Comic crossovers can be strange, but what about those unexpected ones, when top TV shows suddenly throw in a comics reference?
The BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses most famously homaged comics with an appearance by Del Boy (David Jason) and brother Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) as Batman and Robin in the 1996 Christmas Special, “Heroes and Villains”.
But character Rodney was apparently a comics fan from the get go, sporting a Dan Dare t-shirt in the series first episode, broadcast in 1981.
Quite by chance, I discovered the Dan Dare Corporation, owners of Dan Dare and some Eagle characters, have licensed the image to The Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society, and you can buy one here from their online shop.
Lovely jubbly!
The Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society runs a dedicated website, conventions, publishes a magazine, the Peckham Echo, operates a fan club, and offers exclusive official merchandise.
• Purchase your very own Dan Dare T-shirt as worn by Rodney in Only Fools and Horses here at the www.delboysonlineshop.com
• Find The Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society on Facebook
With thanks to Phil Shrimpton | Dan Dare ©️ Dan Dare Corporation
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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, downthetubes News, Licensing, Merchandise, Other Worlds, Television
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First episode of Only fools and horses was 1981, believe it or not!
Thanks Andy – amended.