Happy 60th anniversary, Star Trek

Sept. 8 marks 60 years of 'Star Trek,' as the TV program debuted on Sept. 8, 1966. Subscribe now Fans have had the opportunity to revisit the motion pictures based on the TV show in cinemas this past weekend, with today marking a marathon of 'Star Trek' films 1-4, each paired with an episode of the classic series. But before the crew of the starship Enterprise hit the silver screen, it debuted in homes across America in the midst of the turbulent 1960s. The science-fiction program ran for three years, but despite that relatively short run, the concept birthed a franchise that has continued in additional TV series, films, novels, video games, comic books and more. I talked to author David Gerrold, who wrote the classic episode 'The Trouble with Tribbles,' forThe Oklahomanfor the 50th anniversary of 'Star Trek.' "I kept waiting for 'Star Trek' to fade away, and it kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger," Gerrold said. "I remain astonished and humbled and a little embarrassed. It's like being one of the Beatles without being mobbed. You look around and you see the impact of 'Star Trek' everywhere." The original crew begat 'The Next Generation' crew, which continued on to seven TV series and multiple movies. 'Deep Space Nine,' 'Voyager' and 'Enterprise' continued the 'Star Trek' banner into the 1990s and 2000s. J.J. Abrams updated the franchise in a new timeline for the 2010s, and now in the 2020s, fans can now see a more animated comedic version on 'Lower Decks' or more of a throwback series to a time before the 'original series' on 'Strange New Worlds.' 'Star Trek' has often been interestingly reflective of its time, all while forecasting the far future, and has been a lens for me to consider what's to come with hope and optimism. Each of the original four films posits this in a slightly different way, and each is worth viewing. For fans of the original series, pairing each film with a thematic companion makes for an interesting comparison. FromStarTrek.com, here are the four films being shown with the companion episodes: STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE - THE DIRECTOR'S EDITION Bonus Episode: 'The Changeling' STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN - THE DIRECTOR'S CUT Bonus Episode: 'Space Seed' STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK Bonus Episode: 'Amok Time' STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME Bonus Episode: 'The City on the Edge of Forever' Meanwhile, if you want to dig further into 'Trek' in other media, it's a good time for that as well, with new series on the horizon from IDW exploring the franchise. IDW's Star Trek: 60th Anniversary Special is set for release on Wednesday, September 9. Matthew Price, matthew@matthewLprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman. Share