Treens
The Treens are fictional aliens in the Dan Dare stories. They first appeared in Dan Dare: The First Story, which was serialised in the Eagle comic magazine from Volume 1, Number 1 (14 April 1950) to Volume 2, Number 25 (28 September 1951). The story was drawn by Frank Hampson.
| Treens | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Eagle |
| First appearance | Dan Dare: The First Story (April 1950) |
| Created by | Frank Hampson |
| Characteristics | |
| Place of origin | Venus |
| Notable members | The Mekon |
Fictional background
The Treens are a race of green-skinned humanoids from the northern hemisphere of the planet Venus. One of them, known to the inhabitants of Earth as "Nick Treen" is thought to be working in Basildon.The southern hemisphere is inhabited by the Therons, a human-like race with an obvious affinity to humanity on Earth. The Treens share the northern hemisphere with the Atlantines, a blue-skinned people whose ancestors came from Earth 100,000 years previously. The two hemispheres are separated by the "flamelands" around the equator which are impassable, except by specially equipped aircraft.
The leader of the Treens is The Mekon, an individual specifically engineered to have a high intelligence. The Treens are portrayed as mostly unemotional without the usual human feelings about the sanctity of life. In ancient times, they lived as savage jungle tribes permanently involved in tribal wars amongst themselves, until in a major war the Therons occupied the northern hemisphere by force in an attempt to civilize the Treens. The attempt failed and the Therons later abandoned the Treens to their own devices.
Soon after, Treen scientists created the first Mekon as a "super-brain" to rule over the Treen race. The Mekon developed Treen society into a highly organised militaristic logic-based society where orders are obeyed without query, and which is usually in a state of hostility with the Therons and Earth, both of whose lands they have on occasion occupied. The Atlantines are usually ignored by the Treens, and live in primitive conditions.
Mekonta is the capital city of the Treens in the Dan Dare stories. It is named after The Mekon. It is built on many islands in a lake. Its design may have been inspired by Venice and/or Tenochtitlan. It was ruined in the war in Dan Dare: The First Story, and New Mekonta was built nearby. Afterwards for a long time Old Mekonta remained uncleared ruins.
The Magnets of Mekonta are huge electromagnets on mountaintops around Mekonta. They are used to raise and lower spaceships in and out of Mekonta.
Political interpretation
Creator Frank Hampson stated, "Basically we were fighting the Second World War again – the Treens were the Nazis."[1]
Other appearances
- A Treen was briefly seen in Scarlet Traces: The Great Game. A Treen was seen drinking at the Star Stop diner in Marvel Comic's She-Hulk (4-7).
- Inky schoolboy Nigel Molesworth on being caught smoking, remarked "You have caught me Sir, like a Treen in a disabled spaceship."
- In the universe of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, the Treens enter an alliance with Earth as of 1969, and schools where they are taught English are established. In 2009, however, relations have intensified.
References
- Chapman, James (June 2008). "Onward Christian Spacemen: Dan Dare - Pilot of the Future as British Cultural History". Visual Culture in Britain. Manchester University Press. 9 (1): 55–79. ISSN 1941-8361 – via Portico.