Sunday, October 15, 2017

Dan Dare #1

   I have to admit that I've never read any of Dan Dare's adventures.

   Which might not sound surprising, since this is issue #1 - but of course, the hero has been a huge favorite in Great Britain for generations, and has inspired armies of writers and artists.

    The new series from Titan Comics is not a reboot - it makes use of the classic characters, including Dan's right-hand man, Digby, his right-hand woman, Peabody, his pilot Hank, and his deadliest enemy, The Mekon.

   The issue sets up the world of the future, how the Space Fleet ended the menace of The Mekon (or did they?) and what happened next.

   Written by Peter Mulligan and drawn by Alberto Foche, the issue has to cover the basics, and does so with a surprisingly laid-back pace - but by the end of the issue, things start crackling.

   The good news is, you don't have to have any previous knowledge of the series - it brings you up to speed quickly - and you can see why the series is beloved.

   It plays it straight, but there's also a playful sense about it - it's a fun series, with lots of potential.

   No doubt that's one reason why Dan Dare is a classic!

Grade: A-

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