Back in my days as editor of Doctor Who Magazine, one of the first comic strips I edited for the title was “Stairway to Heaven”, a story that is much noted for being the first published professional work of a… Read More ›
Dan Dare
Creator Spotlight: Gerry Embleton
I had a quick phone call with ace artist John Ridgway today, discussing colouring comics, Commando and one of our favourite topics, favourite comic creators, which today included the great pulp magazine artist Alden MacWiliams (whose credits included Twin Earths,… Read More ›
Looking back on 2013: A Good Year for British Comics?
Here at downthetubes.net we think it’s been a great year that’s included the 100th issue of The Phoenix and has been named one of the top comics of 2013 by TIME Magazine, and we’ve been able to enjoy a growing… Read More ›
Dan Dare Re-Visited: creators re-imagine Britain’s favourite space hero
How would Eagle‘s Dan Dare‘s universe look if the series was re-launched today? Taking inspiration from the wonderful Project Rooftop, which often challenges artists to re-design well-known US superheroes, and the success of our “Twelfth Doctor Challenge” (unaware at the… Read More ›
Dan Dare Reboot Competition: Mo Ali
Artist and writer Mo Ali has sent us his entry for our Dan Dare Reboot Competition – and we’ve got some great entries waiting in the wings, which will be posted after the closing date, now extended to 2nd December… Read More ›
Eagle Force Mystery Solved And A Lost Eagle Rediscovered
An Eagle and Dan Dare mystery solved
Britain’s first science fiction weekly, Captain Scarlet art under the hammer
The Winter 2013 auction at Compalcomics is open, with 290 lots in the auction including 115 British comic-related items – among them, a further 64 issues of Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday from the 1890s and the complete 20 issue run… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Eagle editor Bob Bartholomew
Bob Bartholomew, who died on 9th October at the age of ninety, became editor of Eagle in late 1962 and remained in charge until its demise in April 1969. He took over at a time of crisis, following Eagle’s dramatic… Read More ›
Dan Dare Reboot Competition: Jonathan Wyke
Here’s Cornwall-based Jonathan Wyke‘s entry for our Dan Dare Reboot Challenge, which ends on 21st November 2013. “I know that you seem to be looking at something that looks more contemporary, but I didn’t really want to draw that,”… Read More ›
Dan Dare Reboot Competition: Hal Laren
We’re starting to receive entries for our Dan Dare Reboot Competition, with this from Hal Laren – best known to comics fans for his amazing strips published under his Reaper Comics imprint. Hal is a 2D & 3D graphic designer,… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Eagle editor Bob Bartholomew
Steve Holland has reported on the passing of Bob Bartholomew, best known to the comics’ world as the editor of Eagle and Boys’ World in the 1960s, who died on Wednesday, 9th October, at the age of 90. “Bob had… Read More ›
Dan Dare Reboot Competition Entry: Keith Page
Here’s the first entry in our Dan Dare Reboot Competition by Commando and Charlotte Corday artist Keith Page. Keith is currently working on a special World War One series for Commando, and is working on a new script from Stephen… Read More ›
Dundee Comics Day Creator guests – details released
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 ›
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 ›