What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Trek: The Original Series (IDW) #14
Star Trek: Khan - Ruling in Hell
When the most infamous villain in Star Trek history is last seen in the Original Series episode 'Space Seed,' Khan Noonien Singh's an elegant, proud warrior-king. When he's next seen in Star Trek II, he's a grizzled maniac, twisted by loss and an unquenchable thirst for revenge.
What has happened between these two points in time to so radically alter what seemed to be an unbreakable will?
That story is finally told!
What has happened between these two points in time to so radically alter what seemed to be an unbreakable will?
That story is finally told!
97 pages, ebook
First published April 6, 2011
2 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 9, 2025
"Star Trek: Khan - Ruling in Hell" is an almost entirely predictable bridge from the TOS episode "Space Seed" to the second Star Trek movie, "Wrath of Khan". Told from Khan's perspective the book portrays him as naive and overly reliant on Starfleet's mercy. The book also introduces a few minor but irritating retcons and fails to develop any of the supporting characters. Finally, and perhaps most irritatingly, the book transforms Marla McGivers, Khan's brilliant co-conspirator and later wife, into an oversexualized stereotype. As such, this book is a fairly lackluster take on what should have been a much more interesting story.
January 11, 2025
Having recently rewatched The Wrath of Khan, I found this a great read. It provides interesting context to one of the best pieces of Star Trek media, and one of the best villains in all of sci-fi.
“Kirk does not come.”
“Kirk does not come.”
July 28, 2012
A phenomenal work that shows what pushed Khan from egotistical maniac to sadistic killer.
January 6, 2019
I think Khan was one of the more interesting characters in Star Trek, though admittedly I didn't really think about how he had changed from such an elegant and dignified man to the more vengeful and mad person we saw in the movies. This comic does posit a fairly believable reason behind the change, though Khan's stubborn belief that Kirk will come for them is a little odd.
I feel like I need to rewatch the movie to figure all of this out. It doesn't really line up with Kirk's character or the Federation in general that Khan and his people would be marooned on such an inhospitable planet and no one would come to check up on them. Nor do I feel like Khan was the sort of leader who would sit on his hands waiting around for someone else to take care of him.
Still, it was an interesting story and one way of explaining how Khan became who he was in the movie. I can believe that living in that kind of environment and losing his wife would make him go that way, I just find it hard to believe he'd wait around for Kirk for so long without being more proactive.
I feel like I need to rewatch the movie to figure all of this out. It doesn't really line up with Kirk's character or the Federation in general that Khan and his people would be marooned on such an inhospitable planet and no one would come to check up on them. Nor do I feel like Khan was the sort of leader who would sit on his hands waiting around for someone else to take care of him.
Still, it was an interesting story and one way of explaining how Khan became who he was in the movie. I can believe that living in that kind of environment and losing his wife would make him go that way, I just find it hard to believe he'd wait around for Kirk for so long without being more proactive.
February 28, 2023
Good Beginning To The Comic Book Story About Khan's Exile
This is a good beginning to the comic book story about Khan Noonien Singh's exile to Alpha Ceti V. I thought it was the whole graphic novel but apparently it's just the first issue in the series. Scott and David Tipton have crafted, from what I've read, a good Sci Fi/Fantasy take on Khan's catastrophic time on Alph Ceti V. There's some cool Sci Fi monsters and creatures in this story.
The artist chosen to bring this story to life, Fabio Mantovani, was the right choice. He absolutely captures the beauty of Madlyn Rhue's features perfectly on page. Marla McGivers looks just like she did in Space Seed. It's fantastic! And, in certain moments in the story, Khan looks just like Ricardo Montalban and that makes the story even more enjoyable because I am a big fan of Ricardo Montalban.
So hats off to Fabio Mantovani for getting both of their likenesses right. That's a hard thing for an artist to do. As I stated earlier, it's a good beginning to the comic book story about Khan's exile 🖖.
