Retrospective: Dan Dare (1950)
Welcome to the future ... 1996.
This is, of course, a future envisaged in the very middle of the 20th century, by writer/artist Frank Hampson from Southport, England. Cities are dazzling futuristic sculptures of chrome and glass and flying cars are all the rage, but in this version of 1996 people still sport the fashions and hairstyles of 1950. It is an enduring truism that science fiction all too often describes a future in which technology has come on leaps and bounds, but social mores continue to mirror those of the creator's own culture.
Eagle was a comic that came along between the end of World War Two in 1945 and the beginning of the 'Space Race' with the launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to reach Earth orbit, in 1957. Southport parson Marcus Morris was dismayed at the popularity of American horror comics among British children and wanted to create a more wholesome alternative. Together with Hampson they began to collaborate on something new.
The story of Colonel Daniel MacGregor Dare, Space Pilot Class 1 of the Interplanet Space Fleet, was born. In this vision of the future Earth is a near Paradise and the Fleet patrols the solar system in sleek, Art Deco style rocketships. Their pressing mission is to find a source of food for the Earth which, despite its social and technological progress, is struggling to feed its increased population. Scientists believe that the mysterious planet Venus may harbour life. Could it be the answer to their plight?
Rocketships sent to explore Venus all explode as soon as they approach the planet. The Fleet is baffled until Dare comes up with the theory that a barrier surrounding Venus is reacting with the impulse engines of the ships. More primitive jet-fueled craft should therefore be able to reach the surface and complete the mission.
A new mission is set in motion and a crew assembled consisting of Dare, Space Marshall Sir Hubert (stuffy but resolute with a 'stiff upper lip'), Digby (Dare's long time friend, portly and humorous), American pilot Hank, French pilot Pierre and science officer Professor Peabody. The sixth crew member is a first class geologist, botanist and agriculturalist and also - to the consternation of Sir Hubert - a woman!
Our valiant heroes are soon blasting off into adventure. Venus is indeed a living world, full of exotic wonders. Divided at the equator by a fiery barrier it is ruled in the north by the Treen, green-skinned humanoids who scorn emotion and care only for scientific knowledge. The Treen leader is the ruthless despotic Mekon, bred for pure intellect. With an enlarged cranium atop a puny body, he floats about on a levitating disc, delivering orders to his underlings.
South Venus is ruled by the Therons, dark-skinned, blonde-haired humanoids who maintain an uneasy truce with their northern neighbours. Dare and his fellow adventurers ally themselves with the Therons and uncover a plot by the Mekon to invade the Earth...
What follows is exactly the kind of 'good clean fun' that Pastor Morris envisaged. Dan Dare is an archetypal 20th century British hero very much in the mold of the Royal Air Force; tall, dashing, determined and unflappable ('Biggles in space'). His comical sidekick Digby is jocular but no less valiant. Professor Jocelyn Peabody, in a truly revolutionary style for 1950, is a plucky, competent and resourceful member of the team.
The artwork is a wonderful array of finely-drawn characters and stunningly futuristic vehicles and cityscapes. The (to us) 'retro' feel was even more dazzling to the readers when Eagle first hit the shops, brightening the lives of a weary post-war Britain. Fans of all ages delighted in these fantastic stories which fired the imagination.
Dan Dare was a big hit; the first issue of Eagle sold out 900,000 copies and went on to become a national favourite. Extensive merchandising brought in even more revenue for the magazine, which ran until 1969. Dare returned in 1977 with the launch of the legendary British science fiction comic 2000AD and has been relaunched several times since then in comics and an animated TV series in 2002.
The Dan Dare legacy is a unique chapter in the history of comics, introducing readers to thrilling adventures that were loved by many people from all walks of life; the young Prince Charles counted himself a fan. Dare and his chums faced danger and death without fear and tackled whatever perils outer space could throw at them with tireless optimism, innovative solutions and witty, cultured rejoinders. To a tired, healing nation it was a very well-needed dose of colourful fun and excitement; novel, ground-breaking, uplifting and ever so frightfully British.
Zak Webber
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