Star Trek 'VII': The Ashes of Eden (DC adaptation)

[Khan 2.0]

just having a reread of this graphic novel and remembering how it really feels like an adaptation of a 'Star Trek VII' had there been one last final TOS movie in 1993 (as the pages of Cinefantastique were speculating in the Trek VI issue), with similar artwork to the Trek VI DC adaption and the introductions of the characters is somewhat similar to the lost opening to Trek VI (and continuing the TNG foreshadowing with the early holodeck, Spock pouring a bottle of Picard wine, an Encounter at FP soldier suit on display in Admiral Drakes home/office). the way its structured just feels like a movie and can almost hear the actors voices as the characterizations are spot on (esp Spock/Bones). so can sort imagine it live action with someone like Rutger Hauer, Lance Henrikson, or Dennis Hopper or even Charlton Heston as Admiral Drake, with Halle Berry or Angela Bassett as the Klingon/Romulan Teilani. and maybe Beth Toussaint as Drakes daughter (and Sean Patrick Flanery or Timothy Olyphant as holodeck Farragut Kirk). and probably directed by Shatner as doubt Meyer or Nimoy wouldve wanted to direct Shatners story complete with obligatory horse riding scene (Ralph Winter wouldve been like 'just make sure ILM are involved this time Bill!'). therefore Generations wouldve obviously been moved to 1996 (30th ann)

but was surprised at how some stuff seems to have been cut and pasted in future Trek projects - the rejuvenation planet where kirk can feel young again with love interest/blood feud with the generations (Insurrection), a villainous head of Starfleet (who has a daughter spy) who wants to frame Kirk/start a war with the Klingons resulting in a finale with the Enterprise vs another federation ship (Into Darkness - there's even an early scene where the admiral sets up the crew to go after kirk in his office complete with historic model ships). and 'old man' Kirk abandoning Starfleet/goes rogue into the star wars universe to help a young woman in need (Picard).

 

[Christopher]

but was surprised at how some stuff seems to have been cut and pasted in future Trek projects - the rejuvenation planet where kirk can feel young again with love interest/blood feud with the generations (Insurrection), a villainous head of Starfleet (who has a daughter spy) who wants to frame Kirk/start a war with the Klingons resulting in a finale with the Enterprise vs another federation ship (Into Darkness - there's even an early scene where the admiral sets up the crew to go after kirk in his office complete with historic model ships). and 'old man' Kirk abandoning Starfleet/goes rogue into the star wars universe to help a young woman in need (Picard).

I think that just shows how formulaic the novel's tropes were.

 

[Danlav05]

It has always felt like a lost movie to me, I bought it after seeing it on a German QVC special about Star Trek comics! It included the then-recent Marvel Paramount issues. Sad thing is I wasn't in Germany - before Sky Digital here in the UK we could pick up their channels!!

It was recently reprinted in the Graphic Novel Colleciton partwork but I have never had the nerve to get rid of the first edition!

It's a pity they never adapted The Return, Avenger, Spectre (my favourite of the 10!) etc into comic book form, I admit I did listen to the abridged audiobooks rather than actually read them! The later ones especially felt very different - James Kirk in a FC uniform in the 24th century with Picard and co. One even features them vacationing on Bajor! And the last one (Captain's Glory) feels very much 'back to business'

 

[indianatrekker26]

I thought I remember shatner saying at the time he had shopped Ashes to paramount as a 7th TOS feature before he turned it into a novel. But by that time they were interested in pushing TNG into the next series of films.

 

[Khan 2.0]

I thought I remember shatner saying at the time he had shopped Ashes to paramount as a 7th TOS feature before he turned it into a novel. But by that time they were interested in pushing TNG into the next series of films.

Yes I think remember that, also after Generations he pitched Berman The Return

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Yes I think remember that, also after Generations he pitched Berman The Return

I much prefer The Return's original title -- "The Fires of Olympus."

 

[F. King Daniel]

Yes I think remember that, also after Generations he pitched Berman The Return

And (relatively) more recently he says he pitched Star Trek Academy: Collision Course as a TV series after ENT ended. Not gonna lie I'd have loved it.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

It's a pity they never adapted The Return, Avenger, Spectre (my favourite of the 10!) etc into comic book form.

