The team behind the Dan Dare and Eagle-inspired comics anthology Spaceship Away are celebrating this month, as the long-running title clocks up its sixtieth issue – and on fine form.
First announced at an Eagle Society Annual Dinner back in 1992 by its original editor, Rod Barzilay, Spaceship Away has delivered a wide range of SF comic strips for the past 20 years, back issues still available from the magazine’s official web site.
The current issue continues the Dan Dare adventure “The Corium Experiment”, with Digby in unexpected danger at Spacefleet headquarters, a tale originally published as “Digby the Guinea Pig” in the Dan Dare Spacebook in 1953, in black and white, the first page drawn by Frank Hampson, the rest by Desmond Walduck.
We’re also treated to more Jeff Hawke by Sydney Jordan in “The Comet’s Tale”; for fans of artist John M. Burns, the second and final part of a Dan Dare story written by David Motton, presented as a centre spread; and the conclusion of “Target Earth” by Gordon Coombs, with art by Harry Winslade, first published in Express Weekly, and the story “Invaders from Time“, written by Philip Harbottle, with art by Ron Turner, coloured by Martin Baines.
it will be interesting to see what vintage material editor Des Shaw includes next issue to replace the latter adventures.
Alongside the strips this issue, which also include another episode of the humour strip, “Earthward Bound”, we’re also treated to an interview by Jeremy Briggs with comics writer Garth Ennis, focusing on his work on Virgin Comics Dan Dare mini-series, drawn by Gary Erskine, revealing some intriguing background into the creation of the adventure, and Garth’s first encounters with Frank Hampson’s space hero.
Andrew Darlington also brings us a fascinating feature on “The Silent Three”, the famous girls adventure story published in School Friend. An unusual item, perhaps, for the SF-focused magazine, but it’s presented in the context of its success driving sales of the 1950s comic, and how it led to a change of format and content for Eagle’s sister paper, Girl, which warrants study.
Finally, in addition to the latest “Space Review“, researched and written by Ray Wright, Spaceship Away founder Rod Barzilay brings us his recollections of the early days of the magazine, revealing its origins.
Our congratulations to the team on reaching this milestone issue. We look forward to seeing what the future brings.
• Order Spaceship Away on subscription – and back issues, too – from the magazine’s web site here
WEB LINKS
• John M Burns Art Facebook Group
• Jeff Hawke – www.jeffhawke.com
• Bear Alley – Steve Holland’s profile of artist Harry Winslade
A fantastic piece of detective work about the comic creator from Steve Holland, whose credits also included illustrations for the Eagle, “The Brainy B’s” for Zip and the “Battle Brothers” for Express Weekly, as well as working on various boys and girls titles for DC Thomson
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, Science Fiction
The countdown to Portsmouth Comic Con 2024 is on 
Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Doctor Who Magazine, launches children’s Doctor Who Monster Competition 
Doctor Who Panel to Panel podcast celebrates 600 issues of Doctor Who Magazine 
Renewed appeal for Look-In “The Tomorrow People” art