Home › Comics › British Comics › Dan Dare “The Venus Campaign” classic story collection revealed, and first ever collections of some stories on their way

Dan Dare “The Venus Campaign” classic story collection revealed, and first ever collections of some stories on their way

By John Freeman on June 6, 2018

Titan Comics will launch Dan Dare: The Venus Campaign its first “bumper” collection of classic Dan Dare stories in November, following a format similar to its James Bond compendiums, using new scans of the stories featured. Plus, there’s news of new collections in the works of material never before collected…

This compendium introduces one of science fiction’s most enduring heroes, Dan Dare, created by Frank Hampson and the Reverend Marcus Morris for Eagle comic, launched in April 1950.

This 336 page omnibus edition of Dan Dare contains his first adventures, beginning with the story that would later be titled “Pilot of the Future: Voyage to Venus“. Dan and his crew set off to explore Venus, hoping to find new resources to feed a starving earth. But the planet is home to the devious, calculating Mekon, who plans to conquer the Earth.

It’s up to Dare and his bat-man Digby to help the enslaved people of Venus to rise up and defeat the massive green headed evil genius.

The Collection also includes “The Red Moon Mystery“, in which Dan and his trusty crew head once more into the dangerous, icy depths of space to uncover the secrets of a strange red moon that has entered the Solar System and threatens Earth with destruction!

Both stories were the basis by B7 Media for their award-nominated audio adventures starring Ed Stoppard as Dan Dare.

Previously published by Titan Books in smaller volumes way back in 2004, Titan Comics has collected the strips again for this bumper edition but using new scans. The book includes an interview with Frank Hampson and other feature material from the original editions, offering background on the character and the making of the strip by Hampson and his team.

News of this release comes hot on the heels of the recent publication of The Earth Stealers, featuring the stories “The Earth Stealers” and “Platinum Planet”, in which Dan Dare and Digby awaken from deep-space hibernation after an unknown number of years to find themselves lost and adrift in an unknown region and orbiting a mysterious planet…

Titan Comics has also revealed plans to continue its collections of classic Dan Dare with “Operation Earthsaver” and other strips, originally published in black and white in Eagle in the 1960s.

This is exciting news for fans of the original character as these have never been previously collected. The strips were written by David Motton (interviewed here on downthetubes) and drawn by Keith Watson.

• Dan Dare: The Venus Campaign is due for release on 14th November 2018 – buy it here from amazon.co/uk

• Buy The Earth Stealers now from amazon.co.uk

• More about Dan Dare and his many incarnations across the decade here on downthetubes

• A complete checklist of Dan Dare collections from Titan Books, Titan Comics and 2000AD

• Read our checklist of Dan Dare comic stories published to date, compiled by John Freeman, Jeremy Briggs, Richard Sheaf and Steve Winders (Google Doc, further information always welcome)

• Dan Dare books and related items on sale now on amazon.co.uk (using this link helps support downthetubes)

[amazon_link asins=’B07D333W5N,178586291X,1785862898,0857332864,1785861476,1785759868,1781084602,1781083495′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’downthetubes’ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’cd0b78ac-696e-11e8-aafa-c5274bb96147′]

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.