ST:TUC Theatrical Release

I recall seeing Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country at the theater and enjoying it quite a bit. However, all I can find in my archives is a colour copy of the movie's poster, probably taken from a movie magazine:

ST:TFF Making Of

Bill Shatner and his daughter Lisabeth collaborated on the Making-Of book for Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

The book was published in July 1989. My copy is from the first printing.

ST:TFF Movie Magazine

Once again I picked up a movie magazine from Starlog Press.

Above: Some great artwork created for the film.

Above: More behind-the-scenes and interview goodies.

ST:TFF Comic Book Adaptation

DC released a comic book adaptation of the fifth Star Trek film.

Above: Cool panels covering one of the most effective passages of the film.

Above: The rock creature didn't make it into the film, but it did appear in the comic!

Ad for the launch of DC's 2nd monthly comic featuring the original crew and their first monthly TNG comic.

ST:TFF Novelization

The Trek movie novelization reins were handed over to J.M. Dillard for the fifth film in the series.

The book was published in June 1989. My copy is from the first printing.

ST:TFF Theatrical Release

At the time of The Final Frontier's theatrical release I had a job as a co-op student in Ottawa. One of my co-workers who shall remain nameless (but here's a clue -- Tom Shurtliff) decided to play a little practical joke on me. He knew that I had entered a newspaper contest to win tickets to the premiere. While we were at work, Tom called me from another room and informed me (in a disguised voice) that I had won the contest. My initial excitement quickly turned to disappointment when he revealed the ruse.

Fortunately, a few days later I received another call, this time legit, letting me know that I had won two tickets to the premiere.


I took my girlfriend to the show (she was a bit of a Trek fan as well, in particular Data on TNG) and I remember trying my best to be positive about the film while she gave it a thumbs down. Despite winning its first weekend at the box office, the fifth Trek film proved a bit of a disappointment both financially and artistically.

Anticipating The Final Frontier

In September 1986 I started my university years. After the books, the beer, and the, uh, social interaction there wasn't a lot of time left over for Trek. My level of enthusiasm for the fifth Star Trek movie definitely paled in comparison with the previous three films. In my archives I can only find a single newspaper clipping announcing the upcoming film.

Star Wreck parody

Star Wreck: The Generation Gap is a TOS/TNG parody published in October 1990 by St. Martin Paperbacks. My copy is from the first printing. Apparently there were six additional entries in the Star Wreck series, but I only have this one.

DC comic Who's Who

DC also released a 2-issue "Who's Who" comic in 1987.

Above: Who's Who #1, March 1987

Above: Who's Who #2, April 1987

DC comic series 1 annuals

DC released three Star Trek "annuals" during the run of its first Star Trek monthly comic.

Above: Annual #1, 1985, "All Those Years Ago..."

Above: Annual #2, 1986, "The Final Voyage"

Above: Annual #3, 1988, "Retrospect"

Alf!

My second favourite alien life form of the 1980s may have been ALF, who starred in a self-titled science fiction sitcom in the late 1980s. (Colonel Internet informs me that it premiered in September 1986 and survived for 4 seasons and 102 episodes.) I think I only watched for the first season or two, but was impressed enough at the time to pick up the first issue of Marvel's ALF comic book.

DC comics 1988

After missing the last 3 issues of DC's monthly comic book in 1987, I got back on track with the January 1988 issue. I managed to pick up all but one (#55) of the remaining books in the series, which ended with the November 1988 issue.

Above: Issue #46, January 1988, "Getaway"

Above: Issue #47, February 1988, "Idol Threats"

Above: Issue #48, March 1988, "The Stars in Secret Influence"

Above: Issue #49, April 1988, "Aspiring to be Angels"

Above: Issue #50, May 1988, "Marriage of Inconvenience"

Issue #51, June 1988, "Haunted Honeymoon"

Above: Issue #52, July 1988, "Hell in a Handbasket"

Above: Issue #53, August 1988, "You're Dead Jim"

Above: Issue #54, September 1988, "Old Loyalties"

Above: Issue #56, November 1988, "A Small Matter of Faith"

Issue #56 was the the final issue of the first DC monthly series. However, less than a year later a second monthly Trek comic from DC (featuring the TOS characters) was launched. The 2nd series lasted 80 issues, from October 1989 to February 1996.