CBS, in association with Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books and IDW Publishing, announced a pair of prequels created to shed light on the events leading into the new CBS series Star Trek: Picard yesterday morning at a panel in Vegas.

Starting in November, IDW will release a deluxe 3-issue miniseries written by Mike Johnson and Picard series Supervising Producer Kirsten Beyer titled Star Trek: Picard – Countdown. This countdown event centers around a mission that would go on to change the life of beloved Star Trek captain Jean-Luc Picard.

Following the comic trilogy, Simon & Schuster Gallery Books will release The Last Best Hope in February 2020. Una McCormack’s writing will also lead directly into the show and continue to introduce fans to brand new characters featured in the series.

A few clues to Picard’s life during these two decades are revealed at the “First Duty” exhibit currently on display at STLV, but it is otherwise a blank slate which the prequel comic series and novel will help to fill in. In addition one of the episodes from the upcoming second season of Star Trek: Short Treks will be a prequel to Picard.