How would Dan Dare’s universe look if the series was re-launched today?
Although it was published in late 1962 the first Dan Dare Space Annual, right, is dated 1963, and we felt it was an opportune event to mark a high point in the original outings of Britain’s best-loved space hero.
With that in mind, we’re challenging comic creators to send us their best takes on Dan Dare – but we want you to give the characters a ‘modern’ feel while staying true to the look of creator Frank Hampson’s original Dan Dare universe.
Taking inspiration from the wonderful Project Rooftop project, which often challenges artists to re-design well-known US superheroes, How might Space Fleet vehicles look in our near future, given advances in technology that could not even be guessed at in the 1950s? How would the principal characters – Dan Dare, Digby, Jocelyn Peabody, Sondar and the Mekon look if a film company was to use Hampson’s team’s designs for a modern ‘reboot’ of the saga?
We want you to get your thinking caps on and send us your very best design ideas. You must use the original Dan Dare universe as your starting point (as designed by Hampson’s original team, not later artists) but not be a slave to some of the out of date concepts that featured in the early stories.
Illustrations and, if you have time, a strip page featuring your new look Dan Dare are what we are looking for with this competition.
Submit your designs via johnfreeman6-downthetubes@yahoo.co.uk, indicating “Dan Dare Competition” in the subject line. We will post entries on the downthetubes site and forum, and will take your submission to the competition as permission to do this.
Please make sure to send us a small biography about yourself and details of your web site, so we can include them in any postings.
• The deadline for entries is now extended until 2nd December 2013. The best entry will win a copy of The Dan Dare Space Fleet Operations Manual recently released by Haynes, and a copy of my 2010 art book, SciFi Art Now.
We look forward to seeing what you come up with!
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.
Categories: Comics Competitions, Creating Comics, Featured News, Site Announcements
Dan Dare Reboot Competition: Hal Laren