On This Day: 23 Apr

Eagle (Fleetway Publications) #[423] (28 Apr 1990). [relaunch]
Doctor Who Adventures (Panini UK) vol.2 #01 (2015).

Character Births:

Brian Braddock (Captain Britain; 1956); Elizabeth Braddock (Psylocke; 1956).

Births:

Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School actor Gerald Campion (1921); Will Spencer (1921); Roy Cross (1924); Ed "Stewpot" Stewart (1941); Art Wetherell (1961)

Deaths:

William Shakespeare (1616); Leo Baxendale (2017)

Notable Events:

Gilbert Thomas Webster was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 1942.
William Timyn (Tim) was issued with a Naturalisation Certificate, becoming a British citizen, in 1949.
The Jethro Tull album Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!, illustrated by Dave Gibbons, was released in the UK in 1976.
Eagle became full-colour, and printed on better paper, with #423 in 1990.
The Comedians set of stamps, with illustrations by Gerald Scarfe, was released by the Post Office in 1998.
The Best of Low exhibition began at the Political Cartoon Gallery in 2008.
Birmingham Comics Festival began in Edgbaston Stadium, The County Ground, Birmingham, in 2016.

On This Day: 14 Apr

Eagle Family Day

April 14th is Eagle Family Day, when you should try to do something to make mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, happy.

Marcus Morris.            

from Eagle (Hulton Press Ltd.) Vol.3 #01 (10 Apr 1952).

First Appearances:

Captain Brett Cantrell (Plague 2000) in The Crunch (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #14 (21 Apr 1979).

Births:

Gerry Anderson (1929); Dave Gibbons (1949)

Deaths:

Ernest Aris (1963); John Kent (2003)

Notable Events:

Eight thousand members of the Wilfredian League of Gugnuncs celebrated Pip, Squeak and Wilfred in the Albert Hall in 1928.
Just Jake newspaper strip ended in 1952.
Andy Capp newspaper strip began national distribution in The Daily Mirror in 1958.
Cicero newspaper strip began in The Sunday Times in 1968. It was the paper's first regular strip.
Dan Dare III: The Escape computer game released by Virgin Mastertronic in 1990. The game was available for Amiga, Amstrad, Atari ST, CBM 64, IBM PC and Spectrum users.
Vere Harold Esmond Harmsworth, 3rd Viscount Rothermere, was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 1996.
The Dan Dare 50th Anniversary Exhibition began at Atkinson Art Gallery, Merseyside, in 2000.
Yesterday's Tomorrow, celebrating the 65th anniversary of The Eagle, began at the British Interplanetary Society, 27/29 South Lambeth Rd, Vauxhall, London, in 2015.
Star Trek: The Classic UK Comics (IDW Publishing; 2016) reprinted the long-overlooked British adaptations of the US SF property.
International Comic Expo began in Margate in 2018.

On This Day: 12 Apr

First Appearances:

Paco - Trained to Kill in Valiant and Vulcan (IPC Magazines Ltd.)

Births:

Dick Ericson (1916); Oliver Postgate (1925); Víctor de la Fuente (1927); Bambos Georgiou (1959); Frazer Diamond (Toonhound; 1968); Fehed Said (1979); Peter Cooper (1985)

Deaths:

Robert Bateman (1973); Leslie Bell (1995)

Notable Events:

Rowland Emett married Elsie May "Mary" Evans in 1941.
The Tiffany Jones feature film, based on the newspaper strip, released in 1973.
Eaglecon, a convention dedicated to the Eagle comic, began in 1980.
Sid's Snake appeared on the cover of Dave Gorman vs. the Rest of the World, an Ebury Press paperback re-release.
Dekko Comics hosted an event in Glasgow, in association with Dyslexia Scotland, to celebrate the launch of monthly subscriptions.

