Star Trek #26 from Gold Key Comics, hit spinners in September of 1974. It featured a story by John Warner, and had art by Angelo Todaro and Alberto Giollitti, and featured another cover painting by George Wilson.

And I will say this, of all the comic stories in the series so far, this one felt a little more inline with Star Trek storytelling.

Two issues ago Kirk was on trial, this time he’s testifying before a Federation board of inquiry about possible federation involvement with the destruction of the planet, Rifas-L, which is what we see on the splash page. The story, itself, begins with the Enterprise discovering a rogue planet. Its rings serve as its sun and its inhabited! Welcome to Rifas-L.

Kirk leads a landing party to the planet’s surface. His party includes Spock, Sulu, Uhura (finally black but still called Uhuru), Chapel, and a red shirt. Shortly after beaming down, they come under attack by tiger like creatures as well as giant ravens. They are soon rescued by a society heavily influenced by ancient Japanese traditions.

They are welcomed to the city of Shondo Ho and it seems, Yamoto, the ruler? god? creator? has been told of their arrival. Spock remarks on the perfection of this society, but despite how many people there are there only appears to be six different facial type and they aren’t androids…

These people aren’t allowed to question or create. They are all a part of Yamoto and must just be.

During their time there, each of the crew have odd encounters as they attempt to learn about the culture’s history and other aspects of the world. It’s as if the inhabitants are blissfully ignorant. Except one, Ekoe, who wants to question and learn and create.

Not getting much in the way of answers, Kirk turns his attention to the planet itself conducting a survey. Spock heads out deeper and explores more of the planet slipping past the predatory carnivores that seem to be protecting something. He discovers a lone structure in the wilds emanating strong signals. He enters the building and begins an investigation.

Meanwhile, Ekoe asks the federation for sanctuary, before it can be granted he is arrested for creating art. Kirk and the others attempt to stop the guards from taking Ekoe but they are outnumbered and the young man is taken away. I’m afraid he’s scheduled to be terminated. The society executes any mutates or elderly, as they call them. And then they realize why – they’re all clones. Defective clones need to be removed.

A truth Spock also discovers as he investigates the remote building. He encounters the clones’ creator, Yamoto, who reveals the truth of the civilization to him. Rifas-L is his world, but it’s not a plant, it’s a giant starship. And now, thanks to Spock’s arrival, he has new genetic material to expand his clone base and his experimentation and research.

The guards attack Kirk and the others but they are able to fend them off with phasers. Conacting the Enterprise, Kirk orders Scotty to standby on the transporter as they go looking for Spock. One of their allies, Oshino, guides them deep into the depths of the wilds, to the remote building where Spock has eluded Yamoto while he’s distracted.

Entering the building, Oshino discovers the truth of her existence as a clone and goes mad destroying the facility. Kirk and the others help out by phasering attacking robots. They reunite with Spock, and prepare to an effect an escape.

Oshino grabs Kirk’s phaser, intent on wreaking more havoc and orders the landing party to leave. Scotty beams the landing party aboard while Oshino confronts Yamoto. Oshino destroys enough of the equipment and to trigger an explosion large enough to wipe out the planet-ship. And all that remains is Ekoe’s lone artistic expression, recovered from the debris field.

Sure the story needed some character development, but it works, and it really feels Trek. The Human Adventure continues next time with an Ice Journey.