Thrill Power, 1957 Style, in the new Eagle Times

The new issue of Eagle Times, Volume 26 Number 1 - the magazine published by the Eagle Society - features an interview article by downthetubes writer Jeremy Briggs entitled "A Thrill Of A Lifetime In 1957".

"The Thrill Of A Lifetime article in this Eagle Times has perhaps the most unusual back story any comics article that I have ever written,"  Jeremy tells us. "It began late on the Sunday afternoon of the 2012 Hi-Ex comics convention in Inverness when an older gentlemen called Bob Pegg spotted artist Graeme Neil Reid wearing a Dan Dare t-shirt.

"If Graeme had not have been wearing that t-shirt, if Bob and Graeme had not been so chatty to each other, if Graeme had not known that I wrote articles for the Eagle Society, and if I had not have been in shouting distance of Graeme at the time, then this article would not have happened.

“This is the story of a 12-year-old Yorkshire schoolboy who won a competition in Eagle comic in 1957 to fly both him and his father to Africa for an all-expenses paid holiday in what today is Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

"That would still be a major prize in any comic or magazine today - imagine what it was like over half a century ago for a schoolboy who had never been further from home than Wales, let alone even seen an intercontinental airliner."

Other features in this 25th birthday issue include -

Dan Dare Pilot of the Future on Radio Luxembourg - a review of the radio serial, sponsored by Horlicks, that aired five days a week on 208 Medium Waveband from 1951 - 1956. The article includes a story listing and is accompanied by a short article on the origins of the malted milk product known as Horlicks.

Serial Thrillers: The Adventure Serial on British Radio - a review of Charles Norton’s new book about four immensely popular series from the Golden Age of British Radio: Paul Temple, Dick Barton, Dan Dare and Journey into Space.

P.C.49 and the Case of the Circular Tins - a further adaptation from one of Alan Stranks' famous radio stories

An obituary of Charles Chilton MBE (1917 - 2013), the renowned radio writer and producer, and writer of the 'Riders of the Range' strip that ran in Eagle from 1950 until 1962, plus a report on the funeral service held on 11th January, 2013, to commemorate his life.

How I learned to stop worrying and appreciate the genius of John M Burns - a look at the career and varied work of one of the artists who drew Dan Dare for new Eagle in 1990.

When is a Hampson not a Hampson? - on the particular challenge and difficulties of reliably attributing Eagle Dan Dare artwork to its original creator and lead artist, Frank Hampson.

Charles William (Bill) Nuttall - Artist - a former Eagle letterer (Eagle Society member David Gould) provides a biographical review of the early career of lettering artist and illustrator, Bill Nuttall, and his personal recollections of working with Bill at Eagle from the mid-1960s.

Mann of Battle: Part 1 - a look at the World War II strip that ran weekly in Eagle from 1962 - 1964, written by Alfred Carney Allan and drawn initially by Luis Bermejo, then for most of its life by Brian Lewis.

Dan Dare Holiday Special 1990 - the third in a series of articles about Eagle-related holiday specials, this one looking at the only Dan Dare-specific special to be published.

Interviewing Marcus Morris - a photo-illustrated article recounting a visit in 1987 to the home of former Eagle editor Marcus Morris

Lion, King of Picture Story Papers - a review of Steve Holland's recent book about Eagle's 1950s' rival - the comic that eventually swallowed Eagle in 1969.

• Membership of the Eagle Society is via Annual Subscription to Eagle Times magazine, which is published four times annually. The subscription rate for 2013 is: UK £27 Overseas £38 (in £s Sterling, please) Postal applications to: Keith Howard 25A Station Road Harrow Middlesex HA1 2UA United Kingdom If you wish to pay by Paypal (to the eagle-times hotmail address below) we request an additional payment of £1.50. Enquiries: eagle-times@hotmail.com. 

• More info: http://eagle-times.blogspot.co.uk

Eagle Day announced for September

(via the Eagle Times): The Eagle Society is to hold an Eagle Day in August to celebrate the classic British comic.

