Star Trek 782: And a Child Shall Lead Them

782. And a Child Shall Lead Them

PUBLICATION: Star Trek #52, Gold Key Comics, May 1978

CREATORS: George Kashdan (writer), Alden McWilliams (artist)

STARDATE: 28:11.5 - Follows the last issue (Season 3).

PLOT: The Enterprise tracks black marketeers to a planet where they have enslaved the stone age inhabitants by addicting them to space-crack. After Kirk has one of his shuttles destroy all of the nasty Capt. Flamm's chemical-mining equipment, he is attacked by the local leader, a super-smart, super-strong and nigh invincible boy. Kirk manages to convince him of his good intentions and Flamm's evil, but the marketeer turns the locals against the young Klwama. But he prevails in the ensuing fight and Flamm must surrender.

CONTINUITY: The Enterprise explores the "Organian Treaty Zone" which makes it sound like stopping the war with the Klingons opened up some territory.

DIVERGENCES: None.

PANEL OF THE DAY - The Ewok Principle
REVIEW: The drug subplot is fairly adult for this series, and there's certainly a lot of joy in seeing Kirk blow the bad guys' stuff up with a simple shuttlecraft. Flamm hasn't a shred of nobility in him, which makes him a limited villain, but still an effective one. Of course, there isn't much of an explanation for Klwana's powers, though I suppose it must be linked to the life-saving chemical his world of filled with. A story that needed to be just a touch longer to really work, though what's there is serviceable.