
The latest issue of Spaceship Away – Issue 52 – is on sale now, featuring a Christmas-themed Dan Dare cover illustration and centrespread by Ian Kennedy.
Inside, there’s the usual mix of strips, including the continuation of the all-new “classic” Dan Dare story “Voyage of the Ankum” by John Bailey, drawn by William Naylor and coloured by Martin Baines, with events taking a potentially sinister turn this episode.
The representation of the Jeff Hawke story “Selena”, also continues, drawn by Sydney Jordan, originally published in the Daily Express in black and white, but published in colour in Spaceship Away; and we’re also treated to the third part of “Target – Earth” by John Richards, drawn by Harry Winslade.
Dan Dare Jeff Hawke Target – Earth Ian Kennedy Poster
As usual the magazine, edited by Des Shaw, also carries a number of features. Jeremy Briggs offers a detailed guide to a perhaps little-known adjunct to Dan Dare continuity, the variously-titled “Sammy” strip from Swift. Aimed at younger readers – both boys and girls – artists Bruce Cornwell and Desmond Walduck employed designs for Eagle’s “Dan Dare” strip in the art for this strip, published regularly between 1957 and 1959, with later Annual appearances, too.
Meanwhile, Andrew Darlington explores the very different Britain of April 1950, the month Eagle was launched, offering a guide to what else was on sale and contemporary events, putting the launch of the groundbreaking comic into interesting context.
It’s another entertaining issue, with “Space News” too, that points to renewed interest in the possibility of living in the clouds of Venus.
• Order Spaceship Away on subscription – and back issues, too – from the magazine’s web site here
• Limited copies of Spaceship Away 52 are also available from eBay here price £8.95
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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, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Magazines