3. Captain Buck Rogers
Buck Rogers was originally a short story-pulp fiction hero in the 1920's created by Phillip Francis Nowlan. He is more recently remembered in the 1980's TV show created by Battlestar Galactica's Glen Larson, starring Gil Gerard and Erin Gray. Just as an aside, I ran into Erin Grey in Toronto a couple of years ago, and she is still an amazing person to meet. Sorry fanboy moment had to share. There was a comic in between, written in the late 1920's about a veteran of the Great War (aka World War One) who was looking for radioactive gas in mines. He falls into a cave that is filled with gas that suspends him in time for over 500 years. When he awakes, he discovers that the United States he knew is now splintered into rival factions called "orgs" after a great, global conflict with the invading Mongol Reds. Buck emerges from the mineshaft to rescue Wilma Deering from raiders. With Buck's combat experience in the Great War and his membership in the American Legion, he was, in a strange, anachronistic way, deemed a worthy addition to the Philadelphia "Org" and allowed to join them in their struggles to defence of modern America. Buck Rogers became an American iconic science fiction character who epitomized the attributes of adventure, heroism and a firm attachment to applying lessons learned from history to whatever situation he is in. Kirk is a character who follows in the same historical tradition as Rogers. Watching Star Trek, we discover that Kirk admires famous historical figures like Lincoln ("The Savage Curtain"); he can even relate to his eventual nemesis, Khan Noonian Singh from the Eugenics Wars ("Space Seed") and is able to navigate through 20th century military bases ("Tomorrow is Yesterday") with ease. Star Trek has a lot of historical themes. Kirk, as an ardent history lover, is a perfect character to present the lessons from history. Like Buck Rogers, he looks backwards in time for the solutions he needs in the present. Kirk easily assimilates himself into historical scenarios. In "A Piece of the Action", Kirk falls into the role of an early 20th century Chicago mobster with ease. He adopts the accent, the mannerisms and the attitude like he was born to it. We see him adopt the role of a Nazi officer in "Patterns of Force" and even provide detailed information about the Earps and the Clantons in "Spectre of the Gun". He communicates concepts of control and authority as if he were a member of the Chicago mob in order to bring the planet Iotia under Federation influence, completely disregarding issues relating to the Prime Directive. It may be the wrong thing to do but it is for the right reason. This is the mind of a historian: someone who can bring the lessons of the past to bear and edit and change them to fit the contextual needs of the current situation. ... Or a really good method actor. Buck Rogers constantly refers to strategies and tricks used in World War One. He employs trench techniques or mechanized warfare to assist the American Orgs of the 25th century in reclaiming their lost nation. He also makes racial and cultural observations about the Mongol Reds that had basis in his day, but somehow seem to be as accurate in his new century. The more people change, the more they stay the same? Not only does Buck teach the lessons if the past, he IS a lesson from the past.