Star Trek’s greatest tribute to Leonard Nimoy is one fans rarely see. Nimoy earned a permanent place in the pop culture landscape thanks to his portrayal of the Vulcan Spock. Nimoy passed away over a decade ago, and the franchise mourned him in many ways. IDW got in on the act in 2015’s Star Trek #58 with a fitting tribute.
Star Trek #58, written by Mike Johnson and drawn by Tony Shasteen, was the finale of the four-part “Legacy of Spock” storyline. The story was set in the Kelvin Timeline. The arc was a celebration of Prime Spock’s life and work, particularly in the area of relations with the Romulans.
The issue ends revealing Prime Spock’s work paid off.
Leonard Nimoy Was Spock, Whether He Liked It or Not
Leonard Nimoy’s Death in 2015 Was Mourned by Star Trek Fans the World Over
Leonard Nimoy already had an impressive filmography when cast as Spock, but it would end up being his best-known role. Nimoy’s relationship with the Vulcan he brought to life was a rocky one, and it took a good deal to persuade him to return to the role. Nimoy eventually came to terms with Spock, and embraced it.
Spock was played in the Kelvin Timeline films by Zachary Quinto and on Strange New Worlds by Ethan Peck.
Nimoy’s portrayal of the half-human, half-Vulcan Spock made the character the most popular on Star Trek. Nimoy appeared as Spock in other popular television programs of the day, such as The Carol Burnett Show. Fan clubs sprung up across the country, and Nimoy even found himself (albeit reluctantly) a sex symbol.
Leonard Nimoy passed away on February 27, 2015, and the Star Trek franchise went into a period of mourning. Tributes to the actor poured in from all over the world. Star Trek Beyond, released a year after Nimoy’s passing, was a formal send-off for Spock, as it was revealed the Vulcan had died.
Spock’s Influence Was So Great It Extended Across Star Trek’s Multiverse
“Legacy of Spock” Examines the Star Trek Icons’ Life, Warts and All
“Legacy of Spock” shows that Spock’s influence stretches across the multiverse. Prime Spock is directly responsible for creating the Kelvin Timeline, and is indirectly to blame for Vulcan’s destruction. Once the dust settled, Prime Spock vowed to stay out of history’s way and let his Kelvin counterpart find his own path.
Yet as seen in IDW’s Kelvin-set Star Trek book, Prime Spock continued to work behind the scenes. In an earlier arc, a faction of the surviving Vulcans sought revenge on the Romulans, and Spock played a role in diffusing that crisis. His diplomatic work, so integral to his later career, continued in the Kelvin timeline.
Central to Spock’s diplomatic ambitions was the reconciliation of the Vulcan and Romulan races, and “Legacy of Spock” pays homage to his attempts. Spock’s appearances on Star Trek: The Next Generation proved it would be a long road getting there. Prime Spock’s appearance galvanizes a gang of dissident Romulans, ensuring that a rebellion starts in the Kelvin universe as well.
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In the Prime Universe, Spock’s efforts at bringing the two races together ultimately succeeded, but it would not be for many more centuries before his dream would be realized. By the time of “the Burn,” the Romulans, who suffered greatly in the Prime Universe, and the Vulcans lived in relative harmony.
Mike Johnson and Tony Shasteen Crafted the Perfect Send Off to Leonard Nimoy
“Legacy of Spock” Is a Great Star Trek Story
“Legacy of Spock” is a stirring and emotional tribute to Spock. At the arc’s conclusion, set thousands of years in the future, a Vulcan father impresses upon his child how important Spock was to their race. The child is confused as to why Spock’s statue is so small, and the reasoning reinforces why he was an icon in the first place.
The storyline is also a fitting tribute to the man who introduced the world to Spock: Leonard Nimoy. Spock was a great character because of Nimoy, who brought the character’s internal struggles to life. Nimoy’s passing left a huge hole in the Star Trek franchise, and its most perfect tribute may have slipped under fans’ radars.