On This Day: 07 Apr

The Eagle (Hulton Press Ltd.) vol.1 #01 (14 Apr 1950)
Civil War (Panini UK) #01 (2016)

The Rime of the Modern Mariner by Nick Hayes (Jonathan Cape; 2011) ISBN-10: 0 22409 025 9
Sooner or Later by Peter Milligan, Brendan McCarthy & Jamie Hewlett (Rebellion; 2016)

First Appearances:

Fudge the Elf in newspaper strip (1938).
The Adventures of P.C.49 in The Eagle vol.1 #01 (14 Apr 1950).
Professor Brittain in The Eagle vol.1 #01 (14 Apr 1950).
Rob Conway in The Eagle vol.1 #01 (14 Apr 1950).
Dan Dare [1] in The Eagle vol.1 #01 (14 Apr 1950).
Captain Pugwash in The Eagle vol.1 #01 (14 Apr 1950).
Skippy the Kangaroo in The Eagle vol.1 #01 (14 Apr 1950).
Tommy Walls in The Eagle vol.1 #01 (14 Apr 1950).
It Happened on D-Day in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #81 (10 Apr 1976).
Fink Angel in 2000 A.D. (IPC Magazines Ltd.) Prog 160 (12 Apr 1980).
Legend of the Linkits in Eagle and Tiger (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #212 (12 Apr 1986).

Births:

Gilbert Arthur à Beckett (1837); David Low (1891); David Ghilchik (1892); Primrose Cumming (1915); Peter Fluck (1941); Frank Wynne (1962)

Deaths:

William Heath (1840); Neville Duke (2007); Dora Jessie Saint (Miss Read; 2012)

Notable Events:

Fudge The Elf newspaper strip began in the Manchester Evening News in 1938.
A Raymond Briggs interview, in The Independent in 2004, revealed he is unhappy discussing The Snowman.
Clara Casian's short film House on the Borderland was screened, as part of La Modiva, in 2017.

On This Day: 06 Apr

Eagle Monthly (Fleetway Publications) #[473] (May 1991) [monthly frequency began]

The Official Comic Book Price Guide for Great Britain 1991/1992 by Duncan McAlpine. (PGP; 1991]

First Appearances:

Corporal Bill Davy (Sign of the Skull in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #133 (09 Apr 1977).

Births:

Charles Folkard (1878); Hayden Scott–Baron (Dock; 1980)

Notable Events:

A signing session for the The Official Comic Book Price Guide for Great Britain took place at the Virgin Mega Store, Oxford Street, London in 1991. Among others, Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, Rian Hughes and David Lloyd were in attendance.
The Mail on Sunday gave away a copy of The Beano with the paper in 2014.
The Great British Graphic Novel exhibition began, at the Cartoon Museum, London, in 2016.

On This Day: 01 Apr

April Fool's Day!

Vulcan Holiday Special (IPC Magazines Ltd.) nn (1976).
Eagle and Tiger (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #[159] (06 Apr 1985).
Eagle and Wildcat (Fleetway Publications) #[368] (08 Apr 1989).
Crazy Comics! #01 in Toxic (Egmont) #137 (01 Apr 2009-21 Apr 2009).

Tottering-by-Gently: Out and Out and About with the Totterings (Frances Lincoln; 2010) ISBN-13: 978-0711230842

Judge Dredd - War Crimes by David Bishop (Big Finish Productions; 2004)

First Appearances:

Hereward the Wake in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #111 (06 Apr 1963).
Lieutenant Oskar Ritter (Blitzkrieg Bomber) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #341 (04 Apr 1981).
Bobby Patterson (The Ultimate Warrior) in Eagle and Tiger #[159] (06 Apr 1985).

Births:

C.H. Chapman (1897); Peter Maddocks (1928); James Robinson (1963)

Notable Events:

Cecil Aldin, Tom Browne, Walter Churcher, Dudley Hardy and Phil May founded the Sketch Club in 1898, located in Dilke Street in London.
Clock Summer in with Horrabin television show, devised by (and starring) Dot And Carrie creator J.F. Horrabin, broadcast in 1938.
The first meeting of the Cartoonist Club of Great Britain took place in 1960.
John Brown Media founded in 1987 in order to publish HotAir and Viz - both previously published by Virgin.
Willie Rushton was the subject of the BBC television show This is Your Life in 1987.
The Deadline Signing Tour began at Ace, in Colchester, Essex, in 1989, before moving on to the Acme Comic Shop in Brixton.
Frank Quitely exhibition began at Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow in 2017.

