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This Article Contains Spoilers - WARNING: This article contains major spoilers. If you do not wish to know vital information on plot / character elements in a story, you may not wish to read beyond this warning: We hold no responsibility for any negative effects these facts may have on your enjoyment of said media should you continue. That is all.

He asks me, he tasks me and I shall have him. I'll chase him around the moons of Nibia and around the Antares Maelstrom and 'round Perdition's Flames before I give him up!
~ Khan's famous "he tasks me" speech, showing his obsession with Kirk.
I've done far worse than kill you... I've hurt you. And I wish to go on hurting you. I shall leave you as you left me, as you left her—marooned for all eternity in the center of a dead planet... buried alive! Buried alive! Buried alive!
~ Khan's most famous line to Kirk after trapping him on Regula 1 underground.

Khan Noonien Singh is the main antagonist in The Original Series episode, Space Seed and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, the second Star Trek movie.

He is the ruthless and strategic leader of the Augments, who attempted to conquer humanity during the Eugenics Wars. After being discovered in cryosleep by the crew of the USS Enterprise in the far future, Khan attempted to seize control of the Enterprise alongside his men to build a new empire for himself, only to be defeated and exiled. Decades later, Khan would make a second bid for universal domination by taking control of the planet-terraforming Genesis device, while also seeking revenge on Admiral James T. Kirk for his previous defeat and the deaths of his men and wife. He is the archenemy of James T. Kirk.

He was portrayed by the late Ricardo Montalbán who also portrayed Vincent Ludwig in The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad!, Señor Senior, Senior in Kim Possible, and Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island.

Biography[]

Early History[]

Hailing from Northern India, Khan was genetically engineered to be the perfect human (or "Augment") in the late 20th century Earth as part of "Project Khan." This project was led by Adam Soong and a number of other scientists. However, to the scientists that created the Augments failed to realize that this would breed arrogance and hubrism since they would believe that their powers makes them superior to all of humanity and that it was their right to subjugate them. Adam Soong's 22nd century descendant Arik Soong came to believe that the genetic engineering used in creating Khan had been faulty and that Khan and his followers suffered from personality disorders caused by neuro-chemical imbalances.

Khan himself became absolute ruler of a quarter of the world from Asia to Iraq between 1992 to 1996 and went to war with the United Nations in what became known as the Eugenics Wars. Though his bid for world domination failed, most of the Augements were dead but Khan and 94 of his followers managed to escape to space in the Botany Bay DY-100 starship and put themselves into cryogenic sleep where they remained for two hundred years. Prior to leaving Earth Khan fathered at least one child who remained behind on Earth when Khan went into exile, and Khan had descendants alive in the mid 23rd century. One of these descendants was Starfleet officer La'an Noonien-Singh.

By the mid 22nd century, Khan's escape on the Botany Bay with close to 100 of his followers was widely believed to have been mythical. Arik Soong doubted that the ship had even existed.

Space Seed[]

Khan-and-kirk-star-trek-tos

Khan in Space Seed.

In the year 2267, the Botany Bay was discovered drifting in space by the USS Enterprise. Initially believed to be a dormant threat, Captain Kirk put the ship on lockdown until they found the cryosleep pods. Khan was revived by the ship's historian, Marla McGivers, who wished to learn from him about the distant past. Initially confused, Khan asks where he is and Kirk tells him that he has slept for 200 years before having a medical team to the Enterprise's medical bay. Once there, even Doctor McCoy was amazed at his physical health since most people who slept for that long were anorexic wrecks by this point. As it turns out, 72 of his 84 followers survived the two centuries with 12 pods failing with Kirk still being amazed that Khan and his followers are still alive two hundred and eighty one years later. Shortly after Khan properly wakes up, which follows shortly after Kirk confronts McGiver for her lying about her feelings for Khan, he heard McCoy working in a backroom. He takes a medical knife from a wall mount and confronts McCoy after pretending to be asleep as McCoy checks on him. Khan pulls out his concealed knife and holds him at knife-point at which point he fully realizes that he is in the future (apparently thinking Kirk telling him that he was in the future occurred in his cryodream).

