The long-running Mega City Book Club podcast, primarily devoted to the collected editions of 2000AD stories, celebrates its milestone one hundredth episode with a look back at the Dragon’s Dream collection of Dan Dare: The Man from Nowhere, published back in 1979.
Host Eamonn Clarke is joined by his guest from the Mega City Book Club’s very first episode, Simon Belmont, to discuss this classic adventure of Dan Dare, in a prestige edition that included an introduction from Kit Pedler, the co-creator of the Cybermen in Doctor Who.
In the story, a mysterious spaceship appears near Earth, apparently from nowhere, and astonished boffins conclude that it must have broken the light barrier even as it splashes down in the Pacific! As Colonel Dare, ‘Flamer’ Spry, Digby and undersea ace Lex O’Malley search for the ship underwater, an escape pod launches, crashing in Brazil and its occupant has a desperate plea for help — in English!
Colonel Dare and his crew prepare to journey to a strange new world — faster than the speed of light!
Written by Alan Stranks, his first regular Dan Dare story for Eagle, “The Man from Nowhere” begins a trilogy of stories that saw the creative team behind the original Dan Dare, led by Frank Hampson, at their height.
Published in 1979, The Man From Nowhere was the first landmark collection of Dan Dare from Dragon’s Dream, and Frank Hampson and Don Harley returned to the character, redrawing the first frame of each episode, Hampson pencilling the illustrations and Harley colouring and inking the rest.
The story has also been collected by Hawk Books and Titan Books, but for me, buying that collection back in 1979, I can recall being blown away by the Incredible art and scope of the story, just as, I’m sure, were readers of the strip when it was first published, who had to wait, on tenterhooks, to see how the story would play out over weeks in their favourite comic.
“Huge thanks to all my guests and contributors so far and please stay tuned for the next 100 episodes,” says Eamonn.
• You can listen to the Mega City Book Club Podcast Episode 100 here | You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Podcast’s Facebook page, and follow the podcast on Twitter @MCBCpodcast, and on Instagram @mega_city_book_club, or email Eamonn comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
• Dan Dare books on Amazon UK (Affiliate Link)
- About the Author
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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: Audio, British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds
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