Eagle in Portugal

By John Freeman on November 27, 2008

… well, sort of. Thanks to a friend on a message board, we’ve come across information on this Portuguese comic, Foguetao, published in 1961, which includes strips from Eagle such as Dan Dare.

The Portuguese web site notes the title, which means “Rocket Ship” in English, was published in 1961 and ran for just 13 issues.

Contents of the first issue included Capitão Marte (Dan Dare), Asterix, Tin Tin, Sexton Blake and Blake and Mortimer — a heady mix of internationally produced comics.

The DanDare.info site has already ocated this site, and notes the first appearance of Dan in Portugal was on 6th April 1955 in issue No. 25 of a 28 page comic called Titã (Click here for more info about Dare in Portugal).

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.