Peter David’s first Trek run with DC in the late 1980s is truly fun. There’s a renegade Federation ship cutting down Klingon targets, interspecies love on the Enterprise and mass hallucinations leading on a trip…to…HELL!!!
There is some wonderful fan service with a return of Finnegan, Garth of Izar and references to the Melkots. Also, M’Ress! (And, fun comics-only characters like Konom, Bearclaw, Bloemker, Castille and Sterno.)
You probably don’t need me to tell you that Kirk doesn’t die, but an attempt is made on his life by someone on the crew. . . .or are they!?!!?