IDW frames this as a love letter to Star Trek's legacy, highlighting the diverse creative voices spanning generations of fans—from comics legend Bendis to original series veteran Gerrold—showcasing how the franchise continues to inspire storytellers.
Bendis is making his official Trek-writing debut after a personal meet-cute with George Takei inspired the Sulu story. He's working with longtime collaborator Michael Gaydos, who co-created Marvel's Jessica Jones—fans will note that collaboration history runs deep in comics circles.
The 68-page anthology hits shelves September 2, 2026. Bendis explicitly states: 'I grew up in a house of Trekkies' and credits George Takei's kindness to him and his family as the catalyst for creating this Sulu-focused story. Gerrold's Tribbles episode aired in 1968.
The real star power here isn't just the names—it's what they represent. Bendis brings mainstream comics credibility while Gerrold anchors the anthology in authentic franchise history, giving IDW both crossover appeal and die-hard fandom cred.
Star Trek is turning 60, and IDW is celebrating by assembling a comic anthology so packed with talent it borders on excessive. The September 2 release will feature Brian Michael Bendis making his Star Trek writing debut—a major get for the publisher, given Bendis's massive profile from his Marvel work on Ultimate Spider-Man and his Jessica Jones co-creation. Bendis's contribution centers on Sulu after what he describes as a personal encounter with George Takei.
"I grew up in a house of Trekkies. I am married to a Trekkie," Bendis said in a statement. "Years ago, in real life, George Takai was so kind to me and my family that I jumped at a chance to express my affection for all things Star Trek by cooking up a classic Trek, Sulu-focused story." The comic legend is working with Michael Gaydos, the artist who co-created Jessica Jones under Bendis's direction—a partnership that's spanned decades in Marvel's pages.
This isn't just any fan writing about their favorite franchise; this is someone with genuine industry weight making a deliberate creative choice to engage with Trek. On the opposite end of the spectrum sits David Gerrold, one of the last living writers who actually worked on The Original Series. Gerrold created the iconic Tribbles in "The Trouble with Tribbles," an episode that first aired in 1968 and remains one of the franchise's most beloved entries.
His new story follows interstellar con man Harry Mudd—a character audiences haven't seen much of outside the animated series. "I was privileged to be a part of that original vision," Gerrold said. "The chance to return to the Star Trek universe and write a new story, especially one that honors the original series, yes, it was a privilege." The reverence in his language suggests this isn't just another paycheck gig; for Gerrold, it's a homecoming.
Rounding out the creative lineup is Mike McMahan, creator of Star Trek: Lower Decks, bringing his comedic sensibility to the anthology alongside artists Mike and Laura Allred. Other contributors include Ryan North writing an Animated Series story with artist Derek Charm, Christopher Cantwell penning a prelude to IDW's new flagship Star Trek title launching later in 2026, and Worf creator David Walker working with the Escorza Brothers—artists known for their work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' The Last Ronin.
The anthology spans seven stories covering the original series, Animated Series, Picard, Lower Decks, and Starfleet Academy, totaling 68 pages of galaxy-spanning content. The real narrative here is IDW's positioning of this anthology as both celebration and launching pad. With Cantwell's story explicitly described as setting up "the most important question facing Star Trek right now: What's next?"—and framing it as a "hand-off from Picard to something that is so new it's nearly from whole cloth"—this isn't just nostalgia bait. This is IDW signaling their plans for the franchise's future while honoring its past, using anniversary timing strategically.
