ENDITORIAL BY JAMES BACOM
Gerry Webb of Commercial Space Technologies asked me to give a talk at The British Interplanetary Society in London. Gerry and myself had chatted in February about the impending Dan Dare anniversary and Journey Planet issue and he himself, being a huge fan, had planned a gathering of a wonderful variety of persons to talk. These included Alan Bond of Reaction Engines, and perhaps the star of the day, Greta Tomlinson, artist for the original Eagle. Greta was wonderful. While she had worked at Eagle as an artist, she, like many of her colleagues, were used as models for the comic by Frank Hampson. Greta was the model for Professor Peabody, but her own artistic skills were on display and her recollections were wonderful. I was a Battle reader, but Eagle entered the consciousness – mostly because Dad had a PC49 collection and I picked up the Eagle Book of Trains – and then was clearly visible when it amalgamated with Battle. I was a committed Crisis reader by the time Dare by Grant Morrison and Rian Hughes appeared in Revolver, and so I bought that comic too. How would this audience react to hearing about Grant Morrison’s start to Dare, with Peabody having committed suicide? Or Garth Ennis’ Peabody embroiled in politics? The group were definitely interested in Dan Dare, in any incarnation, but their initial disdain and unhappiness with how the character was portrayed by modern writers was apparent. There was indeed a gasping sound of shock, when it came up. Although I had primed the audience a bit, with the description of Dan Dare as ‘Child Murderer’, explaining the Treen revolt that Dare and Digby had been sent to suppress. Dare was clearly a satire of the politics of the early 1980s and yet can also be seen today to have meaning and traction given our current society and how the societal vision of the 1950s – the care and welfare of all – have been so horrendously eroded away. As was pointed out at the Dare event, betrayal could be the main theme running through it. The dreadful vision of the future... Spacefleet privatised, the headquarters dilapidated, while Treens are racially abused (called Goblins, forced to live in ghettos and deal in drugs to get by), the north-south divide is now a chasm, queues for food lasting for days. I mentioned the visceral and revolting nature of the Mekon’s plans as stomachturning. In many respects fifties Dan Dare fans may have – and possibly did – feel that this work was disrespectful (I did not ask for a show of hands!), but the good side of Dare – the fight for the good – is reflected in the story, as Dare himself questions first whether he should be the Poster Boy, and then – when he realises the situation – looks and finds the answer to the problem inside himself. This questioning and subversive viewpoint is fabulous, and ultimately Dare makes an incredible sacrifice for the good of all. I mentioned to all the lovely reference to a Spitfire in Garth Ennis version as Dare notes that his grandfather had served in the Battle of Britain; a connection to the Pat Mills iteration in the 80s Eagle. Garth Ennis is a consummate war story writer. His knowledge of history and the workings and mechanics of war are inspired. His research is legendary in the business and here he put Dan Dare in a good old fashion war story with an excellent supporting character in Lieutenant Christiansen. Traditions of the Royal Navy, a healthy sense of humour and the blood-pumping pace of a war comic combined to make this a solid war story. I could see that this piqued interest in those gathered. The sew Smasher from Marvel’s Avengers – revived a couple of years ago (and more recently written by Jonathan Hickman) – included a delicate and beautiful set of references to Dan Dare. A young astronomy student called Izzy finds herself inducted to the Shi'ar Imperial Guard. The reader learns her full name name is Isabel Dare, and while on Earth her granddad shows her a note, to him – it is ‘To Dan from Captain America, Steve Rogers.’ Her name: Izzy Dare. Unfortunately, things change and Marvel have already said that Izzy was not Isabel Dare – she’s Isabel Kane – but for these few comic panels, the moment was fleetingly created and, like so many moments in comics, lost, but remembered. I also saw Jim Burns give a talk and I am incredibly indebted to him for permission to include this – along with all the images – in this issue. It’s a huge body of work ,as one
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