When McCoy decides to be coy and point out that he is in bed threatening to cut his doctor's throat, Khan is enraged but McCoy calls his bluff and points out the most effective way to kill him would be to cut the carotid artery behind his left ear. Apparently realizing that McCoy really isn't an enemy, Khan relents and admits that he is impressed with McCoy's bravery and finally learns where he is. Learning this, Khan asks for Kirk since he is the ship's superior officer and McCoy obliges with Kirk soon arriving and introducing himself though Khan dodges questions about his identity for obvious reasons. Khan asks for their destination (Starbase-12 in the Omega star system) and the status of his entourage (most still alive) although this still visibly upsets Khan due to being very close with them. He tells Kirk to revive them to which he is told when they reach Starbase 12 which Khan is visibly displeased by but finally introduces himself (albeit just as Khan). Once Kirk questions when he left off, only knowing it was in the 1990's, Khan feigns weariness and calls off the meeting for medical reasons. Though Kirk insists due to there not needing to be much explanation, Doctor McCoy cuts him off when he asks about why he went out on an expedition and tells him to wait until later. Before he is left alone however, he requests some reading material about the Enterprise to stave off his boredom. As it turns out, said reading material is a video about it although Khan's suspiciously snakeish thank you raises some suspicions.

Even without Khan's help, Spock deduces that Khan might be an Augment from the Eugenics Wars. Meanwhile, Marla McGivers meets Khan although he already knows of her thanks to McCoy. Immediately smitten, he starts flirting with her before inviting her to sit down even as he questions her on her hairstyle and remodels it to be more "flattering." Even as she tries to remain professional, having come to document the history of his crew for archiving, she becomes increasingly attracted to Khan and eventually falls in love with him. Later that night?, Khan (now in a yellow jumpsuit) finds Marla in her quarters and admires her artwork especially his admiration of Genghis Khan and Napoleon. He does get a shock though when he finds a painting of him much younger and cryptically warns her of the danger he poses before they kiss. Shortly after that, Khan sits down with the command crew of the Enterprise where he is once again confronted for his evading of questions and lack of mention in the history books. Spock confronts Khan for the actions of the Augments and Khan reveals how delusional he really is; stating he was trying to bring people together to prevent wars. After exchanging a look with Kirk, he tries to backtrack and say it was just other aspirations until Spock basically said to his face that he was a tyrant. Kirk confronts Khan for his militaristic terminology but decides to drop the matter since it would be improper in a get together to talk about topics so dark. Unfortunately for Khan, once he drops an off-hand comment about about social occasions being passive aggressive "wars" and that Kirk shouldn't be mincing his words, Kirk confronts him and says that it's very convenient that he left around the same time ninety Augments disappeared from the face of the Earth. Unfortunately for Khan, his follow-up statement about offering the world order gives away his real nature although this just impresses him more.

After departing the dinner for reasons of fatigue, he stands around outside only to be found by McGivers who apologizes to him for the confrontation but he shrugs it off since he is an enigma to them. After a bit more flirting, Khan tells her to stick around or go away but she decides to stay although he demands a firmer response than "can I stay?" which he gets. Taking her hand in his, Khan then reveals his real objective which is to commandeer the Enterprise. Although McGyner worries about people being hurt, Khan tells her to go away then so she accepts which pleases Khan greatly. Unfortunately for Khan, shortly afterwards, the Enterprise command crew discover Khan's true identity and have him arrested for crimes against humanity where Kirk quickly confronts him in his quarters. Khan initially feigns ignorance until Kirk reveals that he knows who he is which impresses Khan who then reveals his truly pompous and bigoted nature by insulting humans for being inferior and not "evolving" in 200 years. Kirk leaves but first angers Khan by saying he didn't answer his questions well. Unfortunately, once Kirk leaves, Khan uses his brute strength to pull the LOCKED door open and send the Red Shirt guarding the door flying. Khan wants to take the Enterprise and use it to create a colony for himself and whoever would follow him. The request for reading material was so that he can learn how to operate the Enterprise's controls. As he does so, McGivers takes control of the transporter room from the engineer guarding it with Khan then snapping his neck and taking his phaser. Presently, Khan wakes up the entirety of his crew and they take control of security command just as Kirk discovers his escape. Cutting off all doors and life support, Khan offers to negotiate with Kirk even as Spock fails to pump knockout gas into the air vents due to the computers being disabled. Even as Uhura fails to reach Starbase-12 and the air supply runs thin, Kirk refuses to surrender so Khan just sits and waits for them all to pass out before delivering a speech about obsolescence to the hostage McCoy, Uhura, Scotty and a Gold Shirt. He soon thinks McCoy is the communications officer and threatens Uhura when McCoy of course doesn't know how to work a viewing screen.

