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In a groundbreaking collaboration, DC Comics and IDW Publishing teamed up in 2015 to deliver a nearly flawless sci-fi crossover in “Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War,” featuring DC’s iconic cosmic superhero alongside the legendary crew of the USS Enterprise.
DC Comics/IDW Publishing
While “Star Trek” has seen its share of comic book crossovers, “Star Trek/Green Lantern” stands out by incorporating characters from the J.J. Abrams-produced “Star Trek” film series. Fans were treated to the familiar faces of Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoë Saldaña, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, and John Cho. The storyline unfolds in an alternate DC universe ravaged by the villain Nekron. In a desperate move, the last surviving Guardian of the Universe sends the powerful rings, crucial for defeating Nekron, into a different universe. These rings eventually find their way to the crew of the Enterprise and others.
Though it may not dominate conversations today, “Star Trek/Green Lantern” is arguably one of the most underrated comic book crossovers, seamlessly blending the essences of both worlds while showcasing each character at their finest. This ambitious narrative rivals some of DC’s most celebrated event series with its dramatic and expansive cosmic scope.
Despite its initially quiet reception, “Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War” garnered enough acclaim and a dedicated fan base to warrant a sequel in 2017. “Star Trek/Green Lantern: Stranger Worlds” picks up the saga with Hal Jordan and Star Sapphire joining the USS Enterprise crew in the “Star Trek” Kelvin timeline, a scenario few could have envisioned.
As the sequel unfolds, the Green Lanterns face a dwindling power supply due to the absence of a power battery like the one on Oa. Hope arises with the possibility of an Oa counterpart in the “Star Trek” universe. Meanwhile, the notorious Sinestro embarks on a deadly quest, and the infamous Khan seizes a red power ring for his own nefarious purposes.
Hal Jordan joins the crew of the USS Enterprise
DC Comics/IDW Publishing
Even if readers didn’t fully appreciate the greatness of “Star Trek/Green Lantern: Spectrum Wars” when it was first published, it obviously did well and had plenty of admirers, because it got a sequel in 2017. “Star Trek/Green Lantern: Stranger Worlds” begins with Hal Jordan and Star Sapphire serving aboard the USS Enterprise in the J.J. Abrams “Star Trek” Kelvin timeline, a fun status quo that few could have imagined.
As the story kicks off, we learn that without access to a power battery on the planet of Oa, all the Green Lantern rings are slowly running out of power. Luckily, there may be a counterpart to Oa in the “Star Trek” universe. At the same time, however, Sinestro is on a deadly mission of his own, while the villainous Khan steals a red power ring for himself.
Like “The Spectrum War,” “Star Trek/Green Lantern: Stranger Worlds” is a joint production between DC Comics and IDW. The same creative team of writer Mike Johnson and Angel Hernandez returns, too. Ultimately, it’s a worthy sequel that ups the stakes and shows us a new adventure in a reality where Green Lanterns and Starfleet officers fight side by side.