Eagle Days were the idea of the late Bob Rothwell, offering fellow 'Eaglers' and collectors, to chat, swap, buy and sell spare Eagle and other comic-related items - and generally have a good time.

The day will include talks on Eagle-related subjects and a chance to look at displays of Eagle /comic-related items. Light refreshments will be available.

• Eagle Day, The Village Hall, Great Staughton, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 5DG; Sunday, 23rd September, 2012, 10.00 - 16.00. Single entry £3 - in advance or pay on the door. Bring your spare Eaglecomic items.

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Eagle Times Reaches Its Quarter Century

Eagle Times, the quarterly journal of the Eagle Society, has reached its twenty-fifth year of publication. By far the longest running British comics fanzine, Eagle Times has now been published some six years longer than the weekly comic that it celebrates, the original Eagle which ran from 1950 to 1969.

The current issue of the 56 page A4, B&W and colour fanzine is Volume 25 Number 1 and includes features on Luck of the Legion, the French Foreign Legion strip by writer Geoffrey Bond and artist Martin Aitchison that ran in Eagle from 1952 to 1961, the Dan Dare story from 1958, The Ship That Lived, about Dan's spaceship Anastasia, and the air pirate tale Sky Buccaneers written by Edward Cowan and drawn by José Ortiz which appeared ten years later.

In addition there are articles on the connection between artist Roger Dean and Eagle, the 1930s and late 1960s work of Eagle's main cutaway artist L Ashwell Wood, and colour photo features on the 1980 Eaglecon convention and Dan Dare toy figures from the 1950s to the modern day.

downthetubes contributors Richard Sheaf and Jeremy Briggs provide features on the exhibition celebrating the work of John Ryan, artist of Eagle's Captain Pugwash and Harris Tweed, as well as the Eagle cutaways of the Dan Dare artist Bruce Cornwell who passed away as the issue was at the printers.

Our congratulations go out to Eagle Times editor Howard Corn and his production team of Tony Crowley, David Gould, Will Grenham, Keith Howard, Nigel McMurray and Adrian Perkins on reaching their silver anniversary.

Eagle Times is published four times annually and is available via membership of The Eagle Society. The subscription rate for 2012 is: UK £27, Overseas £38 (in Pounds Sterling). Postal applications to: Keith Howard, 25A Station Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 2UA, United Kingdom.

More details of both the magazine and the society are available on the Eagle Times blog.

New Eagle Times released

The latest issue of Eagle Times - Volume 24 No 4 - is now available from the Eagle Society.

Contents include:

• From Under the 1950s Christmas Tree, Pepys Card Games - a seasonal look at the numerous Pepys games, which included some based around characters from Eagle ('Dan Dare' and 'Jeff Arnold') and Girl
• The Case of Christmas Presents - PC49 appears in a seasonal short-story
• A Look at 'Luck' - part 2 of a continuing series examining the French Foreign Legion strip by Geoffrey Bond and Martin Aitchison, that ran in Eagle from 1952 - 1961
• Working with David Hunt, part 2 - memories of working on 'Dan Dare' projects for the "New" Eagle editor in the 1980s
• Rivals of Eagle, takes a look at The Boy's Own Paper, the long-running boys' story paper, which lasted 88 years - from 1879 - 1967
• The first part of a series on Visual Memories of Eaglecon 80 - the only London comics convention ever held solely for Eagle enthusiasts
• PC49 and the Case of the Frightened Flower Girl - the conclusion of a new adaptation of one of Alan Stranks' radio plays
• Rivals of Jeff Arnold - the 9th in the series takes a look at 'Happy Daze', a comedy western strip drawn by Bill Holroyd for D.C. Thomson's Topper comic
• 'Dan Dare' Figures (from the 1950s to the present day) - begins by taking a look at those produced in the 1950s by the Crescent Toy Company and Eaglewall Plastics/Kentoys
• Ron by Ron - a lighthearted look at some of Ron Embleton's appearances in some of his own artwork
• L. Ashwell Wood, Cutaway Maestro - an addendum to the article in Eagle Times Vol 24 No 3, covering the Inside Information series, Odhams Books and the reprinting of Eagle cutaways in foreign publications
• Eagle Annuals 1971-1975 looks at the annuals that continued to appear after the original Eagle's demise as a comic
• 'Sammy' in colour - a strip from Eagle's companion paper, Swift, which was translated and reprinted in colour in the Dutch paper Arend - shown for the first time in English and colour
• A short biographical piece on David Motton, the 'Dan Dare' writer of the 1960s, who recently retired
• A report and photographs from the Eagle Society Annual Gathering at Midgham, Berkshire, 6th - 8th September, 2011

