The Eagle Society published the final issue of its quarterly zine dedicated to EAGLE, Eagle Times Volume 37 No. 4, just before Christmas and, as ever, it proved quite a festive treat.
Inside, the editorial team revisited Southport gallery The Atkinson’s work to keep kids entertained with Dan Dare and the Mekon during the COVID pandemic, reproducing a guide to making character masks published on the venue’s website during lockdown. Longtime readers of downthetubes will know The Atkinson has a long association with Dan Dare, hosting a permanent exhibition to local artist and writer Frank Hampson, who created him.
Also in the issue, we’re treated to a definitive guide to the long running text adventures, “The Three J’s” by Jim Duckett, the creation of author and TV script writer Peter Ling (whose many credits include the Doctor Who story, The Mind Robber, scripts for the soap opera Compact and Crossroads, as well as scripts for various elements of Eagle’s sister paper GIRL,with his wife, Sheilah Ward. It’s a welcome item, although the story guide could perhaps, have benefited from brief story synopses and a two-column layout.
Steve Winders wraps his guide to the real life adventure strip, “Lincoln of America”, written by Geoffrey Bond, with art by Norman Williams, and provides a brief guide to Plymouth, ahead of the Society’s gathering there next year, joined by artist Keith Page, to mark Eagle comic’s 75th anniversary. (As we previously reported, this event is open only to Society members, and you need to join soon to be in with the opportunity to take part). Steve’s latest text adventure, “The Big Bang Theory”, a detective story starring Archie Berkeley-Willoughby of Scotland Yard, concludes this issue.
Nestling alongside other Eagle-related features, including an as usual fascinating “Collector’s Corner” from Derek Wilson, David Britton also charts the life of American artist Ramona Fradon, who passed earlier this year, aged 97. She’s probably best known for her work illustrating Aquaman, as one of artists who drew the internationally syndicated newspaper Brenda Starr, Reporter, and co-creating the DC Comics superhero, Metamorpho, with Bob Haney.
• 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
If you wish to pay by Paypal (from your Paypal account to the e-mail address above) – The Society request that you make your payment as a GIFT)
• The EAGLE Society is online at eagle-times.blogspot.com
Further Reading
• downthetubes: The EAGLE Society prepares to celebrate Eagle’s 75th anniversary in 2025
• Raiding the Past and Future: a downthetubes Interview with artist Keith Page
• Check out Keith Page’s blog here
• The Atkinson Gallery, Southport
- About the Author
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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.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Magazines, Other Worlds
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