“Danger Unlimited” stalks Eagle Times!

By John Freeman on October 26, 2024

The latest issue of the long-running Eagle Times is available now on subscription from The Eagle Society, offering another enjoyable mix of features on the original Eagle comic, and more.

This issue has a decided American influence, not only launching a new series on the Eagle strip, “Jeff Arnold”, written by David Britton, taking a look at the real (and sometimes darker) real history that formed the basis for the strip, drawn by Jack Daniel; while Steve Winders, this issue’s major contributor, delivers a fascinating guide to the back page strip, “Lincoln of America”, written by Geoffrey Bond, drawn by Norman Williams, again noting how the strip diverges at times from the “real” story of the famous American president. (Given that, as notes there are many thousands of articles and books about Lincoln, “truth” can sometimes be hard to confirm).

We’re also treated to a tribute to acclaimed American artist and colourist Marie Severin, one of David Britton’s features spotlighting female comic creators of the 1950s.

Pride of place this issue, however, has to go to Steve’s feature on the fairly short-lived Eagle strip “Danger Unlimited”, a series centred on two derringer-do contemporary investigators, ex Royal Marine Commandos “Tiger” Steele and Midge Kelly, their stories sadly cut short by new management of the weekly adventure comic. Their cost cutting measures may have succeeded in reducing overheads, but readers deserted the title in droves back in 1962, a lesson many publishers since have failed to heed.

The story was written under the alias of “Steve Alen” by TV writer Leonard Fincham, who, among other things, also wrote an episode of TV’s The Avengers, a story Steve notes bears an uncanny resemblance to “Danger Unlimited”. It was drawn by “Luck of the Legion” artist Martin Aitchison (21st November 1919 – 22nd October 2016) who worked for the Eagle comic from 1952 to 1963, moving on to become an illustrator for Ladybird Books.

Art from "Danger Unlimited" by Martin Aitchison — *Art from “Danger Unlimited” by Martin Aitchison*

Longtime Eagle Times readers will also recognise him as the artist on “Justin Tyme – ye Hapless Highwayman“, written by Geoffrey Bond, and later his son Jim, which was published in the fanzine from 1998 to 2004.

Steve offers an enjoyable review of the strip that prompted Eagle Times editor Darren Evans to pull out his copies an reread the tale, and charts Fincham’s work on TV and in print, some still, it appears, a mystery, the result of the use of as yet unidentified aliases. Steve also touches on the behind the scenes activities of Eagle’s new management, that initiated the slow but inevitable demise of the once proud title, eventually merged with Lion.

Also included is the start of a new “Archie Willougby” adventure from Steve, set in London’s Planetarium, a feature on the HMS Royal Oak tragedy of World War Two by Eric Summers, a new Collectors Corner feature spotlighting Eagle collectables, a tribute to the late Ron French, an Eagle Society member of much standing, and more.

Another darn fine issue, then!

• Membership of The Eagle Society is via Annual Subscription to Eagle Times magazine, which is published four times annually. Please make cheques payable to the ‘Eagle Society’. The current subscription rate (unchanged since 2018) is UK £30, Overseas £40 (all payments required in £s Sterling)

Postal applications to: Eagle Society Membership Secretary, Bob Corn, Mayfield Lodge, Llanbadoc, Usk Monmouthshire NP15 1SY | Web: eagle-times.blogspot.com | Enquiries: membership@eagle-society.org.uk

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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.