This was the first Star Trek comic I ever owned. Issue 40, Furlough to Fury. It was on shelves for September 1976. It was written by Arnold Drake, had art by Alden McWilliams, and had a cover by George Wilson.

The splash page shows the Enterprise about to whether a giant cosmic storm, though an aside at the top of the page lets us know they’ll survive and get some much-needed R&R. The storm causes a number of effects on the ship and her crew, battering her around. Just another day boldly going.

After the storm passes them, a damage report is given, and while they are able to repair some of the damage, they will have to return to port for other repairs. The closest destination with a repair station, Earth’s moon! They’re getting a furlough on Earth!

As the Enterprise limps home, the crew anticipate what they will do with their leave. Kirk and McCoy talk about the possibility of Bones seeing his daughter, called Barbara here instead of Joanna. Kirk agrees to tag along on the visit, and both turn out in their dress uniforms.

While McCoy goes to seek directions around the university, Kirk gets caught up with an incident at extraterrestrial animal research. He thinks a young woman is being attacked by a strange creature, but it’s just a bit of play and feeding.

The woman, seeing Kirk’s uniform, is a little less than impressed by the fact that his first reaction was to grab a phaser, and before things can escalate, surprise, surprise, the woman is revealed to be Barbara McCoy. She’s a Xenozoologist, and she’s less than thrilled with Kirk’s attitude and behavior.

Barbara receives word during dinner that her department has just received a full-grown vrell, and invites her dad and Kirk to come take a look with her. The animal looks like a giant horned bear, and has latent telepathic abilities, which will allow those around him to communicate mind to mind with one another (you think that will be important?).

Barbara is able to get close to the animal and feed it, surprising everyone.

And while she’s doing that, she and Kirk are able to read one another’s minds, about romantic intentions and plans. Shouldn’t McCoy have been able to do the same? And wouldn’t he have a thought or two about Kirk dating his daughter?

We check in with Scotty who is drinking at the engineer’s club. He’s bothered to see a man named Gavin there. He thought he’d been kicked out of Starfleet. And the way he goes on, it sounds like Scotty may be looking for trouble. But when he tells of the mission that got Gavin kicked off the Enterprise, and it involves a missing jewel, you realize Gavin is a bad dude.

Will the two stories connect?

While Kirk and Barbara are at the theatre (what’s McCoy doing during all this?) two of the animal keepers are being less than friendly with the Vrell. Consequently, it breaks free and rampages, feeding off the anger and fear of the keepers.

The date is interrupted with a page, and Kirk and Barbara rush back to the university (where McCoy has apparently been hanging out?).

The Vrell has climbed Galileo tower (shades of King Kong!) and is under assault by a security team. Barbara confronts the commander, and demands the chance to save the animal.

Meanwhile, Gavin and his pals are being trailed by Scotty, who has disguised himself as a bum. Gavin plans on not only making a mint, but framing and shaming Kirk for drumming him out of the service – is he going to blow up the Enterprise?

But Gavin knows Scotty is following him, and knocks him out, and traps him in a box, with the fate of Kirk and the Enterprise hanging in the balance.

Barbara, with Kirk backing her up, climbs the tower to reach the Vrell. Barbara is able to calm the animal, until it catches Kirk’s scent, and that causes Barbara to tumble over the side!

The Vrell goes after her, rescuing her before falling to its death. But it is able to transmit a final thought message to Kirk and Barbara… apparently Scotty’s desperation and the Vrell’s dying allowed for a connection between the two, despite the distance – that’s convenient huh?

Gavin sneaks into Sulu’s quarters (they used to be his) and recovers the stolen jewel. As they leave the Enterprise (in its drydock) they are confronted by Kirk and McCoy. Fisticuffs ensue.

The baddies are caught, McCoy and Barbara bid goodbye, Kirk and Barbara have a last flirt, and Scottty and Spock trade jibes as the Human Adventure continues…

Next time they encounter The Evictors!