Left: TREK The cover STAR of Marvel Comics' first issue of . Below: The comic Book Sequence from Marvel's By JAMES H.BURNS magazine-sized adaptation. of Star Trek— The Motion Pic- Oneture's worthier merchandising spin- offs is Marvel Comics' movie adap- tation, published in both the company's Super Special magazine and the first three •issues of their new monthly Trek comic. Written by and drawn by , not only is the adaptation in- teresting reading, but it helps shed light on one of the film's major inconsistencies. "One of my largest problems in adapting the movie was that so much of the screenplay confused me," says Wolfman. "I really wish that there was an explanation for why a lot of it happened. While there are a lot of good se- quences, a lot of things in the script are con- trived. In addition to it being basically a rehash of 'The Doomsday Machine' and 'The Changeling,' I didn't think that they successfully did anything with the characters. The story itself did not make a lot of sense. For good or bad, the script for the comic is ex- actly the screenplay Paramount sent us they're dealing with the scientific im- because I felt that if I left out anything, I think that there was a period where I could that plausibility the house, their might be missing what /wasn't getting. For write it any slower than two to three pages at a of haunted starts havoc aboard the instance, I couldn't understand why Decker sitting, which absolutely prevented any sort prisoner wreaking decides to commit 'evolutionary suicide' of continuity of writing. The adaptation is ship. At press time, neither nor will tell himself Dave Cockrum knew how these conflicts when he j oins Ilia at the end in that 'heavenly' not nearly up to par. Dave you send off. You don't even understand why the that he hated his art job. He's not used to would be resolved, since Wolfman left crew has that last-minute repartee at the end working that fast." Marvel to work at DC Comics before writing saying, 'Is that the birth of a new race?' "It's not my best work by any means," the story's continuation. I able to work on Where was it indicated that there was going to Cockrum agrees. "I regret that won't be he a new race created? Obviously, then, if you However, Wolfman and Cockrum have the Star Trek comic," Wolfman says. "I was didn't like the movie's script, you'll find, un- the opportunity to redeem themselves when really looking forward to writing it. For some fortunately, that the comic is bogged down they initiate a series of original stories, start- reason, Marvel won't let me write it, but by the same poor storyline." ing in issue number four. that's okay, because they won't find out what second half of Despite Gene Roddenberry and company's "We want to keep the flavor of the movie was intended for the my story." inability to supply Marvel with a solid story and the Star Trek universe as Gene Rod- editor-in- W. Barr has been assigned to write and script, Paramount was extremely cooper- denberry created it," says Marvel's Mike five and then Marty Pasko ative in other areas. Wolfman and Cockrum chief, Jim Shooter, "but we also want to Star Trek number regular writing chores. Even were sent numerous live-action sequence make sure that it's good comics. By that I will take over the it little is sure of Pasko's capabili- photos and storyboards early last July. A few mean we'll probably have to plot a though Cockrum into it ties, feels problems might arise since the weeks later they were allowed to visit the ef- tighter and get a lot more visual action he the writer lives in California and he lives on the fects studios in Hollywood. and not a lot of just 'sitting around on "We never saw any effects film; there was bridge.' Basically it will be episodic, like the East Coast. the "It's going to be by long distance, because none to show us," complains Wolfman. original TV series. We want to try to keep like separated by 3,000 miles. I'm accus- "Doug Trumbull basically told us what they stories short and punchy—rather than we're the writer and were planning on doing. They showed us a some Marvel series that take several issues to tomed to sitting down with having equal input on the story- couple of preliminary sketches For in- tell a story—because I think that that's more possibly even sure well that's going to stance, the entire Voyager stuff was not even in the spirit of Star Trek. Unfortunately, line. I'm not how with being in California." designed at that point. If our interpretation of though, due to some legal technicalities, we work Marty if Marvel devotes the atten- the effects isn't what you see in the movie, can't use any characters or situations that ap- Nevertheless, quality into the comic you'll understand why." peared in the original series." tion and injects the their finer efforts, Pasko and The adaptation's other major fault is that it Issue number four begins a two-part tale that's found in succeed where the Para- looks rushed. that involves the Enterprise encountering a Cockrum could failed: continuing the ''Both Dave [Cockrum] and myself were haunted house suspended in outer space mount bureaucracy his legend with innovative adventures rushed," explains Wolfman. "I was writing it while carrying an alien prisoner back to Star Trek intelligent stories that still main- in two-page clips as Dave would hand it in home planet—a world that both the Federa- built around original series' mark on and he had to do two pages a day. We had to tion and Klingon Empire are vying for. Prob- tain and respect the at the time science fiction. * feed it to the on that level, so I don't lems arise for the crew when, same

64 STARLOG/April 1980