Dare the Impossible was a fifteen issue series published by Fleetway/Quality in 1991, reprinting the Dan Dare stories from 2000AD progs 52-126, along with strips including “Medivac 318” by Hilary Robinson and Nigel Dobbyn – which rarely sees reprint. Find out why…
It’s not, perhaps, one of the best known collections of Dan Dare stories, so artist Ken Barr’s many covers – along with others by 2000AD‘s Henry Flint and Star Wars artist Dave Dorman – have perhaps been overlooked.
The 2000AD “Dan Dare” has been collected across two volumes by Rebellion: Dan Dare: The 2000AD Years – Volume 1 (reviewed here on downthetubes) and Dan Dare: The 2000AD Years – Volume 2 (reviewed here).
“Medivac 318”, included as a supporting strip in the series, a series about an ambulance crew in a space war, was created by Northern Irish writer Hilary Robinson with art by the late Nigel Dobbyn.
Interviewed by David Bishop for his book, Thrill Powered Overload, Robinson, who started working for 2000AD writing “Tharg’s Future Shocks”, told him she had no burning desire to write comics. “I had been writing science-fiction and fantasy short stories,” she said. “A young artist called John McCrea wanted to break into 2000AD. He asked if I would write him a story he could draw and submit.” When that was accepted, Robinson, very familiar with The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, decided to see if there were more opportunities at the comic. After writing “Future Shocks”, she eventually pitched the deep-space medical drama series that became “Medivac 318”, which made its debut in Prog 619 in 1989. But parts of the strip and its main characters had already been published elsewhere. “They all pre-dated my entry into 2000AD,” she toild David, “which is why I have fought to keep my copyright on them.” She turned one of her short stories into a script for the first episode and it was accepted, with Nigel Dobbyn chosen as artist.
But controversy, relating to copyright, surrounds the series. An article here on the Irish Comics Wiki records Hilary’s relationship with 2000AD broke down when Hilary was told “Medivac 318” was being assigned to another writer. Since she’d never signed over her copyright in the characters, after an exchange of solicitors’ letters the publisher acknowledged that she owned the copyright in “Medivac 318” and her other series for 2000AD, “Zippy Couriers” and “Chronos Carnival”.
A third series of “Chronos Carnival”, for which scripts and art had been completed, was shelved, and 2000AD never published another story by her.
However, “Medivac 318” was reprinted in the final four issues of Hachette’s 2000AD Ultimate Collection, so, presumably, relations have improved?
“The Angry Planet”, written by Alan Hebden with art by Massimo Belardinelli, featured in later issues of Dare the Impossible, but its run was curtailed. It has been collected by Hibernia Comics, but copies of their limited edition have now sold out.
Here’s a quick guide to Dare The Impossible…
Dare The Impossible #1
Cover dated November 1991
Cover: Dave Dorman and Lurene Haines
Collecting: “Dan Dare – Doppelganger” from 2000AD progs 52-55 by Chris Lowder (writer) and Dave Gibbons (artist); and “Medivac 318” (parts 1-2 2000AD progs 619-620 by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Nigel Dobbyn (artist)
American Star Wars artist Dave Dorman is today best known for his photo-realistic oil paintings, created dynamic covers for the early issues of this reprint series Dare the Impossible, working with Canadian artist Lurene Haines, 19th December 1958 – 2nd May 2015) who worked for several US publishers, including DC and Marvel, going on to become an accomplished mural artist.
Dare The Impossible #2
Cover dated December 1991
Cover: Dave Dorman and Lurene Haines
Collecting: “Dan Dare – Waterworld” from 2000AD progs 56-59 by Chris Lowder (writer) and Dave Gibbons (artist); and “Medivac 318” (parts 3-4 2000AD progs 621-622 by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Nigel Dobbyn (artist)
Dare The Impossible #3
Published: January 1992
Cover: Dave Dorman and Lurene Haines
Collecting: “Dan Dare – Waterworld” from 2000AD prog 60 by Chris Lowder (writer) and Dave Gibbons (artist); ; “Dan Dare – Nightmare Planet” from 2000AD progs 61-63 by Chris Lowder (writer) and Brian Lewis (artist); “Medivac 318” (parts 5-6 2000AD progs 623-624 by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Nigel Dobbyn (artist); and “Tharg’s Future Shocks – A Step Further” (2000AD prog 663 by Ian Rimmer (writer) and Art Wetherell (artist)
Dare The Impossible #4
Published: February 1992
Cover: Rich Larson
Collecting: “Dan Dare – Ice World” from 2000AD progs 64-66 by Chris Lowder (writer) and Dave Gibbons (artist); “Dan Dare – Garden of Eden” from 2000AD progs 67-68 by Chris Lowder (writer) and Brian Lewis (artist); and “Medivac 318” (parts 7-8 2000AD progs 635-636 by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Nigel Dobbyn (artist)
American artist Rich Larson (aka Richard Larson) has been working in comics since the 1970s, on titles as diverse as the adult title, Omaha the Cat Dancer, Vampirella, various Charlton Comics horror titles (including All New Ghostly Haunts, The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves, All New Scary Tales and more) and adaptations of Douglas Adams’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books. He created covers for a large number of Quality titles reprinting 2000AD material, including Scavengers, Time Killers, Time Twisters, Judge Dredd, 2000AD Showcase and more, as well as an illustrated text story for Judge Dredd Megazine No. 334.
