The 2018 autumn issue of Spaceship Away (Issue 46) is available now and sees the Mekon return in Tim Booth‘s continuing Dan Dare adventure, “Shakedown Cruise“.
Other strips in the magazine include a continuation of “Operation Pintos“, with part five of the story, and John Russell Fearn‘s “The Golden Amazon” saga, coloured by Martin Baines.
This issue also includes an article by veteran comic creator, Sydney Jordan (the creator of Jeff Hawke) and Chris Tubb, about the short-lived Planet on Sunday newspaper’s “Dan Dare” strip.
downthetubes contributor Jeremy Briggs also has a feature in the issue – “Trains, Planes and Rocketships”, highlighting the career of artist, Ron Jobson, the British illustrator best known for his beautiful science fiction paintings in the three 1950s Space Kingley books which were featured in Issue 45.
In his article, Jeremy reveals Jobson’s first published work was also science fiction, a competition winning entry in Modern Wonder issue 35 dated 15th January 1938. It’s reprinted in Spaceship Away presumably for the first time since 1938 given that no other article on him as ever mentioned it, but Ron confirmed it was indeed his work when he spoke with Jeremy some years back.
Ray Wright also brings readers up-to-date with the latest news in the world of space, with four pages of Space News.
The centrespread features Graham Bleathman‘s cutaway of Spacefleet’s XC-9 Deep Space Cruiser, coloured by Martin Baines and “Frontiers of Space” takes readers back to the 1950s with visions of how it was planned to set up a permanent Moon Base.
The issue concludes with two humour strips, a newly-commissioned cartoon “Will the Real Dan Dare…” by prize-winning cartoonist Steve English and the next episode of “Earthward Bound”.
• Spaceship Away is available to buy on subscription at spaceshipaway.org.uk
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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.
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