The Trek Life was a humorous comic strip by David Reddick about a group of Trekkies and the effect Star Trek has on their lives.
History[]
StarTrek.com[]
The strip began publication in July 2005 on StarTrek.com with new strips following every Monday. The popularity of the strip led to official merchandise sold on the website, including calendars, mugs, shirts and art prints. In March 2007, one of the characters, Kate Stevens, started an advice column, "Ask Kate", which published every other Wednesday. In October 2007, the strips increased in frequency to three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The webstrips came to a sudden end in December 2007 when StarTrek.com restructured. In total, 160 webstrips were published.
Star Trek Magazine[]
Following the success of the webstrips, additional strips became a regular feature in Star Trek Magazine. Starting in the Sept/Oct 2006 issue which launched the U.S. publication, new strips were published for 39 consecutive issues before being replaced by Chris Cooper's Starship Trekkers. Other one-off pieces of art based on the series have also appeared throughout the magazine.
Other Strips[]
Exclusive The Trek Life strips appeared in various early IDW Publishing Star Trek comics and a special manga style strip appeared in the TokyoPop's second Star Trek: The Manga anthology. Art prints were sold on StarTrek.com, through Lightspeed Fine Art, and at conventions, where David Reddick made appearances to promote the comic. In 2007, the program for the Las Vegas Star Trek Convention included an exclusive The Trek Life comic, which was later reformatted as a webstrip.
There has yet to be an official printed collection of the comic.
Characters[]
Supporting[]
Strip summaries[]
StarTrek.com strips[]
- 07.18.05 - The gang deals with the cancellation of Enterprise.
- 07.25.05 - Carl shows his USS Titan design to Steve.
- 08.01.05 - Carl shows his USS Titan design to Kate.
- 08.08.05 - Carl is going to the Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas!
- 08.15.05 - Kate gets a call from Las Vegas
- 08.22.05 - Carl gets a post-convention surprise
- 08.29.05 - Carl has a bad hair day... until logic intervenes.
- This strip was reprinted in Star Trek Magazine US #2 as part of an interview with David Reddick.
- 09.05.05 - Kate and Steve confront Carl about his obsession.
- 09.12.05 - How To Tell If Your Date Is a Star Trek Fan: Lesson #1
- This strip was featured on a StarTrek.com mug.
- 09.19.05 - When Carl became a Star Trek fan
- 09.26.05 - The gang goes to the theatre.
- 10.03.05 - Carl's reaction gets him in trouble at work.
- 10.10.05 - Carl shows off his new tattoo.
- 10.17.05 - Carl finds a Halloween costume that fits his personality.
- 10.24.05 - Kate and Steve find that Carl can be very persuasive.
- 10.31.05 - Carl's Halloween Party goes off without a hitch. Or guests.
- 11.07.05 - The holidays mean many things to many people.
- 11.14.05 - Carl invites his friends over for some Thanksgiving goodness.
- 11.21.05 - Carl is willing to make a sacrifice at Thanksgiving.
- 11.28.05 - Carl's Christmas wish leaves Kate and Steve stone cold.
- 12.05.05 - Carl's Favorite Star Trek Christmas Songs, Vol. 1.
- 12.12.05 - Carl's Secret Santa Gift
- 12.19.05 - Carl asks Santa for a special wish.
- 12.26.05 - Taking a bite out of Carl's New Year's resolutions.
- 01.02.06 - The gang deals with the cancellation of Enterprise.
- 01.09.06 - Carl has a bad hair day... until logic intervenes.
- 01.16.06 - Carl puts his New Year's resolution to the test.
- 01.23.06 - Carl types long, fails to prosper.
- 01.30.06 - With Star Trek now under CBS, Carl's amazing mind races with new ideas.
- 02.06.06 - Wanted: Extremely personalized photos for me, Carl Jennings.
- 02.13.06 - Carl Loves his Valentines. But is it mutual?
- 02.20.06 - Carl suffers from depression due to overexposure.
- 02.27.06 - Carl enters his blue period.
- 03.06.06 - Carl's chances of becoming a Borg are remote at best.
- 03.13.06 - Fore He's a Jolly Good Fellow!
- 03.20.06 - Carl's close encounter of the green kind.
- 03.27.06 - Spring is in the air as Carl's thoughts turn to Star Trek.
- 04.03.06 - The gang ponders life on a desert asteroid.
- 04.10.06 - Carl's latest malady is simply indescribable.
- 04.17.06 - Diet and exercise, the Carl method.
- This strip was featured on the cover of a StarTrek.com journal.
- 04.24.06 - Carl gets in touch with his inner-active self.
- 05.01.06 - Carl puts himself in the picture.