On This Day: 26 Mar

Psycho Gran (Titan) #01 (2014) digital edition

First Appearances:

Davock of Grey Woods in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #58 (31 Mar 1962).
Roy Fane (Return from Mars) in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #58 (31 Mar 1962).
Smasher (robot) in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #58 (31 Mar 1962).
Nina Coltrane (Shadows) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 672 (31 Mar 1990).

Births:

Tony Crawley (1938); Brian Bolland (1951)

Notable Events:

The Eagle Sportsman of the Year trophy was awarded to Peter May, at the Royal Albert Hall, in 1956.
Grimbledown Down cartoon strip began in New Scientist in 1970, and ended on this day in 1994.
The Disney Mirror 8–page giveaway ended in 1994 with the 160^th issue.
Gorillaz, the band's eponymously–titled debut album, released in the UK in 2001.
Kick-Ass feature film, based on the comic by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr., released in 2010.
Bryan Talbot signed copies of his books at Forbidden Planet, 40-41 Southbridge Street, Edinburgh, in 2011. Later in the day he did a presentation at Plan B Books, 5 Osborne St, Glasgow.
Revolutionary War: Omega (Marvel) #01 (Mar 2014) released in the US in 2014.
Nigel Parkinson was featured in The Guardian's 'Work & Careers' section on this day in 2015.

On This Day: 19 Mar

Tornado (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #01 (24 Mar 1979).
Eagle (IPC Magazines Ltd.) vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
Scream (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #01 (24 Mar 1984).

First Appearances:

The Angry Planet in Tornado #01 (24 Mar 1979).
Captain Klep in Tornado #01 (24 Mar 1979).
Victor Drago in Tornado #01 (24 Mar 1979).
The Mind of Wolfie Smith in Tornado #01 (24 Mar 1979).
Wagner's Walk in Tornado #01 (24 Mar 1979).
The Collector in Eagle vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
Doomlord in Eagle vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
Ernie in Eagle vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
Sgt. Streetwise in Eagle vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
Mick Tempest (The Tower King) in Eagle vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
Thunderbolt and Smokey! in Eagle vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
The Dracula File in Scream #01 (24 Mar 1984).
Library of Death in Scream #01 (24 Mar 1984).
Monster in Scream #01 (24 Mar 1984).
Max (The Thirteenth Floor) in Scream #01 (24 Mar 1984).
Tales from the Grave in Scream #01 (24 Mar 1984).
The Terror of the Cats in Scream #01 (24 Mar 1984).
Frank Weitz (Armoured Gideon) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 671 (24 Mar 1990).

Births:

Achille Beltrame (1871); Sep E. Scott (1879); William Blain (1903); Keith Waite (1927); Richard Williams (1933); Pasqual Ferry (1961); Simon Donald (1964)

Deaths:

Steve Dowling (1986); Johnny Hicklenton (2010)

Notable Events:

Jim Barker took voluntary redundancy to become a freelance artist in 1982.
The Sun published an attack on St. Swithin's Day in 1990. Failed politician Teddy "dial-a-quote" Taylor was on hand to offer his opinion on the comic, though it later transpired he hadn't even read the story.
Revolutionary War: Warheads (Marvel) #01 (Mar 2014) released in the US in 2014.
Cursed Edge – Prog 5 fan film released on YouTube in 2016.

On This Day: 02 Mar

Eagle (IPC Magazines Ltd.) vol. #259 (07 Mar 1987). new look issue
Disney Mirror free with The Daily Mirror (1991).

First Appearances:

John Bull in Law is a Bottomless Pit by Dr. John Arbuthnot (1714) ?
Corporal Tom Parker (Parker's Private Army) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #128 (05 Mar 1977).
Paul Cannon (The Avenger) in Eagle #259 (07 Mar 1987).
Major Bronski (Comrade Bronski) in Eagle #259 (07 Mar 1987).
Mark Davies (Survival) in Eagle #259 (07 Mar 1987).

