Gold Key Comics Star Trek #14 hit spinners in May 1972. It was once again written by Len Wein, with art by Alberto Giolitti and a cover painting by George Wilson.

We find Kirk, Spock and a landing party conducting a survey on Beta II . They decide to cover more ground by splitting up. They agree to stay in touch with their communicators, which once again, look like tricorders.

And speaking of not looking right, Scotty is aboard the Enterprise, minding the store, He reaches out to the landing party to let them know that there is a priority signal from Starfleet for the captain. Unfortunately, Kirk isn’t responding.

Spock goes off in search of Kirk, only to find that he and his men have come under attack by a large reptilian-like creature. His men are dead, and Kirk is out of it. In the panel describing the creature, and others, tribbles get name checked.

Spock and his men fight off the beast, killing it, and beam the injured captain to sickbay.

On his feet again, Kirk contacts Starfleet. It seems diplomatic ties are waning in the Omega system. There is a possibility that they will shift their allegiance from the Federation to the klingon Empire.

The Enterprise is to pick up Omega’s ambassador at Starbase 6 and transport him home. Along the way, Kirk must convince the ambassador that he and the system should stay with the United Federation of Planets.

All honors are given the ambassador on his arrival; he’s piped aboard and Kirk and Spock even salute him. Unfortunately, the ambassador doesn’t seem the friendliest sort.

The Enterprise gets under way for the Omega system, and look, there’s no more rocket fire coming from the nacelles and shuttle deck.

Scotty, for some reason is working the helm (which has lots of strange levers) and Kirk is very angry at him for questioning his orders. Kirk ordered an increase to warp four, while Scotty insists they are making good time with warp two.

Kirk then goes off on an ensign during the ambassador’s tour of the ship. The young man inadvertently bumped into the ambassador. Kirk sends him to the brig, with the promise of more punishment to come.

Spock observes this, and confers with McCoy about Kirk’s suitability for command. McCoy believes it may be nothing more than a reaction from the attack on the planet. Unfortunately for the pair of them, are caught in their discussion by Kirk, who accuses them of plotting against him.

Spock is worried about Kirk’s increased paranoia, and it seems to be causing all manner of problems.

When Kirk orders Sulu to alter course to make up some time, the helmsman warns them it will take them too near a maelstrom. And they get pulled in!! Happily, the Enterprise is able to slingshot free.

Kirk and Spock argue over Kirk’s action on behavior. And they do it on the bridge!

When Scotty refuses Kirk’s order, citing that it would put the ship and her engines at risk, Kirk shoots him with a phaser! Happily it’s only on stun.

Spock and McCoy get together to talk about removing Kirk, and this is the first time in any of the comics that I could actually hear the dialogue. It feels and sounds very much like the characters.

When the pair confront Kirk on the bridge, the captain fires at them and runs from the bridge. He escapes and seals the elevator (?! not a turbolift?!) behind him. They catch up to him, and they have a running phaser battle through the ship.

Kirk is able to make his escape, by stealing a (non-Starfleet looking) shuttle craft. The Enterprise sets off in pursuit as Spock reveals to the ambassador and Dr. McCoy that the captain is not who he says he is.

They follow the shuttle back to Beta II and there, they find Captain Kirk being held by what looks like some of the Ambassador’s men, but are, apparently, Klingons (they sure don’t look it).

Kirk sets off after his double with Spock chasing after them. But when he catches up, he finds them locked in combat. Which one is which? Vulcan logic wins out yet again, and Spock phasers the right one – a Klingon spy (shades of The Trouble with Tribbles).

The ambassador realizes the trouble of working with and trusting the Klingons, so he’ll make the argument that the Omega system stay with the Federation.

The Enterprise continues on its journey, but before we reach the end of the story, let me just say… I hate how everyone seems to slouch when the sit in the Captain’s seat.

Next time the Enterprise boldly goes to the Museum at the End of Time.