Membership of THE EAGLE SOCIETY is via Annual Subscription to EAGLE TIMES magazine, which is published four times annually. The Subscription rate for 2011 is held at the 2010 rate: UK £23, Overseas £34(in £s Sterling, please) Postal applications to: Keith Howard, 25A Station Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 2UAUnited Kingdom. If you wish to pay by Paypal (to the eagle-times hotmail address below) we request an additional payment of £1. Enquiries: eagle-times@hotmail.com

Eagle Times Enters Its 24th Year Of Publication

Eagle Times, the journal of the Eagle Society, reaches its 24th year of publication with three articles on British artists - from original Eagle, cutaway artist Hubert Redmill and the rather better known Brian Lewis, plus from new Eagle, Dan Dare artist David Pugh.

Eagle's link with 1950s radio are covered with the beginning of a new text story adaptation of PC49's radio adventure The Case of the Crying Clown and the transcription of one of the Radio Luxembourg's Dan Dare episodes sponsored by Horlicks.

In addition to these, and showing that Eagle Times does not cover just Eagle comic, there are articles on the comic strips Gun Law from Express Weekly and Sammy In Space from Swift as well as a heavily illustrated piece entitled Ron Embleton's Lovely Ladies ranging from the demure Maid Marion from Tell Me Why to the rather less demure Wicked Wanda and Candyfloss from Penthouse.

Eagle Times Volume 24 Number 1 is 54 colour and B&W A4 pages. the magazine is published quarterly and the annual subscription for 2011 has been held at the 2010 rate of UK £23 and Overseas £34.

There are more details of Eagle Times and the Eagle Society on the Eagle Times Blog.

Eagle Times Sample Issues Now Available

Eagle Times, Britain's longest running comics fanzine, is making sample issues available to purchase without the need to join the Eagle Society.

While the magazine concentrates on the original 1950s and 1960s Eagle, the current issue includes features on the career of artist Brian Lewis, a detailed look at one of the new Eagle Dan Dare stories illustrated by Ian Kennedy and Carlos Cruz, the Swift strip Sammy In Space, and a selection of colour photos from the Seacon 1979 World Science Fiction Convention which was held in Brighton. Approximately half of all the current issue's pages are in colour.

Begun in 1988, the 56 page A4 size Eagle Times is published 4 times a year by the Eagle Society but as it is a club fanzine it has not always been easy for non-members to find and purchase a single copy. The society is now offering non-members the chance to purchase a sample copy for £6 including UK postage or £8.50 for the rest of the world. This can be an available back issue or the next issue to be published. If the buyer takes the next issue to be published and then decides to join the society the cost of the sample issue can be deducted from the annual membership.

There are more details of the offer of the Eagle Times blog.

Details of the contents of the current issue, Volume 23 Number 4, are here.

Artist Brian Lewis profiled in new Eagle Times

The latest issue of Eagle Times for Winter 2010 is on available now and has the usual intriguing mix of Eagle comic-related goodies to offer, including a profile of the artist Brian Lewis, whose work included strips for Eagle, 2000AD, Countdown and House of Hammer.

