8skeinsofdanger Trekkies get into regular phaser-fights over the merits of the two most famous starship captains, Kirk vs Picard. But at the end of the day there’s only one James T. Kirk, a man of staggering ambition and supreme confidence that went boldly into every situation. If Kirk were a real-life person living in 21st Century America (get a life!), he’d probably be a dashing business tycoon on the order of Sir Richard Branson. Even more than his strategic acumen and his luck with the ladies, Kirk is best known for always having a quip at the ready.