When that failed, Khan realized his mistake of killing the bridge crew as all he has done is create martyrs though he decides to blackmail them by saying "join me or the bridge crew die." Khan reveals his master plan which is to take control of the Enterprise and establish a colony for him and his followers. Unfortunately for Khan, he loses the connection to the bridge and decides to send Spock to his death in the decontamination chamber next only to lose contact with the guard. What Khan doesn't realize is that McGivers has turned turncoat on him now and has freed Kirk with the two of them knocking out Spock's escort. When knockout gas floods into the room he is hauled up in, Khan flees as his crew are knocked out and makes his way to engineering. Upon hearing over comms that Kirk is coming, he ambushes and takes Kirk's phaser and bends it into a horseshoe. Khan reveals via a blinking light that he plans on overloading the ship and killing everyone and himself on board. When Khan tries to stop it, they begin a slugfest which Khan easily wins due to his brute strength but Kirk uses a baton inside a console to beat Khan unconscious and they stop the overload. Later, with Khan's men in jail, the command crew of the Enterprise hold a makeshift trial in a courtroom to determine his fate. It is eventually decided that Khan and his followers just wanted peace so everyone agrees that Khan and his followers should go into exile on the paradisiacal and uninhabited planet Ceti Alpha V.

Following 15 Years[]

As it turns out, Khan seemed to reciprocate McGivers' feelings as he went on to marry her within half a year of "Space Seed." Six months after Khan's exile however, the nearby Ceti Alpha VI exploded, resulting in Ceti Alpha V's orbit being shifted drastically which turned the planet into a desert wasteland. The Augments were forced to haul up in the Botany Bay but were exposed to the native Centi Eels who secrete a substance that cause madness and eventually a very painful death. This was the fate which befell twenty of his followers, including (presumably) McGivers. This enraged Khan, who blamed Kirk for her death and swore one day to get revenge.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan[]

Khan

Khan in Star Trek II.

Fourteen years and six months after the desertification, making the year 2272, the starship USS Reliant arrived at Ceti Alpha V looking for a lifeless planet on which to test the Genesis Device. Said device was a bomb that one could drop on a planet to create life from nothing but dropping it on an already inhabited planet would result on the new life erasing the pre-existing life. The Reliant's commander, Captain Terrell, warped down with First Officer Pavel Chekov and ended up finding the sand locked Botany Bay. They didn't initially realize it until Chekov pulled away a curtain to reveal a shelf with "BOTANY BAY" carved into it it so rushed out to be warped out only to be ambushed and captured by Khan and his men who were off searching for good. Restrained in the Botany Bay, Khan (having worn a helmet up to this point to shield himself from the sandstorm outside) unmasks and Chekov recognizes him as Khan as well as Khan in return recognizing him.

It is at this point Terrell, after Khan mentions his grudge with Kirk, reveals that Captain Kirk has since become Admiral Kirk due to his intergalactic escapades in the intervening years much to Khan's chagrin. Khan expounds upon his past with Admiral Kirk whilst being surprised that Chekov never revealed his past only to scream at him when he commented that he was left on a paradise. Shortly after however, he realizes that they stumbled upon him by accident so he takes advantage of this by brainwashing them with native slugs. Using them, although it was done off-screen, Khan presumably has them all warped onto the USS Reliant at which point he takes control of it and sends all of the Reliant's crew bar Chekov and Terrell down to Centi Alpha V. Hearing of the Genesis Device from his brainwashed duo, he decides to take it for himself so has Chekov inform the space station Regula 1 that they've found the planet empty and are coming which Khan oversees. What Khan doesn't foresee is that Carol Markus, creator of Genesis, also informs Kirk of how strange this all is and he arrives to investigate.

On his way to Regula 1, one of Khan's followers named Joachim (who is his helmsman and right-hand man) stands up to Khan to question He decides to use the Genesis Device in his plan of vengeance against Kirk, who had since been promoted to Rear Admiral. He attacks Regula I, kills everyone that he finds, but is unable to find the Genesis Device or Karol Markus as both have beamed down under the surface of the moon below Regula 1. He then confronts Kirk, having recognized his ship from their last encounter, plays it cool as he approaches Enterprise before delivering one of his most famous lines about being "one big happy fleet." Though suspicious of their lack of communications, a bridge member sends a message about engine issues though Spock registers that their fuel emissions are normal.

Unfortunately, by this point, the Reliant is so close that missing is impossible and Khan annihilates the Enterprise and kills much of it's crew with one salvo. Deciding to make himself known, Khan confronts Kirk via view-screen and reveals his mission of vengeance at which point Kirk asks to spare the crew managed to hack into the Reliant's computer and shut down its shields using codes designed to prevent a starship from being used against the Federation. Unable to raise their ships, the Reliant is then devastated by the Enterprise's phasers at which point Khan demands revenge. Joachim has to grab a hold of him and remind him that the Enterprise is crippled so isn't going anywhere but another attack is suicidal without their shields. Listening to his right hand man, Khan withdraws behind the moon.