The Ashes adaptation was published near the end of DC's license, and Marvel's publishing until the end of 1996. The Return novel was published in the limbo between the two publishers, and Marvel tended not to do original graphic novels, even of their own characters, at that point in time, so it's difficult for me to see how an adaptation of The Return would have fit into Marvel's publishing plans. Maybe if Marvel's publishing had begun six months earlier they might have adapted The Return as a four-issue mini-series, but I really struggle to see it in my mind. Conceptually, it doesn't "fit" in my mind with Marvel's Star Trek publishing strategy.

 

[phoenix96]

I read The Return as a kid after seeing Generations, and, not really understanding the "tie-in" concept at the time, I assumed that was the story that was going to be made into the 8th movie. When rumors started coming out about "Star Trek: Resurrection" and that it would be about the Borg, well, that made sense (just a minor name change). Later I was very surprised to find that they had thrown out the "existing" sequel story and made one that didn't involve Kirk at all

 

[Stevil2001]

I read The Return as a kid after seeing Generations, and, not really understanding the "tie-in" concept at the time, I assumed that was the story that was going to be made into the 8th movie. When rumors started coming out about "Star Trek: Resurrection" and that it would be about the Borg, well, that made sense (just a minor name change). Later I was very surprised to find that they had thrown out the "existing" sequel story and made one that didn't involve Kirk at all

Something Shatner said in Movie Memories also had me convinced The Return was going to be the next film. (I think it was a coda about going back to the desert where they filmed the Veridian scenes, though I'd guess that was about the ending reshoots.)

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Shatner definitely leaves the impression in Movie Memories that Kirk will adventure again in some form after the reshoots. He may already have had the basic idea of the resurrection in mind with the intention of pitching it to Berman as a film at that point in the production of the book.

 

[Csalem]

The Return was one of the earliest Trek books I bought but it would have been around 1999/2000. Not really having a sense of canon / non-canon back then I assumed this was the official follow-up to Generations, especially since it was written by Shatner. It has some outlandish parts, but I still love that book, and most of the Shatnerverse.

 

[Khan 2.0]

#restoretheShatnerverse

 

[Allyn Gibson]

The Return was one of the earliest Trek books I bought but it would have been around 1999/2000. Not really having a sense of canon / non-canon back then I assumed this was the official follow-up to Generations, especially since it was written by Shatner. It has some outlandish parts, but I still love that book, and most of the Shatnerverse.

Well, The Return is more of a sequel to Generations than First Contact ever was. Hell, even "The Way of the Warrior" is more of a sequel to Generations than First Contact, because that episode at least deals with one character's aftermath.

 

[mastadge]

#restoretheShatnerverse

Too bad that message couldn't have gotten through to Paramount when they were putting together the special edition DVDs of the original cast films. We got the new MTP, the DCs of Meyer's movies, but the will wasn't there to let Shatner revisit TFF. Don't know what could have been done with the existing footage and some new effects, but a new cut would at least have been interesting to see.

 

[Danlav05]

At least the Shatnerverse inspired this

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Is Shatner too old now to return on screen?

 

[Danlav05]

i know it's 3hrs long so it'll need editing, but could someone take Shatner's audiobook for The Ashes of Eden and match it to images from the GN to make a motion comic?

Yes it's one author reading the story, but there are sound effects and music

UPDATE: I have all the necessary pieces on my PC. Just need to cut it all together when I have time :P

UPDATE 2: I done it.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Is Shatner too old now to return on screen?

He's 90. He's not going to convincingly portray Kirk at his age, no.

 

[ChristopherPike]

I remember reading both the Ashes of Eden book and being especially impressed with how cinematic the graphic novel was. It and The Return would still make great original animated movies, a lá DC.

Yeah, they could allow one last hurrah for Shatner as Kirk.

 

[Christopher]

He's 90. He's not going to convincingly portray Kirk at his age, no.

"Dammit, Jim, I told you not to go back to Gamma Hydra!"