Warning: contains spoilers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The Illyrian Enigma #3!Mister Spock has just received his most bizarre upgrade in Star Trek canon. In the miniseries Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The Illyrian Enigma, Captain Pike and the crew of the Enterprise are attempting to free Una Chin-Riley, AKA Number One, from Federation authorities - a quest that has put Pike in the cross-hairs of the Illyrians, Number One’s people. In response, the Illyrians abducted Spock, giving him an 'upgrade' to retrieve a long-lost secret.
The issue is written by Kirsten Beyer and Mike Johnson, drawn by Megan Levens, colored by Charlie Kirchoff and lettered by Neil Uyetake. Spock has awoken to find himself on a barren and desolate planet - and his skin has been turned to stone by the Illyrians, who are masters of genetic engineering.
Spock Has Been Turned to Living Stone
The Illyrians have altered Spock’s biology so that he can withstand the harsh conditions on the Illyrian home world; the rain on the planet is acidic, and can melt most substances quickly, but Spock is equipped to survive. After an intense vision of Illyria’s distant past, Captain Pike finds Spock unconscious on the planet’s surface, and he is horrified by what has happened to his friend.
Genetic engineering has played a huge part in Strange New World’s first season; Una-Chin Riley, the Enterprise’s First Officer, is a member of the Illyrian race, who genetically modify themselves to adapt to whatever planet they settle on. Genetic engineering as practiced by the Illyrians is forbidden in the Federation, and when Una’s heritage came to light, she was arrested by Federation authorities. Now, Pike and his crew are trying to discover a way to clear Una’s name. The Enterprise has come into conflict with Illyrians survivors, who are understandably angry over Una’s imprisonment - but they clearly have an agenda of their own, one that involves giving Mister Spock his most bizarre upgrade ever.
Spock Is No Stranger to the Bizarre
Being converted into a stone creature is the latest in a series of bizarre incidents Spock has found himself in throughout the course of Star Trek’s 56-year history. Previously, Spock has had his brain stolen, as seen in the infamous episode 'Spock’s Brain.' Spock has also been enlarged to gigantic proportions, as seen in the Animated Series episode 'The Infinite Vulcan.' Spock has even died and been reborn, as seen in the second and third Star Trek films. Yet this is the first time Spock’s DNA has been completely rewritten. The Illyrians, masters of genetic modification, were able to alter Spock’s DNA, converting him into a being of pure stone.
The question becomes: how will Spock return from this? Spock is not a stone person in his future appearances, meaning a way will be found to counter the Illyrians’ tampering. The Illyrians possess knowledge of genetic engineering far beyond the Federation’s, so how will Pike and the crew of the Enterprise be able to reverse the 'damage' the Illyrians have afflicted upon Spock? Fans must wait until the next issue of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The Illyrian Enigma for these answers, as Pike must find a way to reverse Mister Spock’s most bizarre transformation yet.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The Illyrian Enigma #3 is on sale now from IDW Publishing!