Kirk's crew is possessed by the spirit of Jack the Ripper! — "Wolf on the Prowl" was the 22nd issue of the DC Comics 1984 series of Star Trek comics. It was the Star Trek debut of comic book writer and novelist Tony Isabella, his first of seven TOS stories, and featured the first of a two-part return of Redjac from TOS episode & Star Trek 8 novelization: Wolf in the Fold.
Description[]
- Letter page teaser
- Someone is killing crewmembers aboard the Excelsior. Kirk watches in horror as each death rises in the chain of command.
Summary[]
While in the Argelian system, the USS Excelsior is boarded by the non-corporeal Redjac, who begins killing and terrorizing the ship's personnel. A falsified message from Grand Admiral Stephen Turner claims that Kirk has broken the Prime Directive on Enoch IV. When the crew investigates, they find that the Enochians worship Redjac. Kirk diverts the ship to Enoch IV, hoping to expose and stop Redjac there. On the surface, they discover a temple built in its honor as well as a race of humanoids who are easily manipulated by the entity. Then, while possessed by Redjac, Nancy Bryce stabs Pavel Chekov.
Log entries[]
- Captain's log, stardate 8878.1
- We have entered the outer rim of the Argelian system on our mission to 'work out the bugs' out of the Excelsior. It has been fifteen years since I last visited this system… and looked straight into the face of Hell!
- Captain's log, supplemental
- My remembrance of other days, other missions, was interrupted by an urgent, if somewhat baffling, message from Starfleet.
- First Officer's log, stardate 8879.0
- We have achieved standard orbit around Enoch IV. Preliminary sensor scans indicate humanoid life-forms, but no discernible technology. There is some background radiation in the vicinity of the sole man-made structure on the planet. The landing party is standing by in the transporter room.
- Captain's log, stardate 8878.1
- We encountered the inhabitants of Enoch IV just after planet fall. Their reaction to our arrival was surprising, though not wholly unexpected.
- Captain's log, supplemental
- Lt. Saavik managed to question an Enochian youth with the aid of our ship's computer. Unfortunately the boy was… Largely uncooperative.
References[]
Characters[]
- William Bearclaw • Nancy Bryce • Pavel Chekov • Corwin • Geller (Doctor) • Gillespie (Ensign) • James T. Kirk • Konom • L'Lewoh • Leonard McCoy • Ny • Redjac • Richardson • Saavik • Montgomery Scott • Spock • Hikaru Sulu • Stephen Turner • Nyota Uhura • USS Excelsior personnel (USS Excelsior personnel roster • unnamed USS Excelsior personnel)
- Referenced only
- Hengist • Jack the Ripper • Jaris (Argelian) • Kara (Argelian) • Kesla • Noxin • Sybo
.jpg "Gillespie (e).jpg (576 KB)")
Starships and vehicles[]
- Referenced only
- USS Enterprise (Constitution-class heavy cruiser)
Locations[]
- Argelian system (Argelius sector, Tau Ceti Quadrant, the galaxy's Beta Quadrant)
- Temple to Redjac (Enoch IV, Enoch star system, the galaxy's Alpha or Beta Quadrant)
- Referenced only
- Argelius II • England (Earth, Sol star system, sector 001, treaty boundary quadrant 0, the galaxy's Alpha Quadrant) • Hell
Shipboard locations[]
- USS Excelsior
- bridge • sickbay • transporter room
Races and cultures[]
States and organizations[]
Science and classification[]
- anatomy • energy • communications • fire • hydroponics • lifeform • matter • measurement • medicine • radiation • space • orbit • standard orbit • star • technology • warp factor (warp 12) • weapon
Communications[]
- communicator • captain's log • captain's log, USS Enterprise, 2285 • captain's log, USS Excelsior • English language • first officer's log • first officer's log, USS Excelsior • log entry
Medicine and anatomy[]
Lifeforms[]
Materials and substances[]
- atmosphere • blood • gas • liquid • metal
Measurements[]
- coordinates • day • hour • light year • minute • second • year
Technology and weapons[]
- Atalskes phaser IV • biobed • communicator • computer • dagger • engine • life supportmain computer • microtape • phaser • phaser pistol • pistol • scanner • sensor • torpedo • transporter • tricorder • type-2 phaser • universal translator
Ranks and titles[]
- admiral • bureaucrat • captain • chief engineer • chief medical officer • command division • commander • commanding officer • doctor • engineer • ensign • Federation Starfleet ranks • Federation Starfleet ranks (2270s-2350s) • first officer • guard • lieutenant • medic • prefect • science officer • security • security guard • security chief • tactical officer • weapons officer
Other references[]
- assignment patch • city • clothing • deity • demon • devil • earring • exploratory party • first contact • government • logic • murder • nation-state • non-corporeal • Prime Directive • rank • Starfleet uniform • Starfleet uniform (2265-2270) • Starfleet uniform (2278-2350s) • tapestry • title • vampire • uniform
Chronology[]
- 19th century
- Jack the Ripper terrorized England.
- 2267
- Redjac was encountered on Argelius II.
- 2285
- USS Excelsior was attacked by Redjac in the Argelian star system.
Appendices[]
Related media[]
- Sequel to "Wolf in the Fold". The story continued in "Wolf at the Door". Redjac later appeared in "Enter the Wolves".
Background[]
- A short flashback summarized TOS episode & Star Trek 8 novelization: Wolf in the Fold and included Hengist, Jaris, Kara and Sybo.
- The two-part arc was given a name (Wolf on the Prowl) on the cover of its 2019 omnibus reprinting. An alternative arc title, "Redjac is Back", appeared on the cover of part two, but not part one.
- In the letter column for issue 24, "Double Blind, Part One", writer Tony Isabella explained that Redjac victim Ensign Gillespie was named for Timothy Gillespie, one of two fans who provided reference materials that helped him craft the two-part story, including a video tape of "Wolf in the Fold".
Errata[]
- Letterer Agustin Mas misspells one mention of Uhura as "Uhuru".
- The tapestry in the temple depicted Kirk holding an Atalskes phaser IV from the 2270s or 2280s decades rather than a type-2 phaser from the 2260s.
Images[]
Connections[]
Timeline[]
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous story: #21: Dreamworld |
TOS comics (DC volume 1 TOS) |
Next story: #23: Wolf at the Door |
| Previous story: first story |
Stories by: Tony Isabella |
Next story: Wolf at the Door |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous adventure: Dreamworld |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: Wolf at the Door |
| The above chronology placements are based on the primary placement in 2285. The Memory Beta Chronology places events from this story in 1 other timeframe(s): | ||
| Previous adventure: Wolf in the Fold |
2267 | Next adventure: Across the Universe |
Publication history[]
- January 1986
- First printed by DC Comics
- 28 February 2019
- Reprinted in Graphic Novel Collection volume 57 (Eaglemoss Collections)
External links[]
- Wolf on the Prowl article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Wolf on the Prowl article at Siskoid's Blog of Geekery.