- 05.08.06 - Great movie pitches, Part II.
- 05.15.06 - Carl's movie ideas move into cruise control.
- 05.22.06 - Carl's hard drive crashes.
- 05.29.06 - Just another day at the bus stop for Carl and Steve.
- 06.05.06 - Watching Star Trek, family style.
- 06.12.06 - Carl's mom keeps him and his friends in stitches.
- 06.19.06 - Carl and the gang enjoy a moveable feast.
- 06.26.06 - Carl's mom sets a course for home... at Warp 35!
- 07.03.06 - Look! Up in the sky! It's a Bird of Prey!
- 07.10.06 - Carl's non-conformity earns him a promotion, of sorts.
- 07.17.06 - Carl's boss makes a colorful request.
- 07.24.06 - If Carl builds it, will they come?
- 07.31.06 - Carl gets over his heartbreak.
- 08.07.06 - Looking a gift horse in the mouth can be wise.
- 08.14.06 - Carl wishes upon a star.
- 08.21.06 - Don't shoot till you see the whites of their eyes!
- 08.28.06 - Carl comes clean. Or not.
- 09.04.06 - Carl gets into the swim of things.
- 09.11.06 - Splitting the difference between Trekkies and Trekkers.
- 09.18.06 - Trekology 101 must be passed if you want a piece of this.
- 09.25.06 - Seeing Carl's perspective on digital enhancements.
- 10.02.06 - Carl teaches IDIC in the office space.
- 10.09.06 - Carl and his unique views on sports.
- 10.16.06 - It's the Great Pumpkin, Carl Jennings!
- 10.23.06 - Carl gets dressed down for not dressing up.
- 10.30.06 - Carl has a new punch line for Halloween.
- 11.06.06 - Carl gets double crossed in his animated adventures.
- 11.13.06 - Carl meets his dream girl, before his nightmare begins.
- 11.20.06 - Carl demonstrates why he is such a "cut up."
- 11.27.06 - The one about the boss's daughter.
- 12.04.06 - Blond ambition gets in Carl's way once more.
- 12.11.06 - Carl discovers that evolution is all too real!
- 12.18.06 - Carl gets something for every one this Christmas
- 12.24.06 - 'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa was in da house!
- 01.01.07 - Carl's very own New Year's Rockin' Eve!
- 01.08.07 - Getting fit for the New Year, Star Trek-style!
- 01.15.07 - Carl makes an instrumental move, Riker style.
- 01.22.07 - Fore score and a seven iron crown for Carl!
- 01.29.07 - Carl makes first contact with the lifeform known as "Abrams."
- 02.05.07 - The deck is stacked against Carl.
- 02.12.07 - Carl's shaken, not stirred, by his first date.
- 02.19.07 - Sacred family traditions have special meaning for Carl.
- 02.26.07 - Carl supersizes his object of desire.
- 03.05.07 - Carl is the captain of his creative impulses.
- 03.12.07 - Kate casts doubts on Carl's casting.
- 03.12.07 - Kate begins her "Ask Kate" column on StarTrek.com!
- This was a special strip announcing the new "Ask Kate" column.
- 03.19.07 - Carl desperately seeks funding for his fan film.
- 03.26.07 - The eyes have it, as Kate tries out a few different roles.
- 04.01.07 - Carl has a new, and funnier, feline rival!
- 04.02.07 - Mr. Hoople burns with desire.
- 04.09.07 - Carl's mom becomes the objectification of desire.
- 04.16.07 - Carl has a colorful answer to Kate's request.
- 04.23.07 - Without the green screen, Carl's mom remains unseen.
- 04.27.07 - A new constellation takes shape in the heavens.
- This strip commemorated the launch of James Doohan's ashes into space. This strip was reprinted in Star Trek Magazine US #6.
- 05.07.07 - Carl serves up a cinematic feast.
- 05.14.07 - Kate's cuddly friend reaches out to Carl.
- 05.21.07 - There are some hidden claws in Carl's cat-sitting contract.
- 05.28.07 - Carl accomplishes an amazing Star Trek feat!
- 06.04.07 - Carl's true feelings for Eve come to the fore.
- 06.11.07 - Carl must putt his house in order as he faces the ultimate challenge.
- 06.18.07 - Carl relates his rather odd dream to Eve.
- 06.25.07 - The sights and sounds, and more sights, of Carl.
- 07.02.07 - Carl tries to lure Eve to his own Garden of Eden.
- 07.09.07 - Carl steals a place in the record books.
- 07.16.07 - Carl and Eve provide a full convention report.
- 07.23.07 - Carl taps into his own imagination, with striking results.
