Thank you founders of Moonbase Central for your knowledgeable information and dedication to the things from the past that influenced us when younger and helped make us who we became. Whether music, toys, remembrance of events, it's our shared past that makes us who we are.
In my case when an art student in the 1960's I realized that my interest in design came about from reading comics when young, especially Eagle and the lead character, Dan Dare.
Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future. (The author's opinions not necessarily those of the blog.)
Well that future has passed and sadly the optimism of the post WW2 years has faded.
Given my interest in Dan Dare Woodsy asked me if I would write something for the blog's 10th birthday.
I sat down to do this and what I realized was the relevance of Dare in the 50's was today a highly political rant.
To explain:
Dan Dare was created by a very gifted artist and a cleric. Indeed in the prototype comic made to sell the idea to a publisher Dare was not a pilot but a chaplain.
Through out the original stories as the characters developed we were shown someone who represented the traditional British officer and gentleman in the true Edwardian mould. He believed in justice, fair play and preferred a peaceful solution rather than violence. His word was his bond. This did not mean action was lacking and force was used when necessary. Rather than killing enemies Spacefleet personnel carried Paralyzer pistols to immobilize them.
Looking back at Dan Dare we see a person who by his own abilities was a natural pilot. University educated and clearly officer class he formed a natural partnership with an older subservient person in the form of Albert Fitzwilliam Digby, who while not as well educated was certainly not a slacker in keeping up with his officer, he too is a natural pilot and loyal to the idea of duty. Theirs is a friendship formed through common experience and adversity.
Every other story seemed to include The Mekon, the evil leader of the Treen race. Any similarity to forces of recent European opposition was intentional.
Given that the people involved in creating the comic strip were the same people who had a few years earlier spent six years defeating the evil that was attempting to replace democracy in Europe it is interesting that the similar evil when found in space too would be defeated.
The lessons of the strip was that decency in human behavior could prevail. This would seem to be relevant today as politically on both sides of the Atlantic politics do not reflect that.
Moonbase frequently refers to the work of Gerry Anderson who created puppet shows, one that had a family business lead by a millionaire who ran International Rescue, not for personal profit at public expense.
Where Stingray protected the surface world from evil.
For Four Feather Falls where real law and order prevailed.
Captain Scarlet, where are you when real evil runs amok?
It's no wonder that nostalgia is reassuring.
Thank you Woodsy for the soap box. Long may Moonbase Central continue.
