One of Star Trek’s most sinister secrets rewrites an iconic The Original Series episode, giving it a darker layer. Airing in the show’s first season, “Return of the Archons” is now regarded as a classic, but 2012’s Star Trek #10 reveals the shocking and disturbing backstory of that episode’s supercomputer: Landru.
Star Trek #10 was written by Mike Johnson and drawn by Stephen Molnar. The issue reveals that Landru, the supercomputer that enslaved the survivors of the Archon, was the product of a 22nd-century “mad scientist” working for the Federation.
Landru intended to create and enslave a colony with his computer, and he succeeded beyond his wildest expectations.
“Return of the Archons” is a Great Star Trek Epsiode
“Return of the Archons” Helped Establish a Franchise Trope: Kirk Outhinking a Supercomputer
Due to the episodic nature of the classic Star Trek, very few ramifications for the Enterprise’s actions were seen, as were backstories for some of the more fascinating elements of the franchise. Star Trek’s first season was especially good at this, introducing intriguing races such as the First Federation, only to never follow up on them again.
“Return of the Archons” was one such episode. In it, Kirk, Spock and the crew discover a simple, agrarian civilization under the thumb of an oppressive computer system referred to as “Landru.” The episode revealed that Landru enslaved the planet’s populace 6,000 years prior. Kirk and company ultimately liberated the people from Landru’s clutches.
There Was So Much More Going On Under the Surface in “Return of the Archons”
These New Star Trek Revelations Seem to Break Canon
Yet Star Trek #10 upends everything fans thought they knew about this classic episode. Instead of civilization being around 6,000 years old, it in reality has been in existence for less than a century. The issue does not elaborate on this seeming deception on Landru’s part, making the story a contradiction to established canon.
Landru’s technology involves mind-control, and when this is taken into consideration, the seeming canon discrepancies can be resolved. Landru’s 6,000-year history is just a ruse to control its subjects, much in the same way it keeps them trapped and enslaved in a feudal, agrarian society. Landru planted various beliefs in the colonist’s brains.
Landru Has a Legacy of Evil in Multiple Star Trek Timelines
The Archon Was Just a Pawn in a Larger, Darker Scheme
It is important to note that Star Trek #10 is set in the Kelvin Timeline, meaning certain events play out differently than in the Prime Universe. However, the events involving the Archon and the scientist Landru happened before the two universes diverged. Therefore, Landru’s evil schemes hold in the Prime Universe as well.
And this dark secret gives this classic Star Trek episode a more sinister sheen. Not only was Kirk trying to liberate a people, he was fighting against technology that was built with the Federation’s seeming blessing. While Landru’s work might appear to contradict Star Trek’s lofty ideals, there are plenty of examples of such “bad eggs” in the franchise.
There Are Plenty of Star Trek Stories Built Around Corrupt Federation Personnel
However, Landru Is a Special Kind of Star Trek Evil
There is also precedent for Starfleet using questionable technology to further its own ends. Starfleet has developed the Genesis Device and genetic weapons, which also seem to run counter to what Star Trek stands for. Landru’s supercomputer is just another link in the chain, and shows it was present from Starfleet’s beginning.