Births:

Alex Graham (1917); Ken Langstaff (1918); Simon Coleby (1967); Andrew Wildman

Deaths:

Frank Eric Smith (Trow; 1908); J.F. (James Francis) Horrabin (1962); Paul Raymond (2008); Bruce Cornwell (2012)

Notable Events:

Dot And Carrie ended in The Evening News with strip #11,735 in 1962.
The Fosdyke Saga newspaper strip began in The Daily Mirror in 1971.
John Noakes presented a brief history of British comics on Blue Peter in 1972.
The Fink Brothers' Mutants in Mega-City One single dropped to #75 in 1985. It would be the song's last chart sighting.
The Disney Mirror 8–page newspaper giveaway began in 1991.
Bryan Talbot did a presentation and signing at the Trent Building, University Park Campus, University of Nottingham, in 2011.
Jessica Martin's Picture Palace exhibition began at the Radlett Centre's Althorp Gallery, London, in 2015.
Bryan and Mary Talbot gave a talk in the Colin Matthew Room, Ground Floor, Radcliffe Humanities Building, University of Oxford, in 2018.

On This Day: 25 Jan

Eagle and Battle (Fleetway Publications) #306 (30 Jan 1988).
The Complete Judge Dredd (Fleetway Publications) #1 (Feb 1992).

Nikolai Dante: The Strangelove Gambit by David Bishop. (Black Flame; Jan 2005) ISBN-10: 1 84416 139 0

Births:

John Dudman (1925)

Deaths:

Guido Buzzelli (1992); Arthur Horner (1997); Bill Ritchie (2010); Mike Peyton (2017)

On This Day: 31 Dec

Judge Dredd: Crime Chronicles - The Devil's Playground by Jonathan Clements. (Big Finish Productions; 2009)

Births:

Alfred Taylor (1889); Patricia Lamburn (1925); Dave Westaway (1946); Tom Morton (1955)

Deaths:

Maurice Dodd (2005)

Notable Events:

The Schoolboys' Own Exhibition began at the Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster, London, in 1951. Eagle was represented by a Dan Dare Rifle Range, with the best shot of the day qualifying for a specially-made B.S.A. air rifle.
The Schoolboys' Own Exhibition began at the Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster, London, in 1952. Eagle took a 40' stand (the largest in the exhibition) in order to show off all the products based on characters from the comic. For added effect, the stand was in the form of Dan Dare's spaceship. Brian Reece and Wilfred Pickles were there for the grand opening.
The AAARGH! comic exhibition, organised by Michael Kustow, began at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in 1971. It was the first serious exhibition of comic art in the UK.
Due to family ill-health, Mike Conroy was forced to close Maya Merchandising (an offshoot of The Edge of Forever), which ceased trading on this day in 1982. The Perfect Mailing Company took over existing orders
Happy Birthday Broons! was broadcast on BBC One Scotland in 2006.
Just Dandy, a celebration of The Dandy, was broadcast on BBC One Scotland in 2012.

On This Day: 22 Dec

Births:

Basil Reynolds (1916); Rafael Aura León (1939); Mike Molloy (1940); Noel Ford (1942); Tony Isabella (1951)

Deaths:

Louis Briault (1944); Willie Gall (2006)

Notable Events:

A Special Carol Service for Eagle readers took place at 2:30pm in St. Paul's Cathedral in London in 1951, with Marcus Morris in attendance. Specially-printed sheets of carols were given to participants. Eagle readers Rupert Scott (16), Philip Hughes (14), and Philip Belgeonne (13) spoke for the congregation of over 3,000 people. The collection raised £59 8s 3d for charity.
The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's feature film released in 1960.
Sir Osbert Lancaster was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 1979.
Borders (UK) Limited closed in 2009, leaving Crikey! without high-street distribution.

On This Day: 20 Dec

Births:

Albert Thacker "Bertie" Brown (1887)

Deaths:

Leslie Illingworth (1979)

Notable Events:

A Christmas tea for Eagle readers, with Marcus Morris, Frank Hampson, and Charles Chilton, took place in London in 1951.
Paul Smith was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 1992. His chosen book was The Beano Annual 1974.
Bob Monkhouse was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 1998.
The second Dennis and Gnasher animated series ended in 2013.

