The Case of the Galloping Major

The great Frank Hampson provides the illustrations for this text story from the Eagle annual number 5 (1956?). Whenever I look at these illustrations I always marvel at the detail in the carpet. Insane or what?

Dan Dare

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

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.)

The Road of Courage

By Frank Hampson. From Eagle, dated 7th January 1961. This has been recently released by Titan if you're interested in seeing the whole story?  Even if the subject matter isn't your cup of tea the art is quite beautiful and well worth seeing. 

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.

Dawn O'Dare

This was the only episode (as far as I know) of this strip drawn by Frank Hampson in 1976 for Ally Sloper magazine number 3. Read more about Dawn O'Dare here.

How to Build a Dalek

A fine Frank Hampson illustration from the Radio Times Doctor Who 10th Anniversary Special 1973. I love the little details in the penwork: the fingers and Jon Pertwee's hair and the rendering of the round blobs on the foreground Dalek. I like the circuit board design in the architecture behind.

The image well and truly nicked from the Lost Characters of Frank Hampson site.

Fireball XL5

Frank Hampson provides the art for the November 6th 1965 edition of TV21.

London Invaded and Counter Attack

A couple of curious items. Frank Hampson created two centre-spreads for Marvel UK in the mid 70s. Not too sure about his rendition of Spidey methinks, but the rest of the pen-work is pretty cool; especially the second one starring Superdare! Or is that Super Dare? Or Supe Rd Are? Any hoo... Cool work.

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.