The new issue of Empire beams onto newstands on December 27 and as a late Christmas treat, it's more packed with Star Trek Into Darkness goodness than an Enterprise-shaped turkey. Not one but two covers on the February issue of the magazine are given over to JJ Abrams' intergalactic epic and we have a sneak peek right here.

And the extra-special subscribers' covers...

We've picked the bones of the teaser trailer with a comprehensive breakdown, but, with exclusive interviews with Abrams and his cast, the cover feature is absolute doozie. It will offer one or two more intriguing titbits on Benedict Cumberbatch's villain, Gary Mitchell/John Harrison/Khan - a figure currently more shrouded in mystery than a dozen Essex Lions.

Star Trek Into Darkness is the centrepiece of a sci-fi special that also takes in Oblivion, Elysium, Ender's Game, Cloud Atlas and The Host. David Bowie will definitely be picking this one up.

It isn't all space exploration, alien bastards and futurecities in the issue, though. There's an on-set report from the new take on Sam Raimi's Evil Dead, the first word on The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug straight from the dragon's mouth, a couple of Pythons chipping in with a Pint Of Milk and Empire's all-singing, occasionally-dancing 2013 preview. We also speak to grizzled Hollywood veteran Walter Hill, while Kathryn Bigelow, whose new thriller Zero Dark Thirty is attracting Oscar buzz and controversy in equal measure, is our Big Interview.

Empire is onsale on Thursday, December 27. To make sure you never miss a copy why don't you subscribe today?