Star Trek: The Original Series the 23rd century bearing a crew dedicated to exploring the Milky Way Galaxy. Roddenberry noted a number of influences on his idea, some of which includes A. E. van Vogt's tales of the spaceship "Space Beagle", Eric Frank Russell's "Marathon" series of stories, and the film "Forbidden Planet" (1956). Some have also drawn parallels with the television series "Rocky Jones, Space Ranger" (1954), a space opera which included many of the elements that were integral to "Star Trek"—the organization, crew relationships, missions, part of the bridge layout, and some technology. Roddenberry also drew heavily from C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower
Star Trek (comics) and the only movie with the Original Crew that had never previously been in comic form, as the film's release came during the gap between Marvel's and DC's licenses. In September 2011, IDW began publishing a new ongoing "Star Trek" series set in the continuity of the 2009 film. A number of storylines in the ongoing series featured retellings of Original Series storylines. In 2013, IDW published a prequel to the 2013 film "Star Trek Into Darkness", entitled "Star Trek Countdown to Darkness," which featured the "Enterprise" encountering Robert April, who was depicted as the first captain of the "Enterprise"