- 07.30.07 - Eve looks for a little brief encounter in Vegas.
- 08.06.07 - Live from Las Vegas, a true American idol!
- 08.09.07 - Carl, Kate and Steve are, without a doubt, in the house.
- This strip is a reformatted reprint of the exclusive comic found in the 2007 Las Vegas Star Trek Convention program.
- 08.13.07 - New developments from Las Vegas as the girls reveal their secret ops.
- 08.20.07 - Carl stars in "The Trouble with Snuggles."
- 08.27.07 - Carl approves of J.J.'s casting so far, but there are some categorical demands as well.
- 09.03.07 - Carl is unable to keep the piece with Snuggles.
- 09.10.07 - Kate draws inspiration for her work from real-life conflicts.
- 09.17.07 - Steve coaxes Carl to work on his "buff" physique.
- 09.21.07 - Carl opens fire on an unsuspecting anniversary cake.
- This strip is a reprint from Star Trek Magazine US #1.
- 09.24.07 - Carl discovers there is a re-generation gap between him and his boss.
- This strip is a reprint from Star Trek Magazine US #2.
- 09.25.07 - The Borg return in a new ice capade.
- This strip is a reprint from Star Trek Magazine US #3.
- 09.26.07 - Carl brings new meaning to “getting legless.”
- This strip is a reprint from Star Trek Magazine US #4.
- 09.27.07 - Carl inspires his psychiatrist to go green.
- This strip is a reprint from Star Trek Magazine US #5.
- 09.28.07 - Carl and his “domesday” machine.
- This strip is a reprint from Star Trek Magazine US #6.
- 09.30.07 - The characters of "The Trek Life"
- 10.01.07 - It's not your imagination, "The Trek Life" just got three times better!
- Starting with this strip, the comic began publishing three times a week.
- 10.03.07 - Carl is out of uniform.
- 10.05.07 - Snuggles struggles with his identity.
- 10.08.07 - Carl and Eve can’t seem to strike the right chord.
- 10.10.07 - The casting of the new Uhura really hails certain frequencies.
- 10.12.07 - Carl makes another appeal to go Green.
- 10.15.07 - Hoople Enterprises presents Workers' Playtime.
- 10.17.07 - Carl is tailor-made to shock his friends.
- 10.19.07 - Carl dresses up, when he should dress down.
- 10.22.07 - Carl skirts the issue about his Halloween costume.
- 10.24.07 - Carl reveals himself to be a lieutenant.
- 10.26.07 - Steve lays down the rules for next year's party.
- 10.29.07 - Carl sends the costumes to the dry-cleaner.
- 10.31.07 - The trouble with Carl's back-up costume plan.
- 11.02.07 - Carl goes stargazing.
- 11.05.07 - Carl wants to be an extra in Star Trek.
- 11.07.07 - Carl writes to "Ask Kate".
- 11.09.07 - Carl feels joined.
- 11.12.07 - The Menagerie screening.
- 11.14.07 - The Menagerie screening, night two.
- 11.16.07 - Mr. Hoople's new putter.
- 11.19.07 - Carl reflects on the Thanksgiving season.
- 11.21.07 - Snuggles carves the Thanksgiving targ.
- 11.23.07 - Kate's Klingon side comes out.
- 11.26.07 - Snuggles de-cloaks.
- 11.28.07 - Snuggles strikes!
- 11.30.07 - Snuggles reveals himself in public.
- 12.03.07 - Kate asks the question we all want to know.
- 12.05.07 - Carl's Christmas stocking may be overstocked!
- 12.07.07 - Carl is not happy at the mall.
- 12.10.07 - Carl's boss asks him to play a big role for the Christmas charity party.
- 12.12.07 - Carl takes on the role of Q'rIS Q'rIngL, a.k.a "Klingon Klaus."
- 12.14.07 - Carl introduces some in-appropriate Klingon cuisine at the Christmas party.
- 12.17.07 - Carl in his cap settles down for a long winter's nap.
- These final three strips were later combined into one page as a print for Lightspeed Fine Art.
- 12.19.07 - Carl's Yuletide sleep is interrupted.
- These final three strips were later combined into one page as a print for Lightspeed Fine Art.
- 12.21.07 - Part 3 of "The Night Before Trekmas."
- These final three strips were later combined into one page as a print for Lightspeed Fine Art.
Star Trek Magazine strips[]
- US #1 - The trio celebrate Star Trek's 40th anniversary with a big cake and candles lit by Carl's replica phaser lighter.
- US #2 - Carl suggests to Mr Hoople that the office introduce Borg alcove like areas for employees to regenerate in.
- This issue featured an interview with series creator and artist David Reddick, as well as the 08.29.05 webstrip.
