Mike W. Barr continues his run as writer for DC Comics’ ongoing Star Trek series. With Pon Farr he introduces a two-parter about Saavik. It features pencils by Eduardo Barreto, inks by Ricardo Villagran, and a pretty cool-looking cover by Dan Day and Dick Giordano. It was on spinners for August 1984.

Stardate: 8180.1

The issue’s opening splash page is Saavik in pain, tears streaking her face, and the misspelling of Pon Farr (without the extra r). She’s struggling, but not revealing anything to her fellow crew. She’s due in the landing bay, and snaps at Uhura.

The comic is now tying in directly with what happens in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Kirk’s son, David Marcus has come aboard via shuttle from Regula I. He is on his way to the U.S.S. Grissom, which the Enterprise is planning to rendezvous with. From thre, he and Saavik will join the science crew and document the Genesis Planet.

Kirk is hosting a celebratory banquet to welcome his son aboard. When he makes a remark about Romulans, Saavik blows up and leaves the dinner.

Kirk and McCoy go to see Saavik in her quarters. McCoy knows what the problem is, and confirms what is going on. Saavik is entering Pon Farr, the sexual mating frenzy of the adult Vulcan. Saavik admits to it, and begins to reveal her personal history.

She was discovered by Spock, who was between tours on the Enterprise at the time (the change in command between Pike and Kirk). He led a lnding party to an abandoned Romulan base, and discovered her there as a child. He brought her home to Vulcan, and she was raised by Sarek and Amanda, Spock’s parents. Man, that place must have been like an orphanage!

She is pledged to a young male Vulcan child, Xon (a name fans have heard before), she grew up on Vulcan, and dreamed of travelling with Spock on the Enterprise. Saavik asks to be taken to Vulcan, and Kirk pulls out all the stops, including telling Scott he may want warp 12 (!), and the Enterprise is off!

Kirk recalls the events of Amok Time, and knows he is doing the right thing by taking Saavik back to Vulcan. Kirk, McCoy and Saavik beam down to the surface to meet and confer with Sarek, in order to meet with Xon, so the pair can do their thing.

Unfortunately, Xon isn’t on Vulcan, and Sarek says he can’t reveal where he is. Saavik demands to be told. Apparently because this is Xon’s second bonding, his first pledge died in childhood, so he may not have been drawn to Vulcan the way Saavik was.

Sarek can’t officially reveal Xon’s location. But when he’s called away he tells Kirk and company that Xon’s locattion is securely hidden in his computer, which he knows Savik can access. Sarek was called to Amanda’s bedside, she wants to know if Kirk knows about Spock’s katra and what he can do about it.

But Sarek doesn’t get a chance to ask just yet.

Saavik accesses the information, but apparently has a plan of her own, and once she gets what she needs, she beams out, leaving Kirk and McCoy behind. She’s used Sarek’s authority to get a ship, but McCoy is able to get the prefix code.

But how does he know how to read Vulan?

Kirk and McCoy return to the Enterprise while Saavik launches heer ship into space, determined to track down Xon. They attempt to use the prefix code override, but Saavik has already changed it, and warps away.

Chekov is able to plot Saavik’s course, she’s headed to the rim of the galaxy. Kirk orders the Enterprise in pursuit. Kirk is worried, considering how their last trip to the edge of the galxy worked (Where No Man Has Gone Before).

On arrival they are fired upon… by Saavik! Plak Tow, the blood fever has driven her over the edge, she doesn’t recogniz tthe Enterprise as a friendly, and demands the return of Xon!

Anotther great story by Barr. I like how he ties th story in with established canon. He writes the characters well, within the confines of the format. The art is solid, though the characters don’t always look lik they should. But their look within the comics have been established so you can tell who is who.

I know I’ve said this already, but man I did not appreciate these comics at 11 and 12. Digging into them now, I love how the stories weaves intto what we know, and also does its own thing.

Let’s see how this story with Saavik plays out next week in Blood Fever!