2000 AD Online Forum

Virgin Comics is bringing British adventurer Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future out of retirement, with plans to publish a new line of comic books and develop a feature around the intergalactic flyer.

Dare -- described as Britain's version of Buck Rogers -- launched as a comic strip character in the Eagle magazine in the 1950s. He's long been a favorite of Virgin's Richard Branson, who led the effort to acquire the publishing, TV, movie and video game rights to Dare.

The new comic book series will debut in November, written by comic book veteran Garth Ennis, whose credits include "Preacher," "Hitman" and John Woo's "Seven Brothers."

"Dan Dare is the quintessential British hero," Ennis said. "He's our Captain America, our Superman, our Batman; he's all of them rolled into one."

The new books will have Dare emerge from a self-imposed exile, the result of his disgust with politics and the post-nuclear warfare that has destroyed North America and much of Asia -- leaving the U.K. as the world's last remaining superpower.

Pffft.
No mention of the Cosmic Claw...

having already been bummed in the Grant Morrison story in Revolver, now he's handed over to Garth Ennis. Give the poor bloke's sphincter a break

I can remember a surreal moment on the radio about a decade ago with Dan Dare and Digby interviewing Garth Eniss about Judge Dredd...

'Dredd's just a bastard' was the gist of it, if I recall.

So who's the artist? Weston quit waving your arms about like that.

Will probably have to pick this up.
Has anyone read any of the other Virgin Comics, what are they like?

I'm surprised to see Virgin giving British comics a go, and especially a niche character like this, they've very wisely concentrated so far on the developing world where comics aren't already seen as a fringe interest and where stories and mythology still have a currency. This title will surely only be read by a few people, most of them here, it would be good to see them try and break some new ground here as well.

Apparently the deal is part of Virgin's plan to develop a Dan Dare flick:

Link: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117970907.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2564

I wish they wouldn't, not because of loyalty to the character, just that there's little about Dan Dare that is in tune with today's youth and too little space for a director to work with. All it has is brand recognition - just.

I agree, I even think a new comic is a bit of a stretch for such a dated character, putting any kind of modern edge or cliched added irony will only be a disservice.

Hugh Laurie for Dan Dare*!










well, he should be...

I'm not sure Ennis will put some modern spin on Dare.
I've never read the original run of Battler Britain, so I might be about to start talking out of my arse, but - I'm guessing it was pretty true to the source material.  I think Ennis will be equally reverent here.
I'm also not sure how dated he will be. Are we all so jaded and cynical now that our heroes have to be psychotics with huge laser cannons?
Personally, I think it'll be great.

- Huey

Coincidentally, I've just read over the early years of 2000AD in Thrill-Power Overload, and one of the things that was said about the then resurrection of the Dan Dare character, was that the Treen were too pathetic, and could've been beaten up by the kids who read the comic.

Personally, I've never seen the appeal of the Dan Dare character - he's such a British Empire crushes alien menace stiff-upper-lipped wanker, merrily enacting genocide without question.  However, if anyone can make him sympathetic, it's probably Ennis.  

The Revolver version was tedious and grim.  The 2000AD version had no soul.  

Oh, and anything with the name Branson attached to it, tends to provide incredibly poor service, in my personal experience.  I'm amazed that he still associates with his own products, to be honest.

Is he? I've been pleasantly surprised by the Dan Dare books - sure, theres some remnants of British Empire think, but he's certainly not genocidal!  Now Flash Gordon may be the man youre after there!

As for reinventing it... well, the books read a lot better than you'd imagine in my eyes - It's only really the idea of Britain being leaders in the Space Race that seem laughable - the rest (bar life on Venus etc) I think work very well.  If you were going to pitch it right for a film audience, I'd say go for a kind of a British Indiana Jones - dont try and update it and make it 'plausible' - just run it as a retro but inspired alternate universe style thing and you'd be a lot better served.  

After all, isnt Harry Potters  boarding school hi-jinks hideously outdated, and look how thats caught on.

***Personally, I've never seen the appeal of the Dan Dare character - he's such a British Empire crushes alien menace stiff-upper-lipped wanker, merrily enacting genocide without question. ***


Too true, he has little appeal today. A middle class hero is not something to be.

"he's such a British Empire crushes alien menace stiff-upper-lipped wanker, merrily enacting genocide without question."

So, you've never read any Dan Dare...

"However, if anyone can make him sympathetic, it's probably Ennis."

...and you're mental  ;)



Seriously though, I don't think this will work.  

Shall we start the sweepstake now on what issue purely consists of Dan and Dig sat in a pub?

