By Jon Gutierrez
FOUR THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT ‘WRATH’
TRICK ENDING When news of Spock’s
death leaked out to Trek fans, Director
Nicholas Meyer came up with a novel solu-
tion: pretend to kill Spock and the crew
at the beginning of the film in a training
sequence gone wrong! That way, fans
wouldn’t expect the real death at the end!
TREASURE CHEST Despite what
you’ve heard, Meyer maintains that Khan’s buff,
bronze, well-displayed chest was indeed actor
Ricardo Montalban’s chest and not a prosthetic.
We just hope we’re that fit at 61.
FULL SCREEN If it seems like a lot’s
going on in Wrath of Khan, it’s because
the script combined elements from three
different screenplays: one about the life-
creating Genesis Device, one about
Kirstie Alley’s sassy Vulcan officer
Saavik and one about Khan!
UNDISCOVERED TITLE
Meyer’s original subtitle for the film
was The Undiscovered Country, but
the studio changed it to The
Vengeance of Khan. However,
when they heard that the pre-
liminary title of George Lucas’
third Star Wars film was
Revenge of the Jedi ,
“Vengeance” became “Wrath.”
Meyer would later re-use his
original subtitle when he
directed Star Trek VI.
YOUR GUIDE TO THE HISTORY OF KHAN
1993 Khan Noonien Singh and 1996 The “supermen” are
other genetically engineered deposed, but Khan and 83
“supermen” simultaneously of his followers escape
seize control of more than 40 the planet on the sleeper
nations across the world, ship SS Botany Bay, a ship
with Khan controlling a constructed in Area 51 using
fourth of the globe. The the technology left behind by
supermen begin to fight Chekov in Star Trek IV and by
each other for global Quark in the Deep Space Nine
domination, leading to the episode “Little Green Men.” Star
Eugenics Wars. Trek novels rule!
48 TOYFARE #116
THE FIVE MOMENTS THAT MAKE ‘STAR TREK 2’ THE BOMB
5. KHAN’S REVEAL Even though everyone knew he was in it
from the start, Khan’s slow unmasking on Ceti Alpha V sets him up as
the most dramatic villain in Star Trek. Plus, we get a riddle to solve in
that Khan keeps on just one of his gloves. Doesn’t that get itchy?
4. KIRK’S RUSE In classic Kirk-style, Kirk bluffs his way out of a prob-
lem by fudging the Enterprise’s repair times with Spock on a compromised
channel. Sure, he caused the problem by not following orders, but we’re
pretty sure this is the only time that’s happened.
3. OVER-RIDE! After Kirk forces the Reliant to drop its shields a
la Hacker, Khan desperately tries to find the Reliant’s override button
on a massive console. It’s yet another example of Khan losing because
he doesn’t have Kirk’s experience. Or an owner’s manual.
2. MUTARA NEBULA This amazing, multi-layered, fog-enshrouded
battle gives you enough twists and turns that you have no idea which
way the scene is heading. But one thing is certain: if you want to win a
battle, give Chekov a joystick with a button on it!
1. SPOCK’S DEAD! Even Vulcans must tear up during Spock’s
final radiation-poisoning scene, where he gives the Vulcan salute
for what seemed like the last time. Of course, they probably laugh
when he walks into that door. Vulcans are dicks.
FIVE
SYLLABLES... |’M
GOING
TO DIE!
‘SHAWSHANK
REDEMPTION’? |’M
GOING
TO DIE!
2267 I n t h e o r i g i n a l s e r i e s 2285 The USS
episode “Space Seed,” Khan and Reliant mistakes
his 72 surviving followers take Ceti Alpha V for Ceti
over the Enterprise, pummel Kirk Alpha VI, and Khan meets
for a bit, then get exiled up with Chekov, whom he
KHAN: EVERETT COLLECTION. STAR TREK: PARAMOUNT
to Ceti Alpha V. Khan never met during “Space Seed”
gains a wife from the but remembers anyway. Khan
skirmish, Lt. Marla steals Reliant and ends up using
McGivers, but loses the Genesis Device to turn him-
the ability to button self into a planet, albeit an
his shirt. unstable one. W