Dan Dare

Dave Gibbons draws Dan Dare for the May 5th 1979 issue of 2000AD. The strip went in a bit of a strange direction after the more traditional space adventures of earlier issues with DD becoming a kind of superhero. As far as I remember this storyline was never concluded.

Flash Dare

Flash Dare,  Ah! Aaah! Uh, space pilot of the universe! (Or something like that). File this under "Copying" and  "Flattery", I guess? Anyway, it seems that Al Williamson (no slouch in the art department himself) was a bit of a Dan Dare fan and included elements in his own strips copied Dan Dare strips published in the Eagle in the 1960s. These examples coming from Flash Gordon, number one from September 1966. I wonder where he got the copies of Eagle from? I assume it might have been available in Canada? Anyone know?

Anyway.

Art by Don Harley

Art by Frank Bellamy

Art by Don Harley

Dan Dare

Frank Hampson (and studio) at the peak of their powers, circa 1959.

Keith Watson

An illustration by Keith Watson that appeared in a Society of Strip Illustration publication in the 1980s. Go here for original posting.

Go here for some examples of KW's 60s Dan Dare work:


Operation Earth-Saver


Operation Fireball

Dan Dare originals

Okay, let's start the New Year with a little bit of Dan Dare artwork. I was properly introduced to world of Dan Dare via the Dragon's Dream reprints of The Man From Nowhere in the late 70s/early 80s. To me, this is the pinnacle of Frank Hampson's work on Dare. I think that it still stands up pretty well, even today. Anyway, enough gushing or I'll have to go lie down....

Art well and truly nicked from here: http://www.comicartfans.com

Empty your shekel jar and buy yourself a copy:
http://www.amazon.co.uk

(No, still not receiving commission, although a freebie every now and again wouldn't go amiss, thank you very much.... Ahem.)

Dan Dare

A cool pic of the Mekon. The page of original art created by Keith Watson. Go to here to see some nice originals.

Dan Dare

An original piece of art by Keith Watson. You'll find it living here.

A nice opening page for this weeks episode. Although, personally, I feel there was something lacking in KW's work on Dan Dare when compared to Hampson and Bellamy. Hampson was the great technician, you could imagine those spaceships really flying. Bellamy made the whole thing so damn dynamic and exciting. To me KW fell inbetween both camps. He could draw the hardware at times, but then there's an emptiness to some of his frames, whereas Hampson would have some wonderful doo-hicky, or some thoughtful piece of architecture in the background. With Bellamy, his characters were caught off-balance and always on the move. KW's people seem to mime the movements. Don't get me wrong, I love Keith Watson's work, but there is something 'missing' in his Dare work. It might just be the simple fact that he didn't have the time to take the time, with pressures of deadlines etc. Although, when you compare this work to some of his contemporaries, this art knocks the ball out of the field. It's all relative innit, Guv?

Spaceship Away

This one's for fans of the original Dan Dare.

I'm probably preaching to the converted, but here's a plug for Spaceship Away. Subscription and back issue details are here. Immediately below is a rather spiffing wraparound cover by one of the original members of Frank Hampson's studio, Don Harley.

Dan Dare

Art by Keith Watson.

Nightmare Planet

I don't mean to sound flippant, but I think Brian Lewis would have become a big star if he hadn't kicked the bucket when he did. 2000AD would have been a great showcase for his work. This is from 2000AD 22nd April 1978.

Dan Dare

Brian Lewis provides the pin-up for the back page of 2000Ad dated 9th September 1978.

Dan Dare

Frank Bellamy creates page one with Don Harley on page two. I love the texture that Bellamy applies on the 'Nagrab' in the first frame.

Dan Dare

Way back in 1979 Dragon's Dream released the first of three Dan Dare reprint books. For the first book: The Man From Nowhere, Frank Hampson and Don Harley redrew the first frame of each episode. According to the book, The Man Who Drew Tomorrow FH pencilled the illustrations and DH coloured and inked the rest. Although, I would say this first frame is ALL Hampson compared to the second illustration which has Harley doing finishes.

You can buy Titan Book's release of The Man From Nowhere here.

Dan Dare

Dan Dare by Frank Hampson circa 1980. Love the way Hampson used positive/negative shapes to create Dare's nose and look how he's created the folds in the cap. I think it's safe to say that FH is one of Britains greatest comic artists. Here's an interesting site that deals with FH's post-Dare career.