Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, the iconic communications officer of the USS Enterprise, first captured audiences on Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966. While her television debut marked a historic step for representation in science fiction, her earliest appearances in comic books also helped expand her presence across media. Official comic records and character indexes list Star Trek #2 (1968) among the first comics to feature Uhura, followed by recurring roles throughout DC and later IDW Publishing’s Star Trek series.
A Historic First for Star Trek Comics
Star Trek comics have been around for decades. Western Publishing began making comics focused on the Original Series characters in 1967. They mainly focused on Kirk and the gang, but Uhura first appears in the second issue. Uhura was often seen as a secondary character to the bridge crew. That’s why she’s not there from the beginning.
But that changed in 1984. “Uhura’s Story” was the 30th issue of the 1984 Star Trek comic book series published by DC Comics. It was one of a few comics from this era set during Captain James T. Kirk’s five-year mission aboard the USS Enterprise. It’s also the first time the issue has focused on her background and explored her life in Kenya, as well as the loss of her family.
IDW later made a comic series based on the Kelvin timeline called “Star Trek: Year Five.”
Uhura’s Legacy Before This Comic
Nichelle Nichols’ portrayal of Nyota Uhura is layered and complex. She quickly became a breakthrough character on the Original Series.
Uhura was so popular that she inspired numerous real-life astronauts. Most notably, Dr. Mae Jemison (first African American woman in space) and Charlie Bolden (former NASA Administrator). It was the first time a Black woman was shown in a respected, non-stereotypical role in space. This is paving the way for minorities and women in STEM and space exploration. Nichols herself was recruited by NASA to help recruit diverse candidates, leading many to apply, including Jemison, who later appeared on Star Trek herself.
But her role in the show was often downplayed. So much so that she almost quit. Thankfully, Dr. Martin Luther King himself talked her into staying. The character has lived on in the movies, played by Zoe Saldaña. On television, Celia Rose Gooding plays her in the prequel series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
This year is a big celebration of Star Trek’s 60th anniversary. IDW Publishing is reviving its Star Trek: Deviations alternate-history comic banner for a new one-shot story featuring Uhura in honor of “Black History Month” in 2026.
How the New Comic Reframes Uhura
IDW last explored a “Deviations” story in 2017, telling the story of Romulans making their first contact with Earth. The new “Threads of Destiny” book will be released in February, exploring what happens when Lieutenant Uhura travels through the Guardian of Forever — not to Edith Keeler in 1930, but to the American Civil Rights movement in 1963.
How This Differs from Past Uhura Stories
The comic digs deeper into Uhura’s intellect, emotional resilience, and cultural fluency—qualities that have always defined her role aboard the Enterprise but have rarely been explored at length on the page.
Rather than reacting to events set in motion by others, Uhura drives the plot herself, navigating complex diplomatic challenges and high-stakes decisions that highlight why she has always been indispensable to Starfleet. In doing so, the story expands the boundaries of traditional Star Trek storytelling, proving that exploration isn’t limited to strange new worlds, but also to the inner lives of its most iconic characters.
What makes this moment especially significant is how long it has taken to arrive. Uhura was a trailblazing figure on television in the 1960s, helping redefine representation in science fiction at a time when such visibility was rare. Her elevation to the lead of a Star Trek comic reflects how the franchise continues to evolve, reexamining its history and giving overdue attention to characters who helped define its ideals from the very beginning.
Why This Moment Matters
By finally centering a Star Trek comic around Uhura, the franchise isn’t just telling a new story—it’s acknowledging her legacy. This release stands as both a celebration and a correction, offering a long-awaited spotlight to a character whose voice has always mattered. For longtime fans and new readers alike, it’s a powerful reminder that Uhura has never merely been part of the mission—she has always been at its heart.
This one-shot release is written by Stephanie Williams with interior art by Greg Maldonado and Anthony Fowler Jr.; its colorful cover is by artist Mark Alvorado. Here’s the official announcement:
STAR TREK: DEVIATIONS – THREADS OF DESTINY
This special one-shot features Lieutenant Nyota Uhura. In the 23rd century, she explores far-flung star systems with her crew on the Enterprise as part of her mission to communicate and build bridges with life found across the Galaxy. But in the 20th century, humankind was working to build understanding among themselves, with African Americans on Earth championing the Civil Rights Movement and using their voices and acts of protest to end racial segregation and discrimination.
Now, by way of the Guardian of Forever, Uhura is yanked back through time to 1963. There, she’ll join all those fighting for equality and justice and reconnect to why her work as a communications officer is perhaps the most important work of all.
IDW also released the comic book cover and the alternate photo cover.
This issue has a preorder deadline of January 19, 2026. You can order a copy at your local comic shop on February 25, 2026.
What does it mean for Star Trek to finally center a comic around Uhura? Which other Star Trek characters deserve a similar comic-book focus next? Let us know in the comments below and on social media.
