The first issue of the Dan Dare-inspired title Spaceship Away for 2019 – Issue 47 – is available now, featuring front and back covers, and a centre spread, by veteran artist Don Harley. Don of course worked on the original… Read More ›
Dan Dare
2000AD’s “Lost” Dan Dare Finale by Gavin Aslett Revisited – in colour!
Back in 2014, after Rebellion, the publishers of 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine first announced collections of the “Dan Dare” stories published in early editions of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, we featured an item on artist and photographer Gavin Aslett‘s continuation of the story –… Read More ›
Compalcomics offers first issue Beano, Black Panther art and more in March auction
Compalcomics has launched its March auction catalogue of British and US comics, and a huge amount of great comic art, including Black Panther art for Marvel UK, Thunderbirds and Garth art by Frank Bellamy and some other rarities from the Bob… Read More ›
ComicScene Magazine Issue One out next month, pilot in stores now
ComicScene Magazine – British comic fans’ dedicated monthly magazine available through WHSmith, McColls and Eason (Ireland) stores. has a pilot issue in stores now and the magazine goes monthly with Issue One from 21st February 2019. As the comic convention… Read More ›
In Pictures: Frank Hampson Centenary Exhibition at Bourne Hall
For anyone who’s not managed to make it to Southport’s The Atkinson gallery for their superb Frank Hampson – The Man Who Drew Dan Dare exhibition, then you might try and make it to Bourne Hall in Epsom, Surrey, instead. Their… Read More ›
“Dan Dare” art and more in Chris Beetles Gallery 2019 Sale
A number of original Eagle comic “Dan Dare” artworks by Frank Hampson and the art team who worked on the earliest incarnation of the strip are currently being offered by the London-base Chris Beetles Gallery, as part of its “2019 Sale” of cartoons and illustrations.
Do comics still inspire future scientists and engineers?
Here’s a curiosity from the days of the original Eagle, comic, released around 1959 – an Eagle Presents British European Airways supplement given away with the title, which prompted me to wonder if the comics of today still inspire readers… Read More ›
Dan Dare Abroad: The Story of “Dan Dair” in France
downthetubes contributor Richard Sheaf has written features on Eagle‘s Dan Dare excursions beyond the UK, which include appearances in an Australian version of Eagle, as “Daan Durf” in the Netherlands, an all-new take on the character in Spain, Diego Valor,… Read More ›
Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson centenary exhibition opens in Ewell, Surrey
One hundred years after his birth, another exhibition commemorating Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson‘s work has just opened at Bourne Hall Museum in Ewell, Surrey. The museum just a hop and a skip from Bayford Lodge, Epsom, where he lived… Read More ›
Spaceship Away Issue 46 out now – and the Mekon is back in action
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… Read More ›
Revealed – The Dan Dare Radio Luxembourg Comic Strips by Philip Harbottle
Regular readers of downthetubes will know we recently presented a rare “Lost Episode” from Radio Luxembourg‘s 1950s serial The Adventures of Dan Dare, with the permission of the Dan Dare Corporation. Its presentation, along with the previous discovery of other episodes, prompted… Read More ›
In Pictures: The Frank Hampson – The Man Who Drew Dan Dare Exhibition
An exhibition of art by Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson at The Atkinson, in Southport, Lancashire – where both the character and Eagle comic were “born” in the 1950s – is on now until March, and it’s well worth a visit. The exhibition covers all aspects of… Read More ›
Exclusive: Missing episode from 1950s Dan Dare radio show uncovered!
Following up on the addition of a new “guide page” to The Adventures of Dan Dare radio show, which aired on Radio Luxembourg in the 1950s, downthetubes is pleased to present one of the much-sought after episodes, reproduced with kind permission of the… Read More ›
When Dan Dare went Pop: Loose Talk’s first single from 1982
Back in the 1980s, pop-rock group Loose Talk produced a song based on Eagle‘s Dan Dare (in his 1982 re-launch incarnation, not the 1950s original). But there’s a tip of the hat to another SF saga too, in the promotional… Read More ›
Frank Hampson Centenary Exhibition opens at The Atkinson, Southport – Launch Report
David Britton of the Eagle Society reports on new exhibition of Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson’s work at The Atkinson, Southport… A reception was held on Thursday evening 20th September at The Atkinson in Southport, to launch three new exhibitions… Read More ›
New Frank Hampson exhibition opens in Southport, launch event next week
Following up on our earlier post, an exhibition of art by Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson has just opened at The Atkinson, in Southport, Lancashire – where both the character and Eagle comic were “born” in the 1950s – and… Read More ›
That Day Dan Dare met wrestler “Big Daddy”: the new Eagle launch, 1982
From the launch of new Eagle in March 1982, here’s a great press photo of Dan Dare, played by artists’ agent Tony Kelleher from the Temple Art Agency, wrestler Big Daddy and the Mekon. Shirley Crabtree Jr., who died in… Read More ›
Piloting the Dan Dare Audio Adventures – Casting Dan, his Crew, and the Mekon, too!
Andrew Mark Sewell, Managing Director at B7 Media, reveals the background to production of the award-winning Dan Dare Audio Adventures, now airing on BBC Radio 4 Extra… “Each comic book panel was so vivid and rich in imagination, it has… Read More ›
The Impossible Space Helmet: Why Frank Hampson’s “Dan Dare” drives engineers crazy, but delights us still
Commando artist Keith Page follows up his profile of French artist Hugo Pratt with a look at the work of “Dan Dare” creator Frank Hampson… Anyone can see that Dan Dare’s space helmet just wouldn’t work. How could you possibly… Read More ›
Dan Dare – The Audio Adventures rocket to BBC Radio 4 Extra
Dan Dare is returning to BBC radio, with broadcasts of the first three audio adventures from B7 Media on BBC Radio 4 Extra next month. The first three episodes (Volume One) of the Dan Dare – The Audio Adventures starring… Read More ›