Home › Comics › British Comics › By Gum! It’s Dan Dare (and Flamer Spry) at Woking’s Lightbox

By Gum! It’s Dan Dare (and Flamer Spry) at Woking’s Lightbox

By John Freeman on October 3, 2016 • ( 1 )

As part of The Story of British Comics So Far exhibition at The Lightbox in Woking, Surrey, Peter Hampson, son of Dan Dare co-creator Frank Hampson, will be talking with Paul Gravett on Saturday 8th October 2016, straight after a day-long “Comiket” event produced in association with Comica.London.

“I’ll be in conversation with Paul Gravett in an event entitled By Gum – Dan Dare,” Peter tells us. “This is a fundraising event and all the proceeds will be for the benefit of the gallery.”

The event follows the daytime independent comics market ‘Comiket’, and offers the chance to celebrate the visionary genius of Frank Hampson, creator of Eagle’s ‘Pilot of the Future’ Dan Dare, with his son Peter Hampson, the inspiration for the character Flamer Spry. Secrets of Frank Hampson’s life and work will be revealed, from his intensive studio process using costumes and props to his later struggles and international acclaim.

Dan Dare Audio Adventures – Marooned on Mercury Poster by Brian Williamson

The talk comes at an exciting time for Dan Dare, with new audio adventures produced by B7 Media inspired by the character set to debut from Big Finish in December.

What are your favourite comics? Do you know how they are made? And where they came from? In “The Story of British Comics So Far” interactive exhibition, join The Lightbox’s comic characters on an interactive journey through the past, present and future of this ever-changing medium of sequential art. Travel back to 3,000 year-old hieroglyphics, Britain’s pioneer William Hogarth and our first comic magazine in 1825. Enjoy The Beano, Eagle and 2000AD and explore today’s manga, graphic novels and digital comics. Step inside artists’ studios, marvel at their original artwork and have a bash at making comics yourself. Something for Menaces and Minxes of all ages!

• ‘The Story of British Comics So Far’ will be open from 5.00pm – 6.00pm after the ‘Comica Comiket: Independent Comics Market’ finishes at 5.00pm. The talk will run from 6.00pm – approximately 7.00pm.Tickets for By Gum – Dan Dare cost £12 (including one free glass of wine or juice). Advanced booking required

• The Story of British Comics So Far runs until 31st December 2016 | £5 Annual Pass | Under 18s Free

• Read our review of The Story of British Comics So Far

About the Author
Latest Posts

John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as 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.