PETER DAVID ON IDW'S STAR TREK: NEW FRONTIER MINISERIES

**MattBrady** · 03-10-2008, 02:08 PM

In 1997, Star Trek fans got something…new.

That was the year that Pocket Books launched its Star Trek: New Frontier novel line, the first series of books not directly tied to an existing Trek franchise, or likewise, beholden to any specific Trek continuity. The series introduced a largely unknown cast, though there were cameos by known characters as well as the presence of Lt. Commander (now Admiral) Elizabeth Shelby who first appeared in Star Trek: TNG’s “The Best of Both Worlds” episodes.

As fans of the series know, the original idea for the series is credited to John Ordover, and Peter David has written every novel in the series, which at this point stands at just under 20.

This month, New Frontier comes to comics once again, as part of IDW Publishing’s Star Trek: “Second Stage” initiative for the property, with David at the helm. Joined by artist Stephen Thompson, David will officially continue the stories of the USS Excalibur and Captain Mackenzie Calhoun in the five issue limited series entitled “Turnaround.”

We spoke with David about the upcoming mini.

Newsarama: Peter, probably the first, most obvious question - what took so long to get New Frontier going as a miniseries? It's been seven years since Double Time after all - was this just a matter of the license moving around that kept New Frontier off the table as a comic project for so long?

Peter David: It's not as if it were up to me. It's all Paramount and its various comics licensees. In point of fact, Wildstorm approached me about doing a second New Frontier one-shot, but then they lost the license and that was that. IDW got the license, approached me, and away we went.

NRAMA: For those who've stayed tangential to Trek, or only know it via television and film, what's a thumbnail description of New Frontier?

PD: The original concept, as conceived by John Ordover, was to take the dissolution of the Soviet Union and transfer it to science fiction terms. In this case, the Thallonian Empire dissolved, plunging the entire volatile area into chaos. Old rivalries and wars that had been kept under wraps under Thallonian domination reignited once the Thallonians were no longer in power. Starfleet has assigned the Starship Excalibur, commanded by the maverick Captain Mackenzie Calhoun, to ride herd on the territory.

NRAMA: While you credit John Ordover for the original idea, New Frontier was, for all intents and purposes, "your" universe - as much as a part of a shared universe owned by a larger media company can be… What is the appeal of the New Frontier universe for you?

PD: The advantage of playing in the Star Trek universe is that you have access to that vast reservoir of possibilities, not to mention an existing audience base. The disadvantage is that you really can't change any of the characters...except that's not an issue in New Frontier. Characters can come and go, get married, get divorced, give birth, die. So it's really--no joke intended--the best of both worlds.

NRAMA: With regard to the comic series, you're already at IDW with Fallen Angel - when they landed the Trek license, was New Frontier something that you suggested to them, or did they suggest the possibility to you?

PD: They came to me. I had no idea their Trek license included New Frontier. But they made it clear that they would only do it if I were aboard. And Marvel was generous enough to cut me some slack in my exclusive contract with them to do the series.

NRAMA: IDW's solicitation notes that the miniseries is the official continuation of the main New Frontier storyline. Is the story where you were planning on going with the next novel, or is this something new for the mini?

PD: Totally new for the mini.

NRAMA: Who's in the cast this time around? Obviously Mackenzie is in it, and - the rest of the Excalibur's crew that fans of the novel series will know?

PD: Yes. The thing is, when we first introduced New Frontier, we had a core cast of characters and they were all on the Excalibur. As time as progressed, a number of them have moved on to different venues, as happens in life. And all those venues appear in the miniseries: Calhoun and Co. on the Excalibur, Robin Lefler and Kalinda on New Thallon, Shelby on Bravo Station, Kat Mueller on the Trident, and Soleta on her ship, the Specter.

NRAMA: Roughly what time period is this set in?

PD: This follows directly after Missing in Action. It's basically the next New Frontier story.

NRAMA: From the solicitation, the theft of a time ship gets the ball rolling here...stolen by Admiral Edward Jellico, one of your crossover characters who first appeared on TNG. What's his career been like since for those who only know him from there (and as Ronny Cox)?

PD: He's one of the stalwarts of Starfleet, in charge of Starfleet operations and a complete Federation loyalist. Why he has suddenly made off with a prototype vessel is the central mystery of the series.

NRAMA: How in the world does one find a prototype time ship, especially if it's already been used for its purpose? Any clues as to why Jellico wants the ship?

PD: Well, if I told you that, it blows issue #4 of the series. So I don't think it would be wise.

NRAMA: Fair enough, but on that track, let's wrap up with a tease – any scenes or elements that you can toss out that might perk some eyebrows?

PD: It features the full range of seriousness and humor that is integral to New Frontier, ranging from Calhoun witnessing the gut-wrenching and brutal death of a key New Frontier cast member, to the mountainous Zak Kebron endeavoring to extract information from an unwilling individual by making him sit through a slide show of every vacation Kebron's family ever went on.

Plus, for the very first time, we'll be visualizing key characters such as Morgan Primus, answering questions that New Frontier fans have had going back years. It's a can't-miss for longtime New Frontier fans. And for people who have never read it, it will serve as a great introduction to the characters.

DarkKnight1013 · 03-10-2008, 02:28 PM

I'm a huge fan of the New Frontier books, have been reading them since the first one, and am really looking forward to this. It's been too long since Mac and crew have been in comics. Can't wait!

Pascal · 03-10-2008, 02:31 PM

I haven't read every novel of the series yet, but I already subscribed to this mini.

bcondray · 03-10-2008, 02:39 PM

I cannot wait for this.