This is a good beginning to the comic book story about Khan Noonien Singh's exile to Alpha Ceti V. I thought it was the whole graphic novel but apparently it's just the first issue in the series. Scott and David Tipton have crafted, from what I've read, a good Sci Fi/Fantasy take on Khan's catastrophic time on Alph Ceti V. There's some cool Sci Fi monsters and creatures in this story.
The artist chosen to bring this story to life, Fabio Mantovani, was the right choice. He absolutely captures the beauty of Madlyn Rhue's features perfectly on page. Marla McGivers looks just like she did in Space Seed. It's fantastic! And, in certain moments in the story, Khan looks just like Ricardo Montalban and that makes the story even more enjoyable because I am a big fan of Ricardo Montalban.
So hats off to Fabio Mantovani for getting both of their likenesses right. That's a hard thing for an artist to do. As I stated earlier, it's a good beginning to the comic book story about Khan's exile 🖖.
September 13, 2024
I liked this story which filled in the blanks between Khan's first appearance on Star Trek and his appearance in 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'. I'm not sure if this is 100% canon but it should be.
February 1, 2022
I really liked this it shows how logical khan was this is the first ever comic I have read I'm excited to read more
November 26, 2022
Somewhat serviceable. I actually prefer the novel To Reign in Hell by Greg Cox. This feels to succinct.
February 5, 2023
An interesting story of how Khan survived on the planet where Kirk had left him. You knew things were going to go bad, but not how. A good read.
May 24, 2024
I liked the art but this created a backstory or filler story that is incongruent with both the original series and TWoK.
July 31, 2025
Adequate. Doesn't really have any revelations to offer, and the artwork for McGivers is unnecessarily sexualised.
December 20, 2025
Great to finally fill in the gap between Space Seed and Wrath of Kahn
March 8, 2013
KHAAAAAAAAAAN
Okay sorry, I had to.
Anyway, this is a prequel to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and the sequel to Space Seed (uh sorry, there was definitely a less awkward way to put that), and if you are in anyway interested in reading about that period of Khan Noonien Singh's life (OMG I knew the whole name and how to spell it without looking it up... it's happening, I'm becoming a trekkie), I think you should read it.
Not the best I've read, sorta... perfunctory? I mean... I understand the constraints of writing official expanded universe/fanfiction or whatever you wanna call it. There is a lack of... excitement? surprise? because if you are interested in reading this, you already now what's gonna happen in the end. Nonetheless, there were events that happened in the comic that should have had more emotional impact, should have been more dramatic, and it just wasn't there for me.
Okay sorry, I had to.
Anyway, this is a prequel to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and the sequel to Space Seed (uh sorry, there was definitely a less awkward way to put that), and if you are in anyway interested in reading about that period of Khan Noonien Singh's life (OMG I knew the whole name and how to spell it without looking it up... it's happening, I'm becoming a trekkie), I think you should read it.
Not the best I've read, sorta... perfunctory? I mean... I understand the constraints of writing official expanded universe/fanfiction or whatever you wanna call it. There is a lack of... excitement? surprise? because if you are interested in reading this, you already now what's gonna happen in the end. Nonetheless, there were events that happened in the comic that should have had more emotional impact, should have been more dramatic, and it just wasn't there for me.
October 19, 2016
La historia que enlaza los años perdidos de Khan Noonien Singh, desde que es exiliado junto a los suyos al planeta no colonizado Ceti Alpha V (Episodio "Space Seed) hasta su reencuentro con el personal de Starfleet ("The Wrath of Khan"). Un historia redonda que da una mejor idea sobre el popular villano de Star Trek.
April 19, 2011
Enjoyed it, but it didn't lead up to the immense hatred that I feel Khan has for Kirk.
August 2, 2012
Fills in some of the gaps between "Space Seed" and "Wrath of Khan" quite well. The only problem I had with the story was Khan's belief that Kirk was going to save him.
December 23, 2016
Overall, this is a fun book with good art but Khan is uncharacteristically naive.
July 16, 2014
Excellent graphic novel showing Khan between "Space Seed" & Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.
December 8, 2013
The artwork was very good the story though simplistic worked and ended where wtok began
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews