A quick reminder that Dundee Comics Day is fast approaching, an event that this year celebrates Starblazers – the creators of Science Fiction Comics. Comics Day 2013 will celebrate Science Fiction comics and will feature creators who have worked in… Read More ›
Dan Dare
Enter our Dan Dare “Reboot” Competition
How would Dan Dare’s universe look if the series was re-launched today? Although it was published in late 1962 the first Dan Dare Space Annual, right, is dated 1963, and we felt it was an opportune event to mark a… Read More ›
Bayford Lodge, once home to Frank Hampson, up for sale
Noted as a property of “special interest”, Bayford Lodge, once the home and studio of Frank Hampson, the co-creator of Eagle comic’s Dan Dare and Ladybird Books artist, is up for sale once again – for just under £1.5 million…. Read More ›
Strontium Dog art, Beano Number One in latest Compal auction
The September 2013 auction at Compalcomics has just opened, offering almost 300 lots of both British and US comics, including Carlos Ezquerra Strontium Dog from his very first appearance in Starlord Issue 1 and a 1930s TV Boardman comic faturing… Read More ›
Spaceship Away’s Tenth Anniversary Issue
Spaceship Away has reached it 30th issue with which it celebrates its 10th anniversary. Originally begun in 2003 as a purely original 1950s version Dan Dare-based magazine it has expanded its interest over the years with comic strip reprints of… Read More ›
In Review: Dan Dare – Spacefleet Operations Manual (John Freeman’s take)
by Rod Barzilay; Illustrated by Graham BleathmanPublisher: HaynesOut: Now The Book: Dan Dare is easily the most famous British comic hero. His adventures appeared in the original Eagle comic during the 1950s and 1960s, but he also featured briefly in… Read More ›
Dan Dare: Six Questions For Writer Rod Barzilay
In the 1990s Rod Barzilay had the idea to bring Eagle comic’s best known character, Dan Dare, back into print, not updated for a Star Wars audience as in 2000AD or as a political commentary as in Revolver, but rather… Read More ›
In Review: Dan Dare – Spacefleet Operations Manual (Steve Winders Take)
by Rod Barzilay. Illustrated by Graham BleathmanPublished by Haynes Publishing at £16.99Hardback 128 pages, with colour on every page Review by Steve Winders The Book: A technical manual devoted to the Space Fleet organization featured in the famous Dan Dare… Read More ›
Dan Dare: Six Questions For Artist Graham Bleathman
For most comics readers Graham Bleathman’s name is synonymous with large detailed cutaway paintings of buildings, vehicles and flying craft both real and fictional. It was not surprising then that he is now the artist behind four of the new… Read More ›
Rare Roy of the Rovers art, Dan Dare toys go under the hammer
Roy Of The Rovers original artwork (1993) drawn and signed by Barrie Mitchell. From the last issue of Roy Of The Rovers Comic Book Postal Auctions Summer 2013 auction has another wide range of British comics lots, from the first… Read More ›
Prisoners of Time: An Interview with artist Gary Erskine
IDW’s yearlong celebration of Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary Prisoners of Time features the work of many British creators, with Phillip Bond providing art on Issue 5, on sale soon. Issue 4, the Fourth Doctor issue, was drawn by Gary Erskine,… Read More ›
Thrill Power, 1957 Style, in the new Eagle Times (Volume 26 Number One)
The new issue of Eagle Times, Volume 26 Number One – the magazine published by the Eagle Society – features an interview article by downthetubes writer Jeremy Briggs entitled “A Thrill Of A Lifetime In 1957“. “The Thrill Of A… Read More ›
Colin Wilson, Frank Bellamy and Dan Dare
Several years ago comic fan Matt Emery, who writes the Pikitia Press blog dedicated to the work of Australian and New Zealand cartoonists, had the opportunity to have a rummage through artist Colin Wilson‘s studio. “Amongst his fine collection… Read More ›
Spaceship Away 28 Available In Time For Christmas
Spaceship Away, the A4, full colour glossy magazine that covers original Dan Dare as well as a selection of other classic strips, has released issue 28 in time for Christmas. Priced at £7.95, including UK postage, the 44 page issue… Read More ›
Keith Watson Dan Dare art up for auction, first Joe 90 and more
Art from Trigan Empire by Don Lawrence, Dan Dare by Keith Watson and Nellyphant by Leo Baxendale are just some of the lots in the current ComPal Auction, which closes soon. Also up for grabs are first issues of titles… Read More ›
Haynes to publish Dan Dare Spacefleet Operations Manual
British publisher Haynes is following up its successful fictional guides to the workings of Thunderbirds and Wallace & Gromit with a Dan Dare Spacefleet Operations Manual, written by Rod Barzilay with illustrations by Graham Bleathman. Set for release next June,… Read More ›
Spaceship Away 27 on sale now
Issue 27 of the Eagle-inspired comic magazine Spaceship Away is available now, this time with a background theme drawing on the Dan Dare story The Red Moon, featuring a number of paintings relating to that story from both Don Harley… Read More ›
Dan Dare Radio Show – Missing Episode surfaces
Back in 2008, I posted a news story here titled “Dan Dare’s Holy Grail“, reporting on the continued hunt for episodes of the Dan Dare radio show broadcast by Radio Luxembourg in the 1950s. Aired on Radio Luxembourg between July… Read More ›
Dan Dare art, Marvel UK collections up for auction
The Summer 2012 auction at Compalcomics is open, with nearly 200 British comic-related lots up for biding, including Dan Dare art by Frank Hampson, a limited edition Dan Dare bust and collections of 1980s Marvel UK titles such as Captain… Read More ›
30 Years of the New Eagle
Thirty years ago last month, a new incarnation of one of Britain’s most famous comics burst on to the news-stands (ok, we’re a bit slow off the mark with this one, but the down the tubes office is a busy… Read More ›