I got the chance to meet Peter David at Dragon*Con last year and was able to tell him...that for me..His New Frontier novels are the best thing about Star Trek going on now.

Awesome books that are true to the vision of Gene Roddenberry.

SuperWall · 03-10-2008, 02:40 PM

New Frontier is the best printed Star Trek ever! Almost all novels are above average - and not just a little bit. Always entertaining, always clever, interesting characters (even some from the Star Trek animated series - though I don't know if they'll appear in this mini-series).

Tom Daylight · 03-10-2008, 02:43 PM

Pretty confusing to see two different "New Frontier" stories on the front page! I guess this one came first though, in the grand scheme of things.

SpyGuy · 03-10-2008, 02:44 PM

Is that supposed to be Peter David in the command chair or Dick Cheney?

Hey, I'm just sayin'...

berkovw · 03-10-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpyGuy

Is that supposed to be Peter David in the command chair or Dick Cheney?

Hey, I'm just sayin'...

Also looks a little like Julie Schwartz.

Are going to find out that Morgan Primus was actually Christine Chapel and L'waxana Troi?

Northstar04 · 03-10-2008, 03:15 PM

Can a new reader pick this up without reading the novels??

HomerdaBorg · 03-10-2008, 03:18 PM

Sold! Yeah, it should be accessible to new readers...

Skyhawk · 03-10-2008, 03:34 PM

I'll give the mini a try, haven't paid much attention to Trek since DS9.

HomerdaBorg · 03-10-2008, 04:10 PM

Yeah, a post DS9 comic series would be cool to see.

Terry Zabel · 03-10-2008, 04:48 PM

Count me in. I've read everything from New Frontier except the most recent novel, which I will be getting this weekend.

jedifish · 03-10-2008, 04:51 PM

Can't wait. I love the New Frontier novels.

So when will we be seeing some new New Frontier novels?

Checkerbpg · 03-10-2008, 05:40 PM

Checker Book Publishing Group will be coming out with new Star Trek graphic novels later this year

Trailsong · 03-10-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berkovw

Are going to find out that Morgan Primus was actually Christine Chapel and L'waxana Troi?

She's not Lwaxana; she actually writes a letter to her friend whom she calls "'Xana" in one of the books (#9? #10? Part of the only in-series trilogy), which clearly makes references to that friend as our favorite bawdy Betazoid.

For my money and for fun, New Frontier is the single best thing Trek has going for it right now. It's not beholden to any TV continuity, it's not been dissected ad infinitum by pseudoscholars... it uses strong, identifiable characters, appropriate humor (Grozit... humor? In Star Trek? Heavens forbid!), and isn't afraid to leave the reader feeling like they've been on the best joyride of their lives. For the first time in any Trek series, characters don't just exist for the alien of the week/month, but they grow, the live, they learn and become. It's something they're finally starting to do in standard Trek novels-- though I admit, usually only when Peter David is writing them. (Anyone catch the Mac cameos in 'Before Dishonor'? How perfectly appropriate it was to the whole tenor of the book?)

Yeah. This is on the pull list. Already get something from at least everyother publisher out there... IDW's finally gonna get a couple bucks from me. Heh.

grphxkindaguy · 03-10-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berkovw

Also looks a little like Julie Schwartz.

Are going to find out that Morgan Primus was actually Christine Chapel and L'waxana Troi?

I always thought Morgan was also Number One from the Pike era Enterprise (same actress as the above, of course)...

I just got back into reading the NF novels. I started re-reading them but am only up to #8 (Requiem)?

So everything said in the article (that have happened in NF so far) I haven't gotten up to yet...

still intending to buy the mini, regardless. I just hope this mini has some decent artists, IDW hasn't been to successful w/that...

Bobby Nash · 03-10-2008, 07:31 PM

Great news. I love The New Frontier novels.

Bobby

MingusDew · 03-10-2008, 07:47 PM

I liked DS9 and I grew up with TNG which wasn't enough fo rme to buy this. But now that I hear PAD is writing it...I will definitely check it out.

Peter David · 03-10-2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berkovw

Also looks a little like Julie Schwartz.

Are going to find out that Morgan Primus was actually Christine Chapel and L'waxana Troi?

When I got the cover, I wrote the following to IDW:

"My wife says it looks just like me. I am frankly alarmed to discover that apparently I'm turning in to Julie Schwartz."

As for Morgan, well, all I will say is, for the first time, you'll see her fully on panel.

PAD

HomerdaBorg · 03-10-2008, 09:26 PM

So does that mean we'll get you on a cover properly PAD?

silvanthalas · 03-10-2008, 09:43 PM

Awesome. It's about time we got some new New Frontier, regardless of the format.

veritech · 03-10-2008, 11:58 PM

Who is the lady in the red, billowing cape? It looks like PAD's "Fallen Angel" character!

Linkara · 03-11-2008, 12:24 AM

PAD, I've been following New Frontier for years and I can't wait to pick up this Mini, though I am worried about another death of a cast member.

Of course, what really gets me interested is one of those covers - is that the ghost of Si Cwan?

Duggy1138 · 03-11-2008, 02:13 AM

Maybe it's just me but does anyone else find the whole IDW "Stage 2" labelling a little silly, pointless and maybe even arrogant?

There's been a whole lot of second stages - the series itself was a second attempt, the animated series, the failed Phase II, the move to movies, the Next Generation and now a revamp film... Not to mention 5 or six different comic companies that it's past through the hands of.

Stage 2? Stage 6 or 7 to my mind.

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