>> I can remember a surreal moment on the radio about a decade ago with Dan Dare and Digby interviewing Garth Eniss about Judge Dredd...

I've still got that on tape somewhere. And yeah, that was pretty much the gist of it.

>> putting any kind of modern edge or cliched added irony will only be a disservice.

Despite Tharg's three misfires, Mills was able to do so in the Eagle relaunch once Wagner left.

>> merrily enacting genocide without question.

Genocide? Well, if protecting one's home planet from the latest alien invasion is classed as genocide, so be it. The only time I can think of in which Dare imposes his own will on an alien race is when Sondar thinks that he's having an emotion in the first story arc.

>> A middle class hero is not something to be.

How incredibly classist. And true only in that a 'hero' is not something to be. I am John Byrne and I claim my five bucks.

>> Virgin Comics . . . plans to publish a new line of comic books and develop a feature around the intergalactic flyer.

Heh. After thirty years, they're still trying to get rid of all those space-spinners.

here's a nifty all-new Dan Dare wallpaper ...

Link: Wallpaper

Would that be a Bryan Talbot pic by any chance? Great stuff.

I also want to speak up for reinvented Dan Dare.

I admit to not having read the original stories - although what I've seen of Frank Hampson's art took my breath away - but I really enjoyed the 80s Eagle version.

I was a teenager at the time, and thought it was good fun. It's especially notable for art by the great Ian Kennedy - who's 75 next month and still drawing covers for Commando!

- Trout

I have to agree with the previous post...
The first great great great etc grandson story
was ace...written by Pat Mills and John Wagner
for a bit at the start...
I didnt appreciate the massive story arc Mills
constructed at the time...I'm sure the overall
story ran for 18 months before it gave way to cheap
paper and even cheaper storylines....

I just finished Dan Dare in my big re-read, I felt like having a party when it was over. Definitely the worst thrill in the first 130 progs, it was a real chore reading it most of the time.
I've got nowt against Dare the character though, and I think a revamp could work if done right.
The 1950s of Quatermass, Dan Dare etc. is a really fascinating period to work in, it probably feels as distant, foreign and exciting to young folks as the 30's do to me. As pointed out above Harry Potter is essentially about between the wars or 50's boarding schools, and thats been moderately successful :)
Good luck to them I say.

Used to love Dan Dare in the Eagle.  The Mekon rocks!

"I admit to not having read the original stories - although what I've seen of Frank Hampson's art took my breath away - but I really enjoyed the 80s Eagle version. "

In all honesty, if it hadn't been for Dan Dare, I probably wouldn't have bothered with the 80s Eagle. I don't recall a huge amount about the story, but I do remember that the art was broadly excellent throughout.

"I was a teenager at the time, and thought it was good fun. It's especially notable for art by the great Ian Kennedy - who's 75 next month and still drawing covers for Commando!"

That's fantastic news about Ian Kennedy ... I had no idea he'd been at it for so long!

I'd also like to say that although the Morrison/Hughes 'Dare' is  very much a product of its time, I thought it was excellent. Perhaps if you don't read through the filter of living in the arse end of the Thatcher/Major years then it lacks the same resonance. Perhaps not ...

Cheers

Jim

I've had many different opinions of Dan Dare over the years.

50's Eagle Dare:  Great.
70's Tooth Dare:  Shite.
80's Eagle Dare:  Great then shite.
90's Morrison/Hughes Dare:  Great.
00's Spacehip Away Dare:  Great.

The Hampson work is just something else, and still very readable.  Kennedy's run in 80's eagle was amazing, especially the Airfix model/astronaut training stuff and the Firefly sequence.  I also really enjoyed Morrison and Hughes' Dare, which has a terrific ending.

Some good art aside, Tooth Dare is just something I can never bring myself to read.

What's Spaceship Away Dare?
I've not heard of that one.

An excellent pastiche/homage version of 50's Dare's continuing adventures.  Really quite remarkable.

Link: Spaceship Away

Thanks TordelBack. That looks interesting.

I have my Dad's old Eagle annuals and love the original Dare and liked the 80's Eagle stuff too.
I was never quite sure of the 2000AD version. Dave Gibbons art was great and I would have liked to have seen a proper end to it.

I only read the start of the Morrison/Hughes version and remember quite liking it and would like to track it down and read it all.

Friend has a retailer preview. Apologies but scanner isn't vista compatable so just phone pictures for now.
(http://photobucket.com"%20target="_blank)

Ironically, Virgin is also releasing this.

Beautiful artwork on Dan Dare - Cheers Mat!

I've just put together a web page on the new Dan Dare with images and text from Gary Erskine.

