The Star Trek Into Darkness prequel comic introduces another classic character to the Abrams-verse

When it comes to JJ Abrams projects, you learn about the movies and series as much from the ancillary materials than you do from the film/show itself. For his STAR TREK reboot, a prequel comic shed some much needed back story on Eric Bana‘s Nero that explained his actions against Vulcan in the movie. For STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, it looks like we are going to get some hints as to where the secret plot will actually take us.

Movies.com reviewed the first issue of the comic STAR TREK: COUNTDOWN TO DARKNESS and revealed which original series character debuts. Hint: not Khan or Gary Mitchell:

The last panel reveal is that of Robert April, original captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise, now living on Phaedus and allowing their indigenous insectoid race access to Starfleet technology (they resemble the Prawns from District 9). April was introduced in the original Star Trek animated series episode “The Counter-Clock Incident,” and though that show isn’t considered canon, the name still comes up in Trek novels and informational guides as the first Enterprise captain.

The article states that from the artwork, it does not appear that Benedict Cumberbatch is playing Robert April, but it does indicate he may be a significant character in STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS. Seeing as April was the original captain of the Enterprise, this could have repercussions for both Kirk and Christopher Pike. Again, this is issue one of four, so we have a little more discovery to do via the comics before the movie opens in theaters.

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS opens on May 17, 2013.