Items include:

• Not all Lancashire Lads and Lasses - a brief article on the genealogy of ('Dan Dare' creator) Frank Hampson

• The Life of Another Brian - memories about the brilliant illustrator Brian Lewis, who among his prolific output drew 'Home of the Wanderers' and 'Mann of Battle' for Eagle in the 1960s

• The Incredible Shrinking Fish - a critical examination of the giant sea creatures that appear in the classic 'Dan Dare' story 'The Man From Nowhere'

• Sammy: Swift's Space Fleet Cadet - takes a look at the strip in Eagle's companion paper Swift that was drawn by 'Dan Dare' artists Bruce Cornwell and Desmond Walduck, and drew heavily on the imagery of 'Dan Dare'

• From Under the 1950s Christmas Tree - taking a look at the various Eagle and 'Dan Dare' stencil sets that were available for children in the 1950s

•  Visual memories of the 37th World Science Fiction Convention, Seacon '79, which was held in Brighton in 1979 - with guests who included Frank Hampson and Arthur C Clarke.


For a full list of contents, visit the Eagle Times blog. The issue also includes a review of Dan Dare - The Biography by Daniel Tatarsky and the Eagle Annuals between 1961 and 1971, published after the takeover of Hulton Press.

• Membership of The Eagle Society is via Annual Subscription to Eagle Times magazine, which is published four times annually. The Subscription rate for 2011 is held at the 2010 rate (UK £23, Overseas £34 - payment in £s Sterling, please).

Early applications for 2011 (ie before 31st December 2010) are offered a discount saving of £2 off the above rates. Postal applications to: Keith Howard, 25A Station Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 2UA. If you wish to pay by Paypal the Society request an additional payment of £1. Enquiries: eagle-times@hotmail.com

60 Years of Eagle Celebrated

Eagle Society member Phil Daniels has posted the first part of his video report on the 60th Anniversary of the Eagle in Southport on youtube. (The whole video will be split into at least three parts).

"The Eagle was the best of all Boys magazines ever, first published on 14th April 1950," Phil enthuses. "I remember well getting my first copy and reading it for 10 years!

"This celrebration was held in Southport, the town in Lancashire, UK, where it began its life."

Eagle Times Celebrates 60 Years

The latest issue of Eagle Times (Volume 23 No 1) is now available from the Eagle Society and, naturally enough, is an issue dedicated to the impending 60th anniversary of The Eagle on 14th April.

The issue includes an examination of the career of Sergeant Bruce, whose single-episode exploits ran for nearly four years in the 1960s Eagle, firstly as 'Sergeant Bruce, C.I.D.' and then in 'Can You Catch a Crook?'; a tribute to Geoffrey Bond (1920-2009), best known as the writer of 'Luck of the Legion' and who wrote the 'Justin Tyme' strip for Eagle Times; reminiscences of some of Ron Embleton's 'discarded' artwork; and a look at the life and career of Paul Trevillion, better known for his sports illustrations and his work on 'Roy of the Rovers' for Tiger, who drew some of the 'Can You Catch a Crook?' and 'U.F.O. Agent' strips in the 1960s Eagle.

Of particular interest to downthetubes fans, will be our very own Jeremy Briggs' feature on Jim Stalwart, Dan Dare artist Bruce Cornwell's 'forgotten' Space Captain, whose exploits graced the pages of the Junior Mirror in 1954.

Also featured is a revisit to the Eagle connections with Ladybird Books, including some examples of the work of Roy Worvill (writer) and covers by the artists Robert Ayton, Frank Hampson, Frank Humphris and Martin Aitchison, including a Humphris 'Ladybird' Rough, showing the sketch which led to one of the full-page illustrations in the Ladybird book.

• Membership of the Eagle Society entitles you to copies of Eagle Times, which is published four times annually. The Subscription rate for 2010 is: UK £23, Overseas £34 (in £s Sterling, please). Apply by snail mail to: Keith Howard, 25A Station Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 2UA United Kingdom. Enquiries: eagle-times@hotmail.com

Eagle Times Warms Up Winter

The latest issue of Eagle Times (Vol 22 No 4, Winter 2009) is now available from the Eagle Society, wrapped in this cheery winter scene that illustrated an article titled 'He wants to be a Postman' from the Christmas issue of Eagle published in 1956 (Volume 7 No 52).

