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Artist Frank Bellamy the focus of the latest “Eagle Times” (Volume 27, Number Three)

By John Freeman on October 29, 2014

After a month’s delay, the latest Eagle Times is out now from the Eagle Society, with several features focusing on the work of one of Britain’s finest comic artists and illustrators, Frank Bellamy, whose amazing and much-admired work included “Dan Dare”, “Heros the Spartan” (profiled in the issue) and “Fraser of Africa” for the Eagle, and “Thunderbirds” for TV Century 21.

Here’s a rundown of the contents:

Frank Bellamy – Trademarks and Techniques – on the development of the skills of one of Britain’s greatest illustrators and comic strip artists
The Two artists of “Jack o’Lantern” – comparing Robert Ayton, the artist who drew the majority of the “Jack o’Lantern” strip, and Cecil Doughty, the artist who replaced him for the last 30 or so episodes
In and Out of the Eagle – another couple of doses of the series presenting collections of Eagle-related snippets
“PC49 and the Case of the Rajah’s Ruby” – a text story adaptation from one of Alan Stranks’ original BBC radio plays telling the adventures of an East End “copper”.
Comics Unmasked – a review of the exhibition, subtitled ‘Art and Anarchy in the UK’, which was held at the British Library from 2nd May – 19th August 2014
Bellamy at home – some rare pictures of Frank Bellamy, donated to the Eagle Society by Frank’s widow, Nancy Bellamy, some years ago and published in Eagle Times for the first time
A Table of Cutaways – a member ranks and discusses his favourite centrespreads from Eagle
More Art of Tacconi – as an addendum to the recent series on the artist Fernando Tacconi, some more examples are shown from his prolific output for comics and magazines
Remembering “Mission of the Earthmen” – a re-look at the “Dan Dare’ story from Eagle in the early 1960s, drawn by Don Harley and Bruce Cornwell
Colin Pillinger – farewell to a starman – the life of the Cambridge planetary science professor, best known for Britain’s Beagle 2 Mars mission, as reported by the local press, and recollections by a member of the Eagle Society of the professor’s talk to the Eagle Society at Manchester in 2004
Frank Bellamy’s “Heros the Spartan” – a review of the recently published book, which reprints all Bellamy’s “Heros the Spartan” strips from Eagle
Eric Bemrose, Sun Printers and Eagle – on the part apparently played by Sun Printers (Watford) in the early days of Eagle, before the Bemrose photogravure presses were ready to take on production
Eaglewall kits in Eagle – downthetubes stalwart Jeremy Briggs on the advertising carried by Eagle for the aircraft and naval plastic construction kits produced by Eaglewall Plastics Limited in the late 1950s – early 1960s, including their appearance in ‘Eagle Window’. This is a follow-up to an earlier Eagle Times book review by Jeremy that also appeared on Steve Holland’s ace “Bear Alley” site
Rivals of “Jeff Arnold”: No. 14 – “The Cisco Kid” – recalls the origin of “The Cisco Kid” in a story by O. Henry, through movies, a 1950s TV series (the first filmed in colour) and into comics

• Membership of The Eagle Society is via Annual Subscription to Eagle Times magazine, which is published four times annually. The Subscription rate for 2014 is: UK £27, Overseas £38 (payments in £s Sterling, please). Postal applications to: Keith Howard, 25A Station Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 2UA. If you wish to pay by Paypal (from your Paypal account to the eagle-times hotmail address given below) they request an additional payment of £1.50 Enquiries: eagle-times@hotmail.com Web: http://eagle-times.blogspot.co.uk/

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.