Earlier this week, TrekMovie.com reported that U.S. comic book publisher IDW Publishing will release a 4-part comic book miniseries titled "Star Trek: Countdown", which will run from January to April of 2009. For those of you who look forward to the release of the upcoming 2009 movie "Star Trek" (which will focus on how the heroes of the original "Star Trek" T.V. series came together for the first time), this comic book miniseries will depict a prelude to the movie's plot, taking place in the late 24th Century, the time period when the heroes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", and "Star Trek: Voyager" live, and focusing on the villainous Romulan Nero, who will be seen in the film as a guy traveling back in time to the time period when the heroes of the original "Star Trek" live (around the middle of the 23rd Century), plotting to interfere with the course of history. Oh yeah, did I mention the movie will also involve Kirk and his crew aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 meeting Kirk's best friend Spock's late 24th Century self? Make sure to bookmark your calendars for those release dates, and check out your local comic book store when those miniseries issues come out. Check out the promotional image for upcoming comic book miniseres below.

Cover directions - Top left: the Romulan Nero, Top right: Data the Android (Operations Manager and 2nd Officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E), Bottom left: Spock's late 24th Century Self, Bottom right: Jean-Luc Picard (Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E)