Khan is not seen again for another fifteen minutes when Kirk tells Spock (acting captain of the Enterprise) to flee signal jamming range to alert Star Fleet should they be unable to return. Chekov and Terrell turn on Kirk shortly thereafter and Khan hacks their communicator to reveal his control over them and orders the two to kill Kirk but Terrell kills himself and Chekov's mind bug is obliterated. Grabbing his communicator, Kirk rips into Khan (to the latter's disgust) and calls him a bloodsucker and that he is always trying and failing to kill Kirk. However, a very smug Khan reveals his goal to trap Kirk underground forever on the moon that Regula I was orbiting. This prompts Kirk to scream "KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN!!!" at the top of his lungs into his transmitter but Khan just signs off and prepares to leave with Genesis. Unfortunately for Khan, Kirk was bluffing in his call to Spock and is later safely beamed back aboard the Enterprise after a heart to heart with his son and away team.

Upon reentering the Enterprise, Kirk decides to take away Khan's superior maneuverability by entering the Mutara Nebula which renders all tracking materials useless. Khan is initially hesitant but Kirk contacts him directly and mocks his self proclaimed "superior intellect." Annoyed, Khan orders full throttle but Joachim speaks up against him this time since this would take away their advantage and points out that he has Genesis and can blackmail the Federation for whatever he wishes.

In response, Khan grabs Joachim by the chin, screams in his face, damns him to Hell, throws him across the Reliant's bridge, and initiates full impulse power himself. Unfortunately for Khan, Joachim proves to be right in his prediction when Kirk's experience fighting blind allows him to sneak up behind the Reliant undetected and devastate it. Khan survives the initial hit but everyone else on the ship is killed, including Joachim. Even after his right hand man spoke up against him, Khan still cradles Joachim as he died and swears revenge but the Enterprise lands a devastating torpedo hit to the bridge shortly thereafter. Though fatally wounded, and with his face half melted off, Khan activates the Genesis Device in a last-ditch attempt to kill Kirk before collapsing flat on his back and dying. The Genesis effect then destroyed his body, killed any last members of his crew, and destroyed the Reliant.

Legacy[]

Despite Khan's last ditch attempt, Kirk and the Enterprise got away safely although Spock had to sacrifice his life to save his crew-mates by sorting out the power cells and getting a massive dose of radiation. The activation of the Genesis Device led to the creation of the Genesis Planet where Spock's torpedo landed and led to the events of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

That particular cadet cruise became infamous both to the survivors and following classes of cadets. In the years following Khan's 2284 attack on the Enterprise Starfleet adapted the attack into a simulated mission given to command school students. That mission involved the escape of a former Starfleet officer named Jacob McNeil from prison. McNeil and his compatriots then hijacked a Miranda-class ship and used it to attack the students who had been sent to investigate a loss of communication between Starfleet and the ship. (Those who knew the specifics of Khan's attack found the situation with an uncommunicative Miranda-class ship to be very familiar).

Khan's actions had left a lasting impression on how genetic engineering in the Federation was conducted. On Earth genetic engineering for any reason was illegal. Any genetically enhanced person was barred from serving in Starfleet or practicing medicine. When the Federation was formed, a limited exception to allow for correction of serious birth defects was put in place to placate worlds such as Denobula due to the reluctance of such worlds to join a government that completely banned engineering. This did not stop some parents from trying to "improve" their children, however such parents often went to disreputable providers who wound up the children to have lifelong physical and mental issues.

The ban was somewhat relaxed in the 24th century to allow some geneticists to conduct research, despite the concerns of some in Starfleet that it would cause more problems than it would solve. This was borne out when the research caused the crew of a Starfleet vessel to rapidly age and die when exposed to the children of the geneticists, who had been given an "improved" immune system that actively sought out and destroyed viruses.

By the 2370s the ban was being enforced on a more stringent basis. Julian Bashir, Chief Medical Officer of Deep Space 9, was discovered to be an Augment like Khan. However, his career was saved, when father Richard confessed to having the enhancements done in exchange for his son being able to stay in Starfleet and practice medicine. Richard was sentenced to two years a Federation penal colony in New Zealand. Julian suggested to Rear Admiral Bennett the sentence was harsh, but the admiral disagreed, elaborating in the following quote where he states that, whilst he emerged as a good person, there's always a very bad egg like Khan waiting in the wings.

In an alternate reality, Kirk and the Enterprise crew encountered a version of Khan indigenous to that universe. During a battle with that Khan, Spock contacted Spock Prime (the Spock encountered by this iteration of Khan) about the original Khan and was told of his prime-self's death whilst escaping the Genesis Device. This allowed Kelvin Timeline Spock to eventually save Kirk (who died from irradiation like Spock Prime) and even Khan who was imprisoned in stasis pods indefinitely.

Personality[]

Khan Noonien Singh is the most dangerous adversary the Enterprise ever faced. He is brilliant, ruthless and he will not hesitate to kill every single one of you.
~ Spock regarding Khan.