As noted here on Who’s Out There, he also created his own series, Demon Baby. He often works in tandem with other artists, most notably with Tim Boxell and with painter Steve Fastner.
Dare The Impossible #5
Published: March 1982
Cover: Rich Larson
Collecting: “Dan Dare – Garden of Eden” from 2000AD progs 69-72 by Chris Lowder (writer) and Dave Gibbons (artist); “Dan Dare – Mutiny” from 2000AD prog 73 by Chris Lowder (writer) and Brian Lewis (artist); and “Medivac 318” (parts 9-10 2000AD progs 637-638 by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Nigel Dobbyn (artist)
The original cover art by Rich Larson was sold at auction in 2018. Mixed media on illustration board, with an image area of 11″ x 16″.
Dare The Impossible #6
Published: April 1992
Cover: Flint Henry
Collecting: “Dan Dare – Mutiny” from 2000AD progs 74 – 77 by Chris Lowder (writer) and Dave Gibbons (artist); and “Medivac 318” (parts 5-6 2000AD progs 639-640 by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Nigel Dobbyn (artist)
Not to be confused with Henry Flint, Flint Henry‘s credits include other covers for the Quality 2000AD reprints such as Nemesis the Warlock, and art duties on US titles such as Grimjack, Detective Comics, Man-Bat and Starslayer. He’s also known for his work with writer Timothy Truman on the post-apocalyptic series Scout, published by Eclipse Comics in the late 1980s.
Flint Henry’s art for this cover was sold at auction through Heritage Auctions in 2022. Created in ink over blue pencil on Bristol board with an image area of 10″ x 15″.
Dare The Impossible #7
Published: May 1992
Cover: Flint Henry
Collecting: “Dan Dare – The Doomsday Machine” from 2000AD prog 78 by Chris Lowder (writer) and Dave Gibbons (artist); “Dan Dare – The Doomsday Machine” from progs 79-80 by Roy Preston (writer) and Trevor Goring and Garry Leach (artists); “Medivac 318: Arcturus from 2000AD progs 683-684 by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Nigel Dobbyn (artist); “Tharg’s Future Shocks – Nothing on Earth” (2000AD prog 78) by Chris Lowder (writer) and Pierre Frisano (artist); and “Tharg’s Future Shocks – Birthday Greetings” (2000AD prog 645) by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Massimo Belardinelli (artist)
2000AD artist Henry Flint’s art for this cover, which sees Dan facing down a group of troglodytes, was sold at auction through Heritage Auctions in 2022. Created in ink over blue pencil on Bristol board with an image area of 10″ x 15″.
Dare The Impossible #8
Published: June 1992
Cover: Ken Barr
Collecting: “Dan Dare – The Doomsday Machine” from 2000AD progs 81-83 by Roy Preston and Nick Landau (writers) and Trevor Goring and Garry Leach (artists); “Medivac 318: Arcturus from 2000AD progs 685-686 by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Nigel Dobbyn (artist); “Tharg’s Future Shocks – Substitute” (2000AD prog 48) by Robert Flynn (writer) and Giorgi (artist)
Kenneth (Ken) Barr died in 2016, shortly after turning 83. He is perhaps best known to downthetubes readers for his Commando covers, but was an innovative artist whose covers for publishers such as Marvel and a wide variety of book publishers are highly regarded, making him one of the most beloved and collected comic artists.
He retired in 1987, returning to his native Scotland from the United States, where he had worked for much of his career as a film poster, comic and book cover artist. You can read a tribute here.
The original art was sold at auction through Heritage Auctions in 2013. Mixed media on illustration board, with an image area of 11″ x 16″.
Ken Barr’s cover art for this issue features in The Beast Within, published by SQ Publications in 2007, and was released as one of Ken Barr: The Beast Within trading cards in 1994.
