DC Comcs Star Trek title continues to boldly go with it’s eighth issue, that was up and about until November of 1984. Mike W. Barr continues to guide the Enterprise’s journey with his script. Tom Sutton is still on pencils, while Ricardo Villagran continues to deliver on inks. And the cover was created by Sutton alongside Joe Orlando.

Stardate: 8185.35

Saavik is deep in the throes of the Vulcan blood fever, Plak Tow, and is unable to recognize that she is attacking the Enterprise in her search for her betrothed, Xon, at the edge of the galaxy. Kirk is trying to contact her, outmaneuver her, and save her all in one go. And the Enterprise is getting pummeled by Saavik’s ship.

Kirk lulls Saavik into thinking the Enterprise is disabled. She leaves, but Chekov is able to trace her ship’s trail. And to help… Kirk orders the activation of the cloaking device (!?). When did that happen, and isn’t that a treaty violation?

The story shifts to a Romulan outpost, where some sort of plan is underway, and it seems Xon is there as one of the centurions, working undercover. The Romulans are up to some manner of genetic engineering – everyone seems to be violating treaties this issue.

They plan to use the energy barrier at the galaxy’s edge (Where No Man Has Gone Before) to augment the psychic abilities of their genetic creations. The energy shorts out the equipment, but not before it has had an effect.

Imbued with enhanced abilities, these Romulans pose a huge threat. Can Xon find a way to warn the Federation, and what will it mean for the Romulans should these same beings react the way it did Gary Mitchell?

And their abilities allow them to see the arrival of Saavik’s ship. Xon is sent out to investigate. Imagine his surprise coming across his betrothed in the midst of the blood fever! Saavik throws herself at him, but after an initial kiss, she seems to have calmed a bit.

Xon plans to use Saavik’s ship to escape and warn Starfleet. Unfortunately, a trio of Centurions beam in, but they don’t notice Saavik, who ducks under cover, but is still struggling with her Plak Tow.

Xon is captured, and Saavik attempts to contact the Enterprise, realizing that must have been the ship she fired upon. Happily, the Enterprise is fine, and still operating close by thanks to the cloaking device – I’m less than thrilled about that treaty violation. Communications are established and machinations are set in motion.

Xon is being tortured and interrogated, but his Vulcan training is proving difficult for the Romulans to break. But the Romulan commander has a plan: use the enhanced Romulans, with their new abilities, to make Xon talk.

Saavik is beamed back to the Enterprise, which is isn’t in the best condition, but they need to make an attempt to rescue Xon and perhaps foil the Romulan experiment.

The Enterprise fires on the installation and destroys part of it, which causes chaos amongst the experimental Romulans. They beam Xon out, and make a run for it, the cloaking device is inoperative.

The Romulans are in pursuit.

Kirk orders power to the sensors and their identification beam. They scramble the Romulan ship’s readings, but they can follow the ident. And Kirk leads them right into the galactic barrier, where they, and their experiments, will be lost forever.

Kirk orders the rendezvous with the Grissom while Saavik goes to Sick Bay to see Xon, y’know Pon Farr stuff. Things are wrapped up, as Saavik and David beam away, there’s a reference to The Way to Eden, and the stage is set for the adaptation of Trek III.

I like the art in this issue, though the characters don’t always look like the actors portraying them, the images and the comics themselves feel almost cinematic. Especially the stuff on thee Enterprise. The Romulan pieces can feel a little hit and miss, but overall the episode feels and looks great.

I do like that by the end of the issue, the stage is set to marry nicely with the opening of Star Trek III, all the players are where they are supposed to be. And instead of coming off of combat with Khan and limping home, they are heading home after their skirmish with the Romulans.

Next time, it’s Star Trek III!