Cheers,

Wake

Link: Dan Dare 2007

looks amazing

Here's John Higgins' variant cover for Dan Dare #2:

Link: http://www.turmoilcolour.com/

And that link again, but this time the right way around... (oops!)

Link: John Higgins' website

How is that ironic?

I love the 'just 25c' on the cover

> How is that ironic?

I was wondering that myself... Still can't figure it out.

I think the point matt is getting at is you get the iconic release of Dan Dare along side the release of the major porn icon of Jenna Jameson in comic book form.




V

I was kinda going for the fact that a company called Virgin is releasing a comic starring a mayor porn star.

You could also hope that those new to the character will seek out previous exploits. Both of Dan Dare and Miss Jameson.

Ah, for a minute I thought Alanis Morrisette was posting under Matt's user name.

> I was kinda going for the fact that a company called Virgin is releasing a comic starring a mayor porn star.

D'oh! You're right...! So many people use "ironic" incorrectly that it never occurred to me to look for a connection that was actually ironic!

Kicking myself now (metaphorically, of course).

This is looking like a truly excellent release!
I used to read the 80's Eagle and thoroughly enjoyed the strip, it also had some superb artwork, anyone remember who it was drawn by, it wasn't John Higgins was it?
Have never read the 2000ad version, even though I've the Progs to hand, but this is looking like a must buy-I wonder if Ennis will take a post-modernised approach or play it straight, should be interesting to find out.
Anyone read any previews? What's the impression?

Dare in Revolver was Solent Green (Movie Version) for the Thatcherite generation and completely missed the point

I loved the Morrison/Hughes version, even allowing for its "grim up north" zeitgeistyness.  I don't think it was ever intended as a 'relaunch' or continuation of the Dan Dare strip as a space adventure serial (which would be the real trick), more using the characters to parallel the final demise of the post-war dream in the late 80's.  I hope that its existence excuses Ennis from taking a similar tack.

I think someone, possibly Grant himself, stated that it was the Dan Dare equivalent of The Dark Knight Returns. Which might explain why it's so fucking dreary.

sorry about that Matthew...I had forgotten that Ms Jameson is not actually a virgin. I was hyperalert for incorrect uses of 'ironic' because I've just seen the Futurama episode in which the devil robot keeps using the word wrongly

The 80s Eagle Dan Dare alternated between the great Ian Kennedy and someone who wasn't as good, and whose name I forget.

- Trout

wouldn't be just baout time that this be made into movie.

Who would you choose to be Dan?

He'd have to be British or at the very least good at pretending to be British.

anyone as long as it's not Jenna Jameson!

  I must get this Ennis Dare comic.  All that other pastiche stuff looks tempting too.  
  Do all those famous people really write the comics under their names?

yours, credulously,

Floyd

They would have been better off with Sylvia Saint,  much better performer and better on the eyes. Not that I would know of course.



V

I thought Dan Dare was a guy.

Ben Affleck, who is otherwise too American. Might have been good choice for that role.

Jude Law is my only other obvious choice. Espiecally since he was in 'Sky Captain and the World of Tommorrow.'

So what, if he's type-cast....

Besides, wasn't Buster Crabb both Flash Gordon and Buck Rodgers.

I was talking about Sylvia instead of Jenna.

Jude law for Dan Dare maybe
Matt Lucas for Digby



V

Link: matt digby

You might as well pick David Walliams to be Dan Dare then.

Link: Little Britain

I thought you were going to say Matt Damon..

He does have similiar facial structure

Just a lsigght chin protsteis for david though.

I'm pretty sure he's used to that type of make-up by now.

Just a lsigght chin protsteis for david though.

I'm pretty sure he's used to that type of make-up by now.

Just a lsigght chin prostesis for david though.

I'm pretty sure he's used to that type of make-up by now.

I figured the Brits migth get alittle pissed at the choice of a American to play the main role.

From the pages of TIME.com?

"After snacking on cucumber sandwiches, petit fours, and cups of tea (remember to crook your little finger) the lucky will head off to the annual Miramax pre-party. This has now gained the stature of the must-attend party of the weekend. Apart from the usual schmoozing, the event boasts a unique feature. Like a high school Christmas party, entertainment is provided in the form of skits spoofing the year's top films. Actors such as Kevin Spacey, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Jude Law regularly show up and don cheesy wigs and Wal-Mart dresses to perform mini-sketches. There are usually a slew of inside references to the Weinstein brothers who created and run Miramax. Last year I observed Michael Eisner (Chairman of Miramax parent company Disney) watching the proceedings with all the intensity of an attendee at the Oberammergau passion play. This is not Mickey Mouse stuff.."