- US #3 - The trio admire Carl's creations: a trio of Borg style snowmen assimilating a forth snowman.
- US #4 - Steve and Kate walk in to find Carl incapacitated after a 24 hour Star Trek movie marathon.
- US #5 - A psychiatrist explores Carl's obsession with Orion slave girls. Later, Carl is a little shocked after his psychiatrist readies to watch "Bound" for the sixth time.
- This issue featured additional art of Orion women by Reddick.
- US #6 - Carl plays Doomsday machine with his ice-cream cone.
- This issue also reprinted the James Doohan Tribute strip from StarTrek.com.
- US #7 - The trio discuss what they would do with the power of Q. Steve would create world peace, Kate would end all suffering, and Carl, would populate the world with Orion slave girls. Then, to Steve and Kate's great surprise, Carl justifies his decision, in that a world populated with Orion slave girls would surely distract everyone far to much for wars to continue.
- This issue featured additional art of Q by Reddick.
- US #8 - At the water cooler, Carl and Steve discus how positive the episode "The Measure of a Man" is, how it shows no man is owned anyone. Until they interrupted by Mr Hoople instructing them to get back to work or he'll disown them into unemployment.
- US #9 - The trio discuss what makes a good Starfleet captain. Steve and Kate highlight the good qualities of the great captains, while Carl suggested Kirk's knack with the ladies is the real clincher.
- US #10 - Kate reveals her love of bald men.
- This issue also included the full page "A Trek Life Christmas", which combined the final 3 webstrips.
- US #11 - Cowboy diplomacy
- US #12 - Travel back in time to Kirk's era
- US #13 - Carl's TOS uniforms
- US #14 - Carl in Romulan mode
- This issue also included a special strip in honor of the closing of Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas.
- US #15 - Mirror Universe Carl
- US #16 - Seven of Nine
- This issue also included a special tribute strip to Majel Barrett Roddenberry, as well as "The Voyage Home": a two-page spread of art depicting Voyager's journey, and a full-page "retro" Captain Proton ad, all by David Reddick.
- US #17 - Camping out for Star Trek
- US #18 - Carl makes costumes based on Star Trek
- US #19 - Behind the scenes of Star Trek
- US #20 - Borg dream
- US #21 - Funny things in Star Trek
- US #22 - Star Trek villains
- US #23 - Star Trek: The Motion Picture
- US #24 - Kate's Klingon side
- US #25 - Species 8472
- US #26 - Star Trek movie marathon
- US #27 - Star Trek geniuses
- US #28 - Quinto Trek 12, baby!
- US #29 - Kate & Carl read The Typhon Pact
- US #30 - Bad boys
- US #31 - Carl gets slapped with a Q'POW
- US #32 - The Quest for Galileo, Part 1
- US #33 - The Quest for Galileo, Part 2
- US #34 - The Quest for Galileo, Part 3
- US #35 - The Quest for Galileo, Part 4
- US #36 - The Quest for Galileo, Part 5
- US #37 - The Quest for Galileo, Part 6
- US #38 - The Quest for Galileo, Part 7
Despite being announced as an 8-part series in issue #32, The Quest for the Galileo only ran for 7 issues. US issues #1-6 were republished on StarTrek.com. US issue #39 reprinted a partial section of #35. Chris Cooper's Starship Trekkers replaced the series starting in US issue #41.
IDW strips[]
- The Space Between, Issue 5 - The trio discuss the merits of Wesley Crusher.
- The Space Between, Issue 6 - The trio discuss how Jean-Luc Picard pulls of the bald look so well, prompting Carl to shave his hair off, though with less effective results.
- Focus on... Star Trek - Carl and Steve go to the comic book shop to pick up the latest batch of Star Trek comics. Determined to keep his new purchases in mint condition Carl attempted to mind meld with them.
- Year Four, Issue 2 - The trio discuss what could have happened if TOS had continued after three seasons. Carl suggest a return to the Guardian of Forever, Steve anticipates another visit from Trelane, while Kate lets slip her attraction to mirror universe Spock.
TokyoPop strips[]
- Kakan Ni Shinkou
- The trio discuss what was so great about The Original Series, Steve and Kate suggests science and positive outlook on diversity. While Carl suggests miniskirts.
- Carl puts forth "there's nothing like watching the original Star Trek", to which Steve and Kate disagree suggesting DVDs would be far superior to Carl's fuzzy old tapes.
- The book also contain two strips by David Reddick of a new series called The Red Shirts.
Connections[]
- The Trek Life article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- The Trek Life article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
- About The Trek Life article on StarTrek.com, the official Star trek website.