Khan was a psychopathic and violent war criminal who would even risk his life to get revenge on his enemies. Khan always tried to maintain an absolute calm demeanor but would snap and yell whenever his ideology was challenged. He was a pure sadist, taking great joy in trapping and stripping Kirk of all that he holds dear and having no qualms about murdering the entire crew of the Enterprise (about four hundred people) if it meant he also killed Kirk. Though Khan was arrogant and hotheaded, he was respectful to those who showed genuine bravery and resourcefulness when confronted by danger as shown with McCoy. Khan was also not stupid and knew that giving away his full name would get him thrown in the brig for war crimes given the vast records of the Eugenics Wars that wouldn't be that hard for the Enterprise crew to discover. Even so, when he was discovered, he revealed himself to be a fascist believing that he gave the world peace and order when he actually brought chaos and destruction. Even in spite of his true nature, Khan was always well spoken and extremely polite even after being arrested. Khan was at his core a pompous bigot who often treated those he considered inferior to him like impotent children to be talked down to as demonstrated when he was confronted by Kirk in his quarters.

By the time of Star Trek II, Khan had gone mad with grief and lost much of his calm demeanor and polite attitude in favor of barely concealed contempt and passive aggressiveness. Although he was somewhat bipolar before being exiled, it was dialed up to 11 when he went mad. In his introductory scene in the movie for example, Khan starts off as dismissive and almost bored before screaming in anger when Chekov pointed out that he was supposed to be on Centi Alpha 5. Unlike most other typical revenge based criminals though, Khan was almost completely calm although his temper often flared up whenever he was losing or someone spoke against him. He was traitorous and merciless but showed intense loyalty to his crew (nearly being brought visibly to tears even after hearing that all but twelve made it) as they did to him since they were stuck alone on Centi Alpha 5 for fifteen years. Khan tolerated even helmsman Joachim questioning him as long as it wasn't open defiance and was more playful questioning.

Khan's biggest fault, however, was his ruthless and single minded way of doing things, being completely overwhelmed since he was used to fighting one on one instead of from any given angle and refusing to abandon Kirk even though he had every chance of leaving and settling down.

Powers and Abilities[]

  • Genius Level intellect: Khan's intelligence was incredibly high, making him the perfect strategist. He possessed a very precise memory - he never forgets a face - and was capable of quickly deducing completely correct conclusions based on little-to-no information.
    • Master Strategist: Khan was learned in space combat and strategy, shown throughout The Wrath of Khan.
    • Acting: Khan was able to convince the Enterprise crew that he was a good person until he tried to overthrow them.
  • Enhanced Physiology: Khan possessed incredible physical and mental attributes, making him physically, mentally and intellectually superior to even the most exceptional of humans:
    • Enhanced Strength: Like all Augments, Khan had superhuman strength far superior to that of any human or even Augment. Khan was able to rip open his locked quarters door with some effort, snap an engineer's neck by lightly pushing his palms against the guy's neck, bend a phaser into a horseshoe shape with ease, lift Chekov right off the ground with one hand and hold him there, and lug around a giant piece of debris with little effort.
    • Enhanced Durability: Like all Augments, Khan could withstand immense amounts of damage with complete ease, shrugging off jumps kicks and punches from Kirk and not getting a scratch on him when the Reliant's bridge took a direct hit from the Enterprise's lasers. It took a direct hit from a proton torpedo to kill him.
    • Enhanced Regeneration: Like all Augments, Khan was engineered with enhanced blood platelets which carried a superior healing factor than humans. As noted by Doctor McCoy in "Space Seed," his regeneration was incredible in allowing him to recover from the two hundred years of cryosleep.
    • Hair Styling: In one of his stranger abilities, Khan was a talented hair stylist as he quickly and easily remodeled McGiver's hair in less than thirty seconds.
  • Expert Combatant: Khan's augmentations, intelligence and strategic abilities made him an awesome fighter, as he used his brute strength and durability to overwhelm an opponent, but also relies on the overconfidence of his opponents.

Arsenal[]

  • Fists: Although typically unarmed, Khan was an extremely skilled hand to hand combatant able to overwhelm Khan with his bare hands.
  • Knife: Khan used a knife to threaten Doctor McCoy.

