If the comics can bring back Dr. Phlox 100 years later so can live-action Star Trek

Star Trek: Enterprise's Dr. Phlox (John Billingsley) was one of the most innovative doctors in Star Trek history. A Denobulan who utilized a combination of holistic medicine and modern technology to heal the sick, the doctor was known for his warm humor and charming personality. He had a different way of looking at the world that shone through in his treatment of patients. Not only did he love what he was doing; he shared that love with the people around him, making it easy for the crew of the USS Enterprise to come to him with their problems, whether it was addiction, psychological trauma, or physical injury.

It's been over a hundred years of Star Trek time since Phlox has been seen, but the comic book iteration of his character just showed up in "Facemaker," a story appearing in Star Trek Celebrations: Pride. [via Screenrant] And this appearance lets us all know that the good doctor is still alive and well long after the first Enterprise was decommissioned. Though comics aren't considered canon in Trek, this still opens a door to bring Dr. Phlox back to live action because if it can be done in the comics, it can be done onscreen.

Fans have always believed that Denobulans have a long life span even though it was never defined on Enterprise. But "Facemaker" showed the way to re-introduce Dr. Phlox into the current Star Trek timeline. So iit's plausible he could beam aboard the Enterprise in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds even if he isn't tied to the history set out in the comic.

Star Trek: Enterprise hasn't gotten a lot of love from current iterations of Star Trek. In fact, it's been largely ignored except for a few cursory mentions. But if the comics can rectify that, then certainly the live-action shows can as well. Other Trek characters, portrayed by the actors who originated the roles, have been brought back on Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Prodigy. There is simply no reason why Enterprise characters can't be afforded that same opportunity.