1242. Nobody Knows the Tribbles I've SeenPUBLICATION: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #14, Marvel Comics, February 1998
CREATORS: Michael Martin and Andy Mangels (writers), Terry Pallot and Al Milgrom (artists)
STARDATE: Unknown (between Sacrifice of Angels and You Are Cordially Invited)
PLOT: Some of the crew are having a drink talking about teh mysterious enmity between the Klingons and tribbles, and everyone has a theory/story. O'Brien swears that the tribbles were once beloved pets until the Romulans, who found this riotously funny, decided to attack the weak Klingons. Bashir claims that the tribbles caused an allergic reaction that gave the Klingons their post-TOS forehead ridges. Dax says a former host used a giant trojan tribble to get inside a Klingon stronghold to steal the sword of Molor, using its purring to put the Klingons to sleep. The sword made the tribble scream and split back into dozens of carnivorous tribbles, a fiasco that is the origin of the hate Klingons have for them. Apparently, only Morn knows the real story, but the issue ends before he can tell us.
CONTINUITY: Trials and Tribble-ations is referred to a lot. Morn appears.
DIVERGENCES: Enterprise eventually puts the lie to Bashir's notion that a) no Klingons with ridges were ever seen until the late 23rd century and b) that the tribbles caused the ridges. Dax is clearly lying about a host called Enjana (see Facets).
PANEL OF THE DAY - Yes, it was exactly like that.
REVIEW: Though admittedly talky, this is a fun issue, with lots of character touches and completely ridiculous tribble stories. They're all lies, of course, including the opener with Worf hunting tribbles on the Promenade, but that's the point. Tall tales recounted in the pub. And it provides some of the strangest and silliest visuals to ever come out of the Star Trek universe. Great cover, too!
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