Wrath of Kahn 

John Conrad Berkey made this promotional poster for the 1982 film *Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.* It offers a compelling visual of a sci-fi story that, at its heart, explores distinctly earthly themes. In the early 1980s, America found itself in the midst of the Cold War. Star Trek, in many ways, offered a utopian vision of a future in which such earthbound conflicts had been resolved. Yet, here we see the return of Khan, a genetically engineered superhuman, whose wrath threatens the very values the Federation stands for. The imagery here reflects this conflict. The Enterprise, caught in an explosion of reds and yellows, is juxtaposed against Khan’s looming, ghostly head. Understanding this image requires us to consider its moment of production, its place in the history of science fiction, and its dialogue with broader social and political concerns. These are just some of the avenues that historians of art and culture might pursue.