Almost 20 Years Later, Star Trek Confirms the One Captain Even Kirk Can’t Outlast

Image via Paramount Published Sep 11, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs. Sign in to your CBR account Star Trek fans are rediscovering the comic that confirmed just how much stronger Captain Kirk's predecessor was in comparison. With the 60th anniversary of the Star Trek franchise here and the final season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on the horizon, fans have been revisiting some of Captain Pike's best stories onthe small screen. One of these, IDW Publishing's Star Trek: Alien Spotlight — Orions #1 from 2007, has seen a resurgence in interest over the past few weeks, particularly for how it sends up the very first episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, and Captain Kirk in the process. Why Star Trek: Alien Spotlight — Orions Is Such an Important Captain Pike Story Written by Scott and Dav...