William H. Macy with geen skin and a cranial prostesis as .

Something that had occured to me after seeing him head-shaven as a prison inmate comming to terms with life behind bars. I forget the name of the film though.

It's the pronouced upper lip that displayed the obvious slimilarity to comic book villian here.

Of course, he's probably sick of getting all the bad movie roles that nobody else wants.

Link: William H Macy is Mekon.

Jack Davenport would make an ideal Dave Gibbons-era Dan Dare...

Ian Kennedy, that was the guy! His art was beautiful. I remember he always had a very elegant signature which he signed his work with. I don't seem to remember him ever drawing for 2000ad, anyone know if he still illustrates?

Ian currently does covers for DC Thomson's Commando picture library books.

Link: Commando

 I hear this new Dare is going to be an 'All Ages' book, I was kind of looking forward to Digby being a hard drinking foul mouthed Irishman...

>> The 80s Eagle Dan Dare alternated between the great Ian Kennedy and someone who wasn't as good, and whose name I forget.

Ian used to alternate with Carlos Cruz, once Eagle started being printed on bog paper.

>> Ian Kennedy . . . I don't seem to remember him ever drawing for 2000ad, anyone know if he still illustrates?

IIRC, Ian drew the second episode of MACH 1, two episodes of Invasion!, a one-off for the 1978 Dan Dare annual, and that Judge amok Dredd story.

Dan Dare

Peter Jones

Not 2000AD, but Ian Kennedy drew some of the Ro-busters episodes in Starlord.

- Steve

+You might as well pick David Walliams to be Dan Dare then.+

now THAT's the dan dare film that stevie would pay to see!

& perhaps silvia saint as professor peabody to get vzzbuzz in?

i've wet my knickers!

Why not capitalise on a already successful partnaship. ( Referring to my suggesting David Walliams.)
 
Peter Jones. Isn't that the guy who read for 'Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy' The fellow in the photo you used there must be another much younger Peter Jones.

James Laurie, the doctor from 'House M.D.' and one of the old regulars from BlackAdder.

It's him and Jimmy Stewart, whom look similer and also possibly share both share a similarity with this comic book hero.  I guess even if one of them is American born that they both have a cavalier sky-jockey attitude and appearance. It's pity that one has passed on ten years prior and the other now looks too old fo a action role.

Link: With a real Military background.

peter jones is sadly dead.

stephen jones would make a cracking sir hubert guest though

Actulley I'm sorry I said that, as actors can look deceptively unfit or too old. As one of the basis's of acting is look the part.

Which one?

Is this a good candidate for the largest picture ever posted?

It was microscopic when I saved it.

I just filled in the teeth there.

I thought he looks abit weird with out them.

It was microscopic when I saved it.

I just filled in the teeth there.

I thought he looks abit weird with out them.

It was microscopic when I saved it.

I just filled in the teeth there.

I thought he looks abit weird with out them.

It was microscopic when I saved it.

I just filled in the teeth there.

I thought he looks abit weird with out them.

"Preview Message", my boy. It's there for a reason...

There is a full page article in SFX164 about this a and it also says that it comes out 5th December.

dweezil - Ian Kennedy drew a few gems for 2000AD; I posted the bit below on a 'Favourite Future Shocks' thread ages ago:

"I had to look it up on this site, because I couldn't remember the name, but The Collector (prog 210) is an all time favourite (Kelvin Gosnell script and Ian Kennedy on art duties) - that 'air base hell' one, you know."

Also the fantastic wraparound cover of the Luftwaffe in the Big Meg

Cheers for that! I remember that cover very well.
I'll have to dig out Prog 210 and have a look.
Thanks again for posting the info!

Dweezil.

There's a preview of Issue 1 on Newsarama today.

Link: Dan Dare Preview #1

Heh. Straight in with the pub scene there...

Oh, and the image of Peter Jones, is the image I meant to post.
He's not an actor, he's a businessman (and *star* of tv-shows such as Dragon's Den), and he looks like Dan Dare.

"...and he looks like Dan Dare."

An evil Treen clone, possibly.

Didn't care for that preview much.  A very clumsy evocation of a certain type of England for Ennis - actually read a bit like Troubled Souls, which is a step back for a man with such a good ear for dialogue.   The art looks quite nice, but IMHO the perspective is pretty poor - people appear to be floating in the backgrounds, and why does that statue appear to be at silly mid-off?.  Christopher Lee as Digby is a bit odd too.

Bottom line:  Why isn't Chris Weston drawing this anyway?

Utter pish!