Weaknesses[]

  • Inflections: Khan was a virtually flawless actor but his evil inflections had a habit of making people very suspicious of him. Likely due to being a former dictator and not having to ask for things rather than just demanding them, he couldn't even say "thank you" convincingly.
  • Arrogance and Hubris: Khan's greatest flaw was his overly arrogant and pompous attitude which assumed his superiority in all situation and his rivalry with Kirk was ultimately his undoing since he pursued him into an area he would be unable to exploit just to end their battle.
  • One Track Mind: Khan's signature battle technique was a full on frontal attack using overwhelming force to decimate his enemies. However, fighting in the Mutara Nebula removed this advantage due to rendering all tracking technology useless and allowed Kirk to defeat him.
  • Two Dimensional Thinking: When fighting with the USS Reliant, Khan tended to not think of the three dimensional aspects of space combat. Admiral Kirk used this to his advantage, lowering the USS Enterprise by 10,000 meters. Unaware the Enterprise had slipped below him, Khan continued to search while the Enterprise came up behind the Reliant and launched a devastating attack on the ship that nearly destroyed the ship.

Reception[]

  • Khan is considered the most popular villain of the Star Trek franchise as he went from the generic threat of the week to one of the most highly regarded villains of science fiction as a whole. Montalban's performance has been universally praised for being intense and menacing but also fun to watch and highly quotable.

Quotes[]

Space Seed[]

(whispering) How...long? How...long?
~ Khan Noonian Singh's first words upon being brought out of cryosleep.
(incoherent mumbling). I thought I dreamed hearing it. Where am I? Answer my question.
~ Khan's first words after properly waking up to Doctor McCoy.
You're a brave man. I remember a voice. Did I hear it say... I have been sleeping for two centuries? Who is your captain? I have many questions for him.
~ Khan after releasing McCoy.
I have some questions first. What is your heading? And, um, my people?
~ Khan after Captain Kirk introduced himself and as he dodges the question of his identity.
I see... Khan is my name. Khan. I feel myself growing fatigued. Doctor, may we continue this...questioning some other time?
~ Khan after Kirk told him that they'd revive his crew at Starbase-12.
Captain, I wonder if I could have something to read during my recovery. I was once an engineer of sorts. I would be most interested in studying the... technical manuals from your vessel.
~ Khan after McCoy approved his request.
Marla McGivers. I am told you participated in my rebirth. I am reading up on starships. They have one luxury not mentioned in the manuals; A beautiful woman. My name is Khan. Please sit and entertain me.
~ Khan when meeting his future wife for the first time.
I hoped, uh, you might guide me to our evening engagement. (notices artwork). Very good. Fine technique. And you've rearranged your hair for me.
~ Khan when visiting McGyver's quarters.
All bold men from the past. Richard, Leif Erikson, Napoleon. Hobby of yours?
~ Some not-so-subtle foreshadowing as to Khan's true nature as he admires paintings of horrible people from history.
I'm honoured. Thank you. But I caution you. Such men dare take what they want.
~ Khan after finding that McGyvers had a painting of him in her room.
Tyranny sir? Or an attempt to unify humanity? I know something of those years. Remember, it was a time of great...dreams and great aspirations. One man would have ruled eventually. As Rome under Caesar. Think of it's accomplishments!
~ Khan when Spock confronted him for his supposed tyranny.
You are an excellent tactician, Captain. You let your second in command attack while you sit and watch for weakness.
~ Khan after Spock accused him of sympathizing with fascistic terrorists.
*dark chuckle.* It has been said that social occasions are only warfare concealed. Many prefer it more honest.
~ Khan after Kirk tried to drop the depressing subject matter as this was a social dinner.
We offered the world ORDER!
~ Khan after being confronted by Kirk for conveniently leaving the Earth at the same time as the Augments.
*nods approvingly* Excellent. Excellent. But if you will excuse me gentlemen, and ladies, I grow fatigued again. With your permission Captain, I will return to my quarters.
~ Khan after Kirk called his bluff.
Open your heart. Will you open your heart? I intend to take this ship. Please, I need your help.
~ Khan revealing his true nature to McGyver.
*deep sigh* I am sorry Captain. I was...lost in thought. My door; locked from outside? A guard posted?
~ Khan when Kirk met up with him after his arrest.
Excellent. You identified with your computer system did you?
~ Khan when Kirk revealed that he knew who he really was.
A new life. A chance to build a new world. All the things I doubt you would understand.
~ Khan after being asked to explain his past actions.
Captain, although your abilities intrigue me, you are quite honestly inferior. Mental, physically. In fact, I am surprised how little improvement there has been in human evolution. Oh, there has been technical advancement but... How little man himself has changed. Yes, it appears we will do well in your century captain.
~ Khan's very bigoted nature after Kirk asked why he wouldn't understand and if it was because he wasn't an Augment.
(The security guard) is not able to answer you at the moment, Captain. Your ship is mine. I have shut off the life support system to your bridge, jammed off your exit routes. I am willing to negotiate.
~ Khan after taking control of security command.
Academic, Captain. Refuse and every person on the bridge will suffocate.
~ Khan after Kirk refused to surrender the Enterprise's bridge.
Nothing ever changes except man. Your technical accomplishments. Your improved mechanical devices. You may double your utility but improve man is to gain a thousand fold. I am such a man. Join me and I'll treat you well. I need your training to operate a vessel this complex.
~ Khan after the last person on the Enterprise's bridge passed out from lack of air.
My vessel was useless. I need you and yours to select a colony planet, one with a population willing to be lead by us. Each of you will go in there, die while the others watch. If anyone of you joins me, ANYONE, I'll let him live!
~ Khan revealing his true goal.
It's SO USELESS!Khan's minor villainous breakdown when no-one stepped forward.
If I understood your manuals, that's an overload in progress. Your ship lights up like an exploding sun within minutes.
~ Khan revealing his new suicidal plan.
I have five times your strength. You are no match for me!
~ Khan to James T Kirk during their fight in Space Seed.
A superior woman. I will take her.
~ Khan once McGyver agreed to go into exile with him.
I've gotten something else I wanted. A world to win and an empire to build.
~ Khan's final words before going into exile.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan[]

