The Gold Key series of STAR TREK comics was concerned with the adventures of the crew of the starship U.S.S. Enterprise which operated under the auspices of Starfleet which was part of the United Federation of Planets. The starship crew of the comics were exactly the same as seen in the television series from 1966-1969. For the most part, the characters as depicted in the comics very much resembled their live action counterparts. Details of the personalities and lives of these legendary characters can be found in any number of sources both online and off, so the descriptions below are primarily geared towards differences in the how each character acted or looked in the comics versus their w television incarnations.

James T. Kirk Rank: Captain. Position: Commanding officer of the Starship Enterprise. The character of Kirk appeared in every issue of the Gold Key STAR TREK comic series. The first volume of reprints included "Captain James T. Kirk: Psycho-File" which was four pages of new material created for the edition. Just as on television, Kirk was usually the central character of each STAR TREK comic's story. (Image of the comic apprearance of Kirk - 32 KB)

Mister Spock Rank: Lieutenant Commander. Position: Science Officer and Executive Officer of the Starship Enterprise. Spock appeared in every issue of the comic series. The third volume of reprints included "Lt. Commander Spock: Psycho-File" which was four pages of new material created for the edition. Although the Enterprise crew comprised persons in the three different departments, each with a different uniform color, in many comic issues, Spock was often the only character in a blue uniform, all others wearing a lime green uniform. Just as on television, Spock was frequently a major player in each of the STAR TREK comic stories. (Image of the comic apprearance of Spock - 32 KB)

Doctor Leonard McCoy Rank: Lieutenant Commander. Position: Chief Medical Officer of the Starship Enterprise. In the STAR TREK television series, McCoy wore medium blue uniforms, but in many issues of the comic series, McCoy wore a lime green uniform. (Image of the comic apprearance of McCoy - 32 KB)

Montgomery Scott Rank: Lieutenant Commander. Position: Chief Engineer of the Starship Enterprise. In the STAR TREK television series, the uniform color for Scotty, Uhura and security guards was red, but most issues of the comic series had Scotty wearing a lime green uniform. (Image of the comic apprearance of Scott - 32 KB)

Helmsman Sulu Rank: Lieutenant. Position: Helmsman and Weapons Officer of the Starship Enterprise. While in the STAR TREK television series, the uniform color for Kirk, Sulu and Chekov was an orangish yellow, many early issues of the comic series had Sulu wearing a lime green uniform. (Image of the comic apprearance of Sulu - 32 KB)

Uhura Rank: Lieutenant. Position: Communications Officer aboard the Starship Enterprise. Uhura appeared in only a few issues of the comic series, and in none of them did she play a central role. (Image of the comic apprearance of Uhura - 32 KB)

Pavel Chekov Rank: Ensign. Position: Navigator aboard the Starship Enterprise. While in the STAR TREK television series, the uniform color for Kirk, Sulu and Chekov was an orangish yellow, many early issues of the comic series had Chekov wearing a lime green uniform. Chekov appeared in only a few issues of the comic series, and in none of them did he play a central role. (Image of the comic apprearance of Chekov - 32 KB)

Janice Rand Position: Captain James Kirk's personal yeoman aboard the Starship Enterprise. Yeoman Rand only appeared in six episodes of the STAR TREK television series, and she was only seen in a few comic issues. (Image of the comic apprearance of Rand - 32 KB)

Christine Chapel Rank: Lieutenant. Position: Head Nurse aboard the Starship Enterprise. Chapel appeared in only a few issues of the comic series. (Image of the comic apprearance of Chapel - 32 KB)

Klingons The Klingons were the chief recurring nemesis in the STAR TREK television series, but they menaced the Enterprise crew in the comics on only a few occassions. The Klingons were dark skinned in the television series and had plenty of hair, but in the comic appearances they were frequently bald and had light skin. The Klingons uniform also was changed when seen in the Gold Key comics. Instead of being black with a gold diagonal sash, they became green and sleeveless with a red sash. (Image of the comic apprearance of the Klingons - 32 KB)

Romulans The Romulans were another recurring enemy of the Federation in the television series, and they too were seen in the comic incarnation, but very rarely. In one episode of the STAR TREK series, the Enterprise crew encountered a female Romulan starship commander. In the Issue #21 story "The Mummies of Heitus VII", another female Romulan commander was seen. The Romulans were merely incidental to that issue's story, however. The comic series made rare use of the interesting Romulans, usually focusing instead one-shot villian characters. The Romulan cloaking device was mentioned in Issue #12: "The Flight of the Buccaneer", but no Romulans were shown. (Image of the comic apprearance of the Romulans - 32 KB)