Friday 24 July 2009

GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: Dan Dare: The Phantom Fleet - Hampson Franks, Desmond Walduck


BOOK BLURB:

It's chocks away once again as Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future, returns! First published in classic British comic Eagle, this is perhaps the most seminal adventure of one of Britain's best-loved characters, presented in a gorgeous library edition. When transmissions are disrupted throughout the Solar System and spaceships - including one carrying Sir Hubert - disappear, Dan and Co set out to discover what's going on. They find a fleet of huge alien craft containing peaceful aquatic creatures called Cosmobes, who are fleeing from another aquatic race, the warlike Pescods. But the Pescods have a deadly weapon, the 'Crimson Death' and they're heading for Earth! Will Dan and his crew be able to once again save the day?


REVIEW:

With the recent resurgence of Dan Dare though the use of computer graphics, fans have been swarming to regain touches of nostalgia either through the modern cartoon or, perhaps more commonly, by obtaining these re-releases of the original pages that appeared in The Eagle. Following a classic adventure with Dare facing off against the Mekon in his own indomitable style and whilst this offering from April 1950 may still appear dated to the modern reader it’s a huge influence on the whole Brit explosion of the 80/90’s that took us across the world including influencing modern names such as Moore.

If you’re short for that gem for either Christmas or even for a special birthday this hardback will present you with something special then make sure you pick up some dib dabs, or flying saucers and present those with this book to the older Sci-Fi fan in your life. I did that to my Dad when I lent it to him and to see his face transferred back to the cheeky one that stares back at me in the old black and white photo’s of the fifties and you’ve got that something special that really is priceless.

No comments: