August of 1976 saw issue 39 of Gold Key Comic’s Star Trek series on comic spinners. Titled Prophet of Peace, it was written by Arnold Drake and featured art by Alden McWilliams and Jose Delbo, with yet another cover painting by George Wilson

The splash page shows the aft section of the Enterprise as Kirk, McCoy, Spock and Scotty are retrieving a long adrift capsule, a coffin. And why are four important line officers doing this work? It’s apparently being recorded for historical purposes because of who is withing the coffin. He looks like he stepped out of the 60s whomever he is.

It’s revealed that he is a doctor, Bleikhoff. Back in the 20th century, he received the Nobel prize for Astro-physics for his theory on the origin of the universe. He was also an adamant war protester. He fell victim to an incurable disease and was frozen and set adrift until a cure could be found.

After they bring the coffin back in hey have to undergo a steri-ray cleaning – which apparently tickles them all, even Spock. So, apparently, there is going to be silliness in this story, silliness that wouldn’t fly in The Original Series or The Animated Series.

The three officers then assist McCoy in the revival process, which delivers an electircal jolt to all of them when they open it. Bleikhoff, once revived seems pleased with the crew and the ship they exist in and what that may mean for the universe at large.

Bleikoff asks Kirk to let him tour earth secretly before he has to attend a big reception in his honor.

Kirk is unsure about that first, but the crew are adamant they give him the chance. Spock speaks to Kirk about the crew’s behavior. He finds it troubling. Is Bleikhoff capable of some strange manipulation?

Kirk relents, and he and his officers give Bleikoff his tour of the globe.

The doctor seems less than happy with the presence of globes around the planet that are part of the Earth Defense System. At a press reception he confesses to enjoying the marvels of the 23rd century, but feels it has lost some of its human warmth. And that seems to be having an effect on people he comes into contact with – the world wants him to teach them how to love one another again. And everyone but the line officers of the Enterprise seems to be falling for it.

Honestly, I never thought the 23rd century had that problem – this one feels a little silly.

Bleikhoff debates with McCoy, Spock and Scott, who all point out the necessity for the things around them, while he simply espouses rhetoric. He reveals that during a reception at the base of the Marianas Trench, he’s going to call for the dismantling of the Earth Defense System.

Kirk and his officers begin to suspect something more at work, some kind of mass hypnosis. Kirk posits that an alien species recovered Bleikhoff’s body already and augmented his brain, so that they could leave the Earth defenseless, primed for invasion.

The four officers realize they are unaffected by Bleikhoff because of the shock they all got, when they opened the coffin. It was a protection designed by the aliens.

Before Bleikhoff gives his next speech, he asks for Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Scott to be arrested so they don’t interfere with his speech. They are able to escape and race to stop the mad doctor. Kirk confronts Bleikhoff with a giant magnetic eraser that will fry the computerized alien augments in his brain (what if the whole theory was wrong?).

But Kirk is right, Bleikhoff is fried, and the hypnosis wears off immediately. And just in time. The Earth remains safe.

The four regather on the bridge, and once again Spock makes a snide remark to Scotty eliciting laughs from Kirk and McCoy – that’s just odd, but the human adventure continues with Furlough to Fear…