Star Trek Annual # 1 1990 NM-

Star Trek Annual (Volume 2) #1, titled "So Near the Touch," was published by DC Comics in July 1990. It is notable for being co-written by George Takei (who played Sulu) alongside veteran comic writer Peter David. 

Story Summary

Set during the Enterprise-A era, the plot centers on Commander Hikaru Sulu: 

• The Mission: The Enterprise is dispatched to the planet Datugad to assist a Federation medical team.
• A Personal Connection: The medical team is led by Wynnis, a woman who is Sulu’s former lover.
• The Deadly Phenomenon: The planet is suffering from extreme ecological devastation. A bizarre biological condition has emerged where a simple physical embrace between two individuals causes them to spontaneously combust.
• The Conflict: Local religious fundamentalists, who believe the plague is divine will, oppose Federation intervention and take the medical team hostage.
• Defying Orders: When Starfleet orders the Enterprise not to intervene in the local uprising, Sulu and Chekov defy those orders to lead a rescue mission.
• The Tragic Ending: While the team is rescued, Wynnis is permanently contaminated by the planet's unique environment. The story concludes with the heartbreaking realization that she and Sulu can never physically touch each other again. 

Production Credits

• Writers: George Takei and Peter David.
• Artist: Gray Morrow (penciller) and Arne Starr (inker).
• Cover Artist: Jerome Moore.
• Editor: Robert Greenberger.