Long-time comic-book readers are used to the idea of a history reboot. After all, characters like Superman, Batman, the Fantastic Four, and X-Men have been around for decades and as such have accumulated a long, entangled history that makes it difficult for a newcomer to just jump into the books. There are two common ways around this dilemma: start a new book, possibly in a new universe, with familiar though not exact continuity, a la the Ultimate line (Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimates, Ultimate Powers, Ultimate Iron Man, Ultimate Hulk); or do a continuity-shattering storyline that gives you an excuse to reboot your franchise (Crisis on Infinite Earths, Zero Hour, Final Crisis, House of M).

Star Trek is a mix of both.

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