Comic Artist Revives Dad’s Favorite Sci-Fi Hero in New Dan Dare Adventure

Dan Dare is a classic British comic book hero who first appeared in The Eagle comic in 1950. The comic was bright and colorful, and Dan Dare quickly became a favorite character for many readers, including the father of artist Marc Laming. Marc, who lives in Hatfield, has always been passionate about comics and drawing. He remembers his father telling him stories about the comics he read as a child, especially the adventures of Dan Dare. Now, Marc has had the chance to work on a new version of Dan Dare, which he describes as a dream project. Along with writer Alex de Campi, Marc has reimagined Dan Dare for a modern audience. They received approval from the rights holders to create a new graphic novel series called Dan Dare: First Contact. This is the first book in a planned trilogy, and it is set to be published later this year. The story brings Dan Dare into the future, specifically the year 2099, where the world is facing new challenges like climate change and political problems. In this new version, Dan Dare is still a pilot in the British space fleet, which is the only space agency on Earth that has not been privatized. He is joined by Al Digby, a young inventor from a working-class background, and Professor Peabody, a leading expert on alien life. Together, they must solve the mystery of a comet that has suddenly changed direction and is heading toward Earth. The story is all about humanity's first contact with an alien race, but it is not the aliens that fans might expect from the old comics. Instead, the new aliens are based on a classic Dan Dare story, and they are described as very unsettling. The comic also brings back many of the classic characters from the original stories, such as Digby, Sir Hubert, Hank, and Pierre, as well as introducing new characters. The creators wanted to make sure that new readers could enjoy the story without knowing anything about Dan Dare, but they also included lots of references and tributes for longtime fans. Marc Laming remembers that his father did not like the 2000AD version of Dan Dare, which came out in 1977 and was very different from the original. Marc used to hide his copies of 2000AD under his bed, but he later discovered a collection of the best Dan Dare stories from The Eagle, which made him fall in love with the character all over again. Marc's love for comics started when he was very young, and he never stopped drawing. He has worked on many comic projects, including Marvel's Star Wars series and a story called Endeavour, about children stranded on a historical sailing ship. Now, he is excited to share the new Dan Dare comic with readers. Writer Alex de Campi says that anyone can enjoy Dan Dare: First Contact, whether they are new to the character or longtime fans. The creative team worked hard to respect the legacy of Frank Hampson, the original creator of Dan Dare, while also bringing something fresh and exciting to the story. The new comic is full of action, adventure, and interesting characters, and it explores important themes like teamwork, bravery, and the challenges of the future. The creators hope that readers of all ages will enjoy the new adventures of Dan Dare and his friends. If you have a story idea for the news, you can contact the team, and you can follow the latest updates for Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Buckinghamshire online. Dan Dare is back, and his new journey is ready to inspire a new generation of readers.