(Anyone who saw Panorama this week will clearly be wishing for a return to such times when post people were valued rather than poorly served by their management...)

The full line up of contents includes:

• Eagle artists at home - recollections of Eagle illustrators Frank Hampson, Ron Embleton, Keith Watson, Frank Humphris, John Worsley, Peter Jackson and Don Lawrence in the 1970s and 1980s


• John Dyke - the third in a series of articles about Eagle's nature artists reveals what is known of the artist of 'Advice on your Pets' and 'Discovering the Countryside'


• Treasure, John Worsley and 'Wee Willie Winkie' - the PC49 artist's spot-illustration work for Fleetway's pre-school periodical Treasure


• Dimworthy and Co, part 2 - concluding a review of Eagle's school strip stories


• Rod Barzilay's Spaceship Away Day - photographs and review from the second gathering of 'Dan Dare' fans at Bournemouth in November 2009


• 'The Case of the Purple Paint' - a PC49 Christmas story


• The Late Jack Daniel - some personal recollections about Eagle's first 'Riders of the Range' artist


• Under the 1950s Christmas Tree - some toys Santa might have left for you back in Eagle's times


• 'Nowhere' is not quite what it seems - a review of the 1956 Pathe Pictorial on Frank Hampson and the 'Dan Dare' Studio, which you can view in part online online via British Pathe


• Is there Anybody there? - an address to the Eagle Society at the 2009 Annual Dinner


• Christmas Eagles - a look at Christmas issues of Eagle, its some of its companion and rival papers.


• Eagle Autographs, part 6 - a post-script covering the Eagle Club's figureheads


• What's in a name, part 2 - concluding a look at the career of the multi-talented Gerry Embleton, the artist who brought back 'Dan Dare' in "new" Eagle (1982)


• Eagle Annual: the best of the 1960s comic - a review of Orion Books' latest "nostalgia" publication


• Pop Music during Eagle times - part 18, covering 1967

To obtain a copy, join the Eagle Society via Annual Subscription, which includes a subscription to Eagle Times, which is published four times annually. The Subscription rate for 2010 is: UK £23; Overseas £34 (in £s Sterling, please)

• Apply by snail mail to: Keith Howard, 25A Station Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 2UA. Enquiries: eagle-times@hotmail.com

New Eagle Times Available Now

The latest issue of Eagle Times, the quarterly journal dedicated to Britain's national picture strip weekly Eagle, features 50+ A4 pages (of which 20 are in full colour) of all sorts of things to do with Eagle and boys' comics of the 1950s and 60s.

This issues includes articles on Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson; artists Ian Kennedy, who helped shape the look of the 1980s Dan Dare, Tony 'Matt Mariott' Weare and Ron Embleton; Dan Dare reviews; a PC49 story; and more on the recently discovered 2nd Eagle dummy (see our previous news story).

If you subscribe for 2009 before 31/12/08 costs are £20/year for UK based members or £32 for overseas. Subscribing after this date will cost you a extra £2.

Membership secretary is Keith Howard, 25a Station Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 2UA
Cheques should be made payable to "Eagle Society"

• Further information about Eagle Times and the Eagle from eagle-times.blogspot.com

Eagle Times' Summer Release

The latest issue of the Eagle Society's magazine Eagle Times (Vol 21 No 2, Summer 2008) is now available by mail order.

The magazine includes features on the artists who worked on the Riders of the range strip, a look at the second 'dummy' issue of Eagle - used to help sell the title before it launched - a tribute to Sir Arthur C. Clarke, a review of the 2008 Eagle Society Weekend and more. Full content details can be found on the Eagle Society blog.

Membership of THE EAGLE SOCIETY is via Annual Subscription to EAGLE TIMES magazine, which is published four times annually.

Current Subscription rates are:
UK £22
Overseas £26
(in £s Sterling, please)

Please apply by snail mail to:
Keith Howard
25A Station Road
Harrow Middlesex
HA1 2UA
United Kingdom

Enquiries: eagle-times@hotmail.com