Frank's first published strip cartoon from The Post, July 20, 1935
From the book, Alan Vince, The Frank Hampson Interview
© Copyright Astral Publications, 1994.
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Before Dan Dare appeared in its familiar form, Marcus Morris tossed around the idea of Dan as a chaplain - emulating Marcus himself in real life. Needless to say, chaplain Dare could have never achieved the familiar  popularity wearing a collar. From the book "Living with Eagles". Image supplied by: David Britton
(for the full page spread - 750x1273, click here). 

Marcus Morris left Eagle Comics after the original Hulton Press was taken over by Longacre Press in 1960 while Frank Hampson did likewise in April 1961. Their departures signalled a slow but sure demise of the Eagle and Dan Dare.

This was the cover of the Eagle Dummy which Marcus Morris - the Eagle founder - showed to prospective publishers from the beginning of 1949. Frank Hampson of course co-invented the Eagle and worked on this Dummy.

Hampson's first Dan Dare Cover
EAGLE Vol. 1, Issue 1, April 14, 1950.
(For larger view, click on above image)

Hampson's first depiction of the Treen capitial city Mekonta.
Eagle Vol 15 - July 21, 1950
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