"Hell in a Handbasket" is the 52nd issue of DC Comics' first series of TOS comics. This fifth story by Peter David showcased the bridge crew of the USS Enterprise-A descending through a vast illusion of Dante Alighieri's Nine Circles of Hell in order to save the ship. The story was collected in DC's omnibus Who Killed Captain Kirk? in June 1993.
Description[]
- If you think things went badly for Captain Kirk [last] month, wait until you see him lead a band of crewmembers into the very bowels of hell itself. Castille's mind has everyone — even Spock — convinced that the Enterprise has been transformed. Can they reach Castille in time, before the starship is accidentally destroyed? And what happens when Kirk faces the devil himself?
Summary[]
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Log entries[]
- Captain's log, supplemental
- The Enterprise, and her entire crew, are in the grips of a hellish nightmare.
For reasons at present unknown, Lieutenant Castille, the Mentite super-telepath, is projecting illusions throughout my ship... Illusions of increasing severity.
And now, with some sort of psychic blast, he appears to have rendered the entire crew insensate, with the exception of the bridge crew.
It is therefore up to us to descend into the deepest regions of the ship — Castille's last known location — and bring him out of it... Though hell itself may bar the way.
- Captain's log, stardate unknown.
- We've lost all track of time as we descend further into the Inferno. But time is something we don't have... A plague-ridden planet urgently needs our help — help we cannot provide until we have reclaimed the Enterprise. I am haunted by doubts. These illusions are so powerful, they've infiltrated our very minds. What if our descent itself is illusion? What if we're nowhere near the lower sections of the ship? But we have no choice. None. And meantime, our efforts are beginning to take an overwhelming toll.
- Captain's log — stardate 9000.4.
- After thorough examination and research, Doctor McCoy believes that Castille suffers from an extremely rare Mentite disease — showing up in one in three million — called Le Guin's Syndrome. Similar, in the aspect of seizures to the old Earth disease epilepsy.
He believes that Castille can be treated, but it will take time. In the meantime, Castille is wearing a neural dampener to keep his mental powers in check.
All is back to normal, but many crewmembers look shaken, even haunted. I am not sure that, with time's passing, they can leave their unpleasant individual revelations behind them.
I hope I'm sure.
It is comforting to know, however, that some things remain impervious to mental assault — including the single-mindedness of honeymooners.
We are on course for the plague-ridden planet Chapin One and expect to deliver the serum within the hour. Computer, end log entry.
References[]
Characters[]
- Arex • William Bearclaw • Bloemker • Bertran de Born (illusion) • Nancy Bryce • Castille • Cerberus (illusion) • Charon (illusion) • Euclid (illusion) • Furies (illusion) • Geryon (illusion) • James T. Kirk • Martell • Leonard McCoy • Medusa (illusion) • Minos (illusion) • Minotaur • M'Ress • Phlegyas (illusion) • Plato (illusion) • Socrates (illusion) • Spock • Tanner • Nyota Uhura
- Referenced only
- Dante Alighieri • Jesus Christ • Lucifer • Konom • Virgil
Starships and vehicles[]
Locations[]
Illusions[]
- Abominable Sands • Dis • Limbo • Malebranche • Neutral Zone • Nine Circles of Hell • Philegethon • River of Acheron • Styx • underworld • Wood of the Suicides
- Referenced only
- Chapin I • Earth • heaven
Races and cultures[]
States and organizations[]
Science and classification[]
- arrow • biobed • body armor • bow • energy • Jefferies tube • matter • neural dampener • phaser • space • starship • sword • thruster • transporter • turbolift
Occupations and titles[]
- captain • chief medical officer • commander • commanding officer • communications officer • crewman • doctor • engineer • ensign • first officer • helmsman • navigator • officer • science officer • second officer • security chief • security guard • tactical officer • weapons officer
Other references[]
- afterlife • blood • botanical gardens • bridge • captain's log • captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A), 2286 • clothing • communications • dirt • disease • Divine Comedy • dog • Federation Starfleet ranks (2270s-2350s) • fire • government • Inferno • insect • Italian language • karate • Le Guin's Syndrome • log entry • medical log • medical log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) • plague • plankton • rabies • rock • security • sickbay • sleep • stardate • Starfleet uniform (2278-2350s) • telepathy • Thanksgiving • Vulcan nerve pinch • water • witch
Appendices[]
Background[]
- Quotes from Inferno were reprinted by permission of the 1982 Bantam Classics English language translation of the poem by Allen Mandelbaum. Dante's guide Virgil was not named in the story, but was addressed by Dante in Inferno passages to his master and guide.
Images[]
Fourth Circle.
Sixth Circle.
Ninth Circle.
Connections[]
Timeline[]
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous story: #51: Haunted Honeymoon |
TOS comics (DC Comics, Series One) |
Next story: #53: You're Dead, Jim |
| Previous story: Haunted Honeymoon |
Stories by: Peter David |
Next story: You're Dead, Jim |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous adventure: Haunted Honeymoon |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: You're Dead, Jim |