In May of 1971, Gold Keys delivered another installment in their Star Trek adventures. This is story writer Len Wein’s second issue. Alberto Giolitti continues to deliver art that is slowly embracing more of what we have seen in the series (as well as some odd additions). This issue, Sceptre of the Sun eschewed the photo montage for the cover, and featured art by George Wilson.

The Enterprise is on its way to Starbase 10 to pick up an ambassador. This sounds very Star Trek. We find our characters on a starship bridge that is very recognizable even with some strange instruments, consoles and displays around.

Sulu detects a very strange reading closing in on the Enterprise. And before they can brace themselves, something grabs them. What is it? A giant green hand like Who Mourns for Adonais? Well, a hand attached to a giant space genie.

Oh boy. Is it going to be one of those stories?

Spock says the genie is just an illusion, but before they can explore what the being is, or means, he, Kirk, McCoy and Scotty (who is one of the only characters that doesn’t resemble the actor bringing him to life) are swept away by a strange mist.

They find themselves in a great hall in a castle, where they meet Chang, a sorcerer. Shades of Cat’s Paw!

Chang demands that Kirk and company go on a quest he has set for them. They must travel across the land to claim a powerful sceptre. The sceptre will aid him in his conflict with another sorcerer, Xandu. If they don’t help, he will destroy the Enterprise.

As the landing party journey across the landscape, they come into combat with rock giants (Ugh, I’m really not enjoying where this story so far). They easily outwit the giants and as they rest for the night, Kirk tries to learn more from their guide, Marla.

She reveals the history of her people, and those of the planet. But before too much can be reviewed, the group gets captured – which seems to happen in almost every issue.

They have been captured by Brand and his men, who reveal that they and Chang are all from Earth! They left in 1997 to escape from the Eugenics War (I love that reference!). Chang left the group after they arrived, he wanted more. And he found something, a power, that has made him a threat.

Brand joins the quest to recover the sceptre, and everything seems to be turning into a sword and sorcery quest. Which isn’t Trek to me.

When they find the sceptre, they have to fight a giant robot! And it all feels a little 7th Voyage of Sinbad to me. But Spock is able to deactivate the robot, and the group returns to Change with the sceptre.

But the whole thing has been a ploy by Chang. He’s used the quest to distract Kirk and company, while he used a beam to bring the Enterprise lower into the atmosphere, determined to take it over, and use it to expand his power across the galaxy.

Of course, this means fisticuffs for Kirk and Chang. A clash that is ended quickly when Chang is struck and killed by lightning! Convenient.

And the Enterprise is able to escape the beam with a well-placed phaser strike.

Wow. This one was not a favorite. Let’s see what happens next time (though I’m worried about it having read the title) when the Enterprise meets The Brain Shockers!