The Vulcans are known throughout the Star Trek universe for their commitment to logic, but one comic revealed the dark side of this philosophy. In 2021’s Star Trek: Year Five #20, Mister Spock is thrown backwards through time, to ancient Vulcan, which is in the throes of a civil war between Surak, the founder of the philosophy of logic, and those who resist him. This civil war has been bloody, with many casualties – showing the dark foundation modern Vulcan society is built upon.
Vulcan society is built upon a philosophy of logic and emotional suppression, but it was not always so; in fact, the planet’s ancient history was full of war and bloodshed so bad it almost brought them to extinction. Another, better way was needed, and the planet’s salvation arrived in the form of Surak, a philosopher who believed that the embrace of logic was the only way forward. Under Surak's regime, the violent emotions the Vulcans were known for were to be suppressed. Surak’s teachings took hold, and the Vulcans at long last achieved peace. Various Star Trek episodes and films have touched on Vulcan’s history, most notably a three-part story in Enterprise’s fourth season, but fans have never seen the planet’s bloody struggle to embrace logic.
