so... un-Spock-like. First Scotty sounds like he's Jamaican, and now Spock starts speaking like he is Scotty: "But Captain! The Strain on her will be too great! It will drive her MAD!" which makes more sense when you realize he is talking about Lt. Nova and not the ship. Still, I can't see him speaking with such frenzy and I always imagine Spock saying this with a Scottish accent (for some unknown reason). 

I think I overthink these things.

ZOOOM! ZOOSH! ZOOGE! etc!

Previous-universe Kirk ties up Scotty, and then has Kirk in a compromising position. Then he doesn't. More stuff happens. Kirk's phaser fires...

Nothing is ever more bad-ass than wearing fencing suits.

FFFRIIII! - The sound of death.

He is merely stunned, because the real Kirk wouldn't put his phaser on kill. He's just too cool. They send Previous-universe Kirk back in to space, but he appears on the bridge as a "ghost". Who was the man who held the key to the future?

PS. The first panel always cracks me up. What is Kirk doing? Why is he hitting Scotty in the ass?  What is going on here?

Take that, Scotty.

It was Kirk. Kirk was the one with the choice and he made his choice when he decided not to kill Previous-universe Kirk. Before they can ask him if it was the right choice, he disappears. (It is my opinion that he did, because the other Kirk seemed like he was quick to kill. So, by doing the opposite, he exercised free will?) The only real problem now is that they are still "nowhere". Solution: Band together and concentrate while Lt. Nova wears her groovy helmet.

It just looks like she's wearing a bath towel around her head.

If Kirk made the WRONG choice, then the universe as they know it may no longer exist! Something goes wrong, and the universe is... GONE!

Troll Universe.

Just kidding. The universe is back. Kirk and Spock get super-philosophical about free will and choice (the free will paradox has kept me awake many a night).

Dramatic close-up of Spock's face.

And thus concludes the story. Wasn't that fun, boys and girls? Stay tuned for more scans in the future.

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!