I don't know you. But you... I never forget a face. Mister... Chekov isn't it? I never thought I'd see your face again.
~ Khan's first words in the film when examining Captain Terrell and then somehow recognizing Chekov.
You are in a position to demand nothing. I, on the other hand, am on the position to grant...nothing. What you see is all that remains of the ship's company and crew of the Botany Bay. Marooned here fifteen years ago by Captain James T. Kirk.
~ Khan when Terrell demanded that he release him and Chekov.
Captain, captain, captain. Save your strength. These people have sworn to live and die at my command two hundred years before you were born. Do you mean that he never told you the tale? To amuse your captain, no? Never told you how the Enterprise picked up the Botany Bay lost in space from the year 1996? Myself, and the ship's company, in cryogenic freeze?
~ Khan when Terrell started to cause trouble.
Admiral?! Admiral? Admiral. Never told you how...Admiral Kirk sent seventy of us into exile on this...barren sand-heap? With only the contents of this cargo base to sustain us?
~ Khan when Terrell let it slip that Kirk had been promoted.
THIS IS CETI ALPHA V!!! Ceti Alpha VI exploded six months after we were left here. The shock shifted the orbit of this planet and everything was laid waste. Admiral Kirk never bothered to check on our progress. It was only the fact of my genetically engineered intellect that allowed us to survive. On Earth, *amused snort* two hundred years ago, I was a prince *amused snort* with power over millions.
~ Khan when Chekov said that he was left on the beautiful lush world of Centi Alpha 5.
You didn't expect to find me. You thought this was...Ceti Alpha VI? Ah. Why are you here?
~ Khan's revelation.
Slow to to one half impulse power. Let's be friends.
~ Khan upon arriving at Regula 1.
Let them eat static.
~ Khan after helmsman Joachim announced that Kirk was requesting transmission.
Of course, we are one big happy fleet. Ah Kirk, my old friend, do you know the Klingon proverb that tells us revenge is a dish best served cold? (inhales gleefully through clenched teeth). It is very cold...in space!
~ Khan upon seeing the USS Enterprise for the first time in fifteen years and one of his most famous lines.
You still remember, Admiral? I cannot help but be touched. I, of course, remember you. Surely I have made my meaning plain. I mean to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power and, when I swing around, I mean to deprive you of your lives. But I wanted you first to know who it was who has beaten you.
~ Khan revealing himself.
I make you a counter proposal. I'll agree to your terms if...if, in addition to yourself, you hand over to me all data and material regarding the project called "Genesis."
~ Khan's ultimatum.
Don't insult my intelligence, Kirk.
~ Khan when Kirk played dumb.
I give you... sixty seconds, Admiral.
~ Khan when Kirk asked for more time to retrieve the Genesis data.
Forty five seconds.
~ Khan after fifteen seconds had transpired.
Admiral... Admiral? Time is a luxury hounding have Admiral.
~ Khan being impatient.
Oh, I've given you no word to keep, Admiral. In my judgement, you simply have no alternative.
~ Khan when Kirk asked how he'd keep his promise.
(stunned silence) Raise them.
~ Khan when Joachim told him that the Reliant's shields were dropping (due to Kirk's prefix codes.
Where's the override? The override?!
~ Khan when Joachim revealed that he couldn't re-raise the shields.
Khan Noonien Singh: Fire! Fire!
Joachim: We can't fire sir.
Khan Noonien Singh: Why can't you?
Joachim: They've damaged the photon controls and the warp drive. We must withdraw.
Khan Noonien Singh: No! No! No!
~ Khan after the Reliant was bombarded by the Enterprise's phasers.
I have indeed, Captain. You have done well.
~ Khan when Terrell contacted him as he held Kirk and his entourage at phaser point.
First things first, captain. Kill Admiral Kirk.
~ Khan ordering Terrell to kill Kirk.
Kill him. Kill him Terrell, now!
~ Khan when Terrell started to resist.
Kirk! Kirk, you're still alive, my old friend.
~ Khan after Kirk revealed that Terrell and Chekhov failed to kill him.
There she is. There it is. Ahhhhhhh. Not so wounded as we were led to belieeeeeeve. So much the better.
~ Khan when he saw the newly revealed Enterprise.
FULL POWER! Damn you!
~ Khan's villainous breakdown when Joachim refused to pilot the Reliant into the Mutara Nebula.
Joachim. I shall avenge you.
~ Khan once his helmsman died.
No Kirk, the game's not over...until the last that we grapple with thee.
~ Khan after being mortally wounded and activating the Genesis Device.
No, no... you can't get away. To the last... I will grapple with thee. From Hell's heart, I stab at thee.... for hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee....
~ Khan's final words before his death, paraphrasing Ahab's final words in Moby Dick.

