New “Eagle Times” continues to expand coverage of British comics

By John Freeman on October 16, 2018

The latest issue of Eagle Times, the magazine of the Eagle Society (Volume 31 No.3 – Autumn 2018), is out now and includes a number of great features, including one by downthetubes contributor Jeremy Briggs on Eagle‘s extended family – Girl, Swift and Robin and their 1980s successors.

Fellow downthetubes writer Steve Winders has also penned this issue’s new Archie Willoughby story – “The Case of the Vanishing Police Box” (No, it’s not science fiction… at least, I don’t think so, based on this first part!)

There are also features on the Eagle‘s often maligned early western strip “Seth and Shorty“by Joe Hoole; the Dan Dare adventure “The Big City Caper” is recalled by Andrew Coffey”; Part Two of “Charles Chilton and the Indian Wars” by David Britton; and there’s a further guide to “Space Fiction Movies” by Will Grenham.

David Britton also takes another fascinating look into the inner workings of Eagle, including some detailed costs of the models that were created for reference purposes. It’s another great insight into how “Dan Dare” that you are unlikely to find in any other magazine.

Jeremy’s article on the Eagle “family” – focusing on new Eagle, new Girl and new Robin of the 1980’s – is another welcome expansion of the title, which is seeking to broaden its horizons beyond features on the original Eagle. It offers a welcome guide to the contorted history of publishing mergers that left comics fans scratching their heads as to who owned what comic title or character, something I’ve tried to address in my “British Classic Comics – Who Owns What” feature here on downthetubes.

Jeremy’s article usefully covers all the “new” titles from the 1980s and 1990s and the history of the copyrights which, of course, is the history of the company buy outs, an item that’s been very well researched, backed by Companies House data. Unfortunately, the issue went to press just before the Rebellion TI Media deal that means the 2000AD publisher now owns a huge number of classic British comic titles was announced. Expect an update next issue.

This is another great issue of Eagle Times, and well worth tracking down. The Society has some great-looking events coming up, so you may want to consider joining by taking out a subscription.

Here’s the full article line-up for the issue:

EAGLE‘s Extended Family by Jeremy Briggs
The “Seth and Shorty” western strip by Joe Hoole
Jeremy Briggs’ review of A Concise Guide to EAGLE Plastic Kits by David Welsh
Charles Chilton and the Indian Wars by David Britton
The Dan Dare adventure “The Big City Caper” – is recalled by Andrew Coffey
Another glimpse inside the workings of EAGLE by David Britton
“Space Fiction Movies” by Will Grenham
“Alfred the Great” by Steve Winders
Another In and Out of the EAGLE by Jim Duckett
A new Archie Willoughby story: “The Case of the Vanishing Police Box” by Steve Winders

• The Eagle Times is the quarterly magazine is the journal of the Eagle Society, with membership costing £29 in the UK, £40 (in sterling) overseas. Subscription applications to Bob Corn, Wellcroft Cottage, Wellcroft, Ivinghoe, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 9EF; subs can also be submitted via PayPal to eagle-times@hotmail.com. Back issues and binders are available. Full details can be found at eagle-times.blogspot.com

• For more about Girl Picture Library visit this page on the Jinty Resource

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John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.