Talkin’ ’bout my Federation
When Gene Roddenberry marshaled together the team that would bring us Star Trek, one of the most iconic images that would emerge from the series was the Star Fleet logo. It has become a pop culture icon and even graces Darth Vader’s latte mug in Blue Milk Special. Much less known is the Blake’s 7 Federation logo, from 1978. Both shows brought us a galaxy governed, in part, by a powerful federation. The similarity between the logos from the two series are where the comparisons end.
Terry Nation, the creator of Blake’s 7 took the idea of a benevolent democracy of worlds and turned it on its head. The Federation of Blake’s world were entirely Terran in nature and an oppressive communist empire. The air in the habitation domes was drugged to keep the populace passive and free-thinkers were tortured, brainwashed or killed. The soldiers of this Federation were not generic men in Red Shirts, but faceless black-clad shock troopers wearing gas-masks. The show ran for 4 seasons and was full of dark politics that the Empire from Star Wars would love to adopt.
One of the worst things they did to Blake, leader of a resistance movement prior to the beginning of the series, was to brainwash him into turning on his friends, denouncing the freedom party and becoming a model citizen. By the end of the very first episode, after recovering most of his blocked memories, he is publicly framed as a child molester and sentenced to a penal planet where he will be conveniently disposed off out of the public eye. This was pretty good stuff for 1977 sci-fi.
I just want to thank those of you who have helped out with our eBay auctions. I listed a bunch more on Sunday night. However, I made these ones “buy it now” auctions and I will consider reasonable offers. The auction style listings from last week did not sell as well as I had hoped, which is why I’m doing “buy it now” for the remaining items.
Return of the Jedi collection Rebels Star Wars 19 action figures Huge LOT #4
Assorted Star Wars collectibles and Taco Bell promotional items!
Darth Maul vinyl statue painted by Leanne Hannah! 1998
We have many other items listed on eBay. so please check them out and consider adding them to your own collection. It helps us out!
I’m sure Kirk’s Federation has a few skeletons in the closet as well…
You have Section 31 in DS9.
Thank you for commenting on something everyone who has ever watched Blake’s 7 has wanted someone to for decades. 🙂
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying rediscovering Blake’s 7. In the late 80’s or early 90’s I ran into it on some PBS channel or other. I enjoyed it, but only managed to catch a few episodes. Your comic led me to looking it up again. Thank you for leading me back to it!
So far I’m able to keep myself to two episodes a day…mostly…