Trivia[]

  • Khan is often considered to be the chief villain of Star Trek. However, the Klingons are the true villains due to appearing in more episodes and films, especially the final movie with the original cast, The Undiscovered Country.
    • Despite this, Khan is the most prominent individual antagonist and never redeems himself whereas the Klingons would go on to become allies to the Federation after the events of Star Trek VI.
  • Khan was selected to be the second Star Trek film's villain as the director, Nicholas Meyer, felt the original film lacked a decent villain (given the "main villain" of Star Trek: The Motion Picture was V'Ger, a sentient satellite who was not actually evil).
  • Khan recognizing Chekov, even saying "I never forget a face." is regarded as a plot hole in the movie since Khan was only seen before this in "Space Seed" (Season 1 Episode 22) but Chekov did not even debut until the first episode of Season 2 "Catspawn".
    • Walter Koenig (who played Chekov) has often joked that his character had made Khan wait overly long to use a bathroom on Khan's visit to the Enterprise and that was why Khan remembered his face so well.
  • According to Montalban, much of Khan's personality was created by him on the fly. Khan is initially shown as a calm and collected if evil leader of his followers but, given McGivers death between the episode and movie, decided to go off the rails and make him a obsessed psychopath with thinly veiled anger issues.
    • This seems to have been very intentional given that he fought in the Eugenics Wars. Eugenics was a special form of selective breeding, the concept itself originating with Plato, and while historically present in the UK, Europe, and the progressives in the USA (e.g. Buck v. Bell), positive (i.e. organized and often non-voluntary), eugenics is today most associated with the Nazi regime, whose numerous crimes against humanity shortly resulted in the decline and fall of eugenics as a morally acceptable means of improving the human condition. Ironically, in-universe, the UN International Bioethics Committee in 2015 distinguished between genetic engineering for human improvement from the eugenics of the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries.
  • Khan is Indian whereas Ricardo Montalban was of Mexican descent.
  • Khan quotes Captain Ahab from Mobey Dick throughout Star Trek II because he was stranded with just three books there for entertainment, one of which being Mobey Dick and him identifying with Ahab's quest for revenge to the point Khan's final words are a paraphrasing of Ahab's.
    • It is also not a coincidence that the other two books he had were Paradise Lost and King Leer which are stories about the villain seeking revenge.
  • "Singh" is a male Sikh surname meaning "lion" which is fitting given Khan's extremely aggressive but loyal (to his men) nature.
    • It also that it is not a coincidence that Sikh was a monotheistic religion originates in the Punjab section of India and Khan was "born" in Northern India.
  • Kirk and Khan never share a physical interaction in The Wrath of Khan, only talking to each other through the teleprompter and communicators. This was because William Shatner and Ricardo Montalban never interacted on set due to Montalban filming Fantasy Island.

External links[]

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Star Trek: The Motion Picture: V'Ger: Klingons (Barak)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: Augments (Khan & Joachim)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock: Klingons (Kruge, Torg, Maltz, Klingon Gunner) | Valkris
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home: Whale Probe | Kamarag
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier: The One | Klingons (Klaa & Vixis) | Sybok
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country: Khitomer Conspiracy (General Chang, Nanclus, Valeris, Admiral Cartwright, Patrick West, Harlan Burke, Thomas Samno, Kerla)
Star Trek Generations: Tolian Soran | Klingons (Lursa & B'Etor)
Star Trek: First Contact: The Borg (Borg Queen)
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Star Trek: Nemesis: Remans (Shinzon, Viceroy, Tal'aura, Suran & Donatra)
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