Dare The Impossible #9
Published: July 1992
Cover: Ken Barr
Collecting: “Dan Dare – The Doomsday Machine” from 2000AD progs 84-85 by Roy Preston and Nick Landau (writers) and Trevor Goring and Garry Leach, and Dave Gibbons (artists); “Medivac 318: Arcturus from 2000AD progs 687-688 by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Nigel Dobbyn (artist); “Tharg’s Future Shocks – The Godfish” (2000AD prog 636) by Mike Collins (writer) and and Chris Weston (artist)
Ken Barr’s cover art for this issue features in The Beast Within, published by SQ Publications in 2007.
The original art was sold at auction through Heritage Auctions in 2022. Mixed media on illustration board, with an image area of 11″ x 16″.
Dare The Impossible #10
Published: August 1982
Cover: Ken Barr
Collecting: “Dan Dare – Servant of Evil” from 2000AD progs 100-102 by Tom Tully (writer) and Dave Gibbons (artist); “Medivac 318: Arcturus from 2000AD progs 689-690 by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Nigel Dobbyn (artist); “Tharg’s Future Shocks – Wrong Number” (2000AD prog 512) by G. Bell (writer) and Kev Hopgood (artist)
Ken Barr’s cover art for this issue features in The Beast Within, published by SQ Publications in 2007, and was released as one of Ken Barr: The Beast Within trading cards in 1994.
Dare The Impossible #11
Published: September 1992
Cover: Ken Barr
Collecting: “Dan Dare – Servant of Evil” from 2000AD progs 103-106 by Tom Tully (writer) and Dave Gibbons (artist); “Medivac 318: Arcturus from 2000AD progs 691-692 by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Nigel Dobbyn (artist)
Ken Barr’s cover art for this issue features in The Beast Within, published by SQ Publications in 2007.
The original art was sold at auction in 2021. Mixed media on illustration board, with an image area of 11″ x 16″.
Dare The Impossible #12
Published: October 1992
Cover: Ken Barr
Collecting: “Dan Dare – Servant of Evil” from 2000AD progs 107 and 109-112 by Tom Tully (writer) and Dave Gibbons (artist); “Medivac 318: Arcturus from 2000AD progs 693-694 by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Nigel Dobbyn (artist)
Dare The Impossible #13
Published: November 1992
Cover: Ken Barr
Collecting: “Dan Dare – Servant of Evil” from 2000AD progs 113-116 by Tom Tully (writer) and Dave Gibbons (artist); “The Angry Planet” from Tornado issues 1-2 by Alan Hebden (writer) and Massimo Belardinelli (artist)
Ken Barr’s original art for the cover of this issue was sold at auction by Hakes in 2022, the auction house noting it measures 15×20″ on Bainbridge Board has extremely detailed mixed media painting original art by Ken Barr (1933-2016), depicting Dan Dare about to be stepped on by giant robot, blasting it with a power glove.
The art for this issue features was released as one of Ken Barr: The Beast Within trading cards in 1994.
Dare The Impossible #14
Published: December 1992
Cover: Ken Barr
Collecting: “Dan Dare – Servant of Evil” from 2000AD progs 117-119 by Tom Tully (writer) and Dave Gibbons (artist); “The Angry Planet” from Tornado issues 3-5 by Alan Hebden (writer) and Massimo Belardinelli (artist); “Tharg’s Future Shocks – Deadline” (2000AD prog 622) by Hilary Robinson (writer) and Ron Smith (artist)
The original art was sold at auction through Heritage Auctions in 2021. Mixed media on illustration board, with an image area of 11″ x 16″.
Dare The Impossible #15
Published: January 1993
Cover: Ken Barr
Collecting: “Dan Dare – Servant of Evil” from 2000AD progs 120-126 by Tom Tully (writer) and Dave Gibbons (artist)
Head downthetubes for…
• Lurene Haines: Obituary | Profile
• Lambiek Profile: Rich Larson
• downthetubes: Ken Barr Profile
• downthetubes: In Memoriam: Ken Barr
• The Beast Within: The Art of Ken Barr (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
• ISFDB: Ken Barr: The Beast Within Trading Card Set Details
• ISFDB: The Beast Within: The Art of Ken Barr
• Comic Vine: Dare the Impossible
• League of Comic Geeks: Dare the Impossible
Dan Dare ©️ Dan Dare Corporation
An early version of this story transposed “Fint Henry” for “Henry Flint”. Aplogies to both artists for the mistake! Thanks to Reuben Willmott for the correction
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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.
Categories: 2000AD, British Comics, British Comics - Collections, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, Features
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