On This Day: 19 Dec

Deaths:

Albert Barnes (1982); Ron Turner (1998)

Notable Events:

Eagle arranged for twenty Club members to tour Eric Bemrose Ltd., and see the latest issue of the title roll off the press, in 1952.
Blue Murder at St. Trinian's feature film released in the UK in 1957.
Rebellion began selling digital editions of 2000 A.D. in 2007.
Nick Park was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 2010.

On This Day: 18 Dec

First Appearances:

Ticker Turner in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #44 (23 Dec 1961).

Births:

Charles Robinson Sykes (Jacques d ‘Or; Rilette; 1875); Michael Moorcock (1939); Ken Reid (1919); Luke Walsh (1964)

Deaths:

Ewen Bain (1989); Geoff Campion (1997)

Notable Events:

Terror Keep newspaper strip began in The Daily Mirror in 1936.
A Christmas tea for Eagle readers, with Marcus Morris, Frank Hampson, and Charles Chilton, took place in Leeds in 1951.
Michael Moorcock's 60th birthday was celebrated by the publication of moorcock@60.com in 1999. The volume had sixty contributors, and was instigated by his 'Nomads of the Time Streams' fan club. The great man's birthday party was in Texas.
St. Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold feature film released in the UK in 2009.

Eagle [Vol.21] #2

03 Apr 1982. Cover price 20p.
32 pages. Colour & B&W contents.
IPC Magazines Ltd.

Edited by David Hunt.

Photo cover by Gary Compton.

Free Golden Eagle badge.

Contents:

 2 Eagle Hotline The Eagle Has Really Landed! text introduction by David Hunt. / Your Free Gift / Get Ready For... Roar film preview / Eagle Book of Records reader feedback requested. / New This Week introduction to The Money Page and The Adventures of Fred. / Odd Spot photograph (uncredited). / Happy Birthday / Last Minute Department reader feedback requested.

 3 Doomlord UNTITLED [No Trace of the Spaceship], part two, w: Alan Grant; photography by Gary Compton.

 7 Wellie of the Week Terry Wogan photograph (uncredited). / Eagle Sweet Talk Scarey Sticks / Things that Go Chomp in the Night! / Rocky Horror! / Caught by the Camera Boeing 727 photograph by Hans Wendt. / Ernie UNTITLED [Being a Star Comes Naturally] w:/a: Dave Follows.

 8 Squadron Leaders advertisement for Humbrol 1/48 and 1/72 scale models.

 9 Eagle Data File Sea King Har 3 fact file; illustration (uncredited).

10 The Adventures of Fred UNTITLED [Read the Signs] w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); photographs (uncredited).

11 The Collector Assassin w: Brian Burrell; a: Pat Wright, photography by Sven Arnstein.

14 The Unexplained! Demon Guard (one third page) text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited). / The Symbol of Excellence (one sixth page) newsagent order form.

26 Daley's Diary It's Best by Boat! / Forgotten Losers / Lauda's Crown? / The Dutch Master / The Last National? text features by Daley Thompson.

16 Dan Dare Return of the Mekon, part two, w: John Wagner & Pat Mills; a: Gerry Embleton.

18 Sgt. Streetwise UNTITLED [The Thames Gang], part two, w: Gerry Finley-Day; photographs by Dave Watts.

21 The Tower King UNTITLED [Lord Spencer's Arrival], part two, w: Alan Hebden; a: Jose Ortiz.

24 Free with Battle in-house advertisement for Battle and Strike Force sticker album; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

25 Eagle Interview Bob Champion (three fifths of page) interview by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photograph by UNKNOWN (uncredited). / Kids are Tough! Michael Goes on Parade (two fifths of page) text feature about Michael Webb by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photograph (uncredited).

26 The Money Page: Glamorous Teacher Miss Palmer, Magna Carta School, Staines; photograph (uncredited). / Big Mouth Belt Up, Jim! / School Uniform readers' mail. / Superdad! Nick and Matt Oakley photograph (uncredited). / Brothers & Sisters Get it Taped! / Super Sis readers' mail.

27 Thunderbolt and Smokey! UNTITLED [West Against North], part two, w: Tom Tully; photographs by John Powell.

31 Read Mike Read UNTITLED [The big mistake that I've always made with any sport I've participated in...] (half page) text feature by Mike Read; photographs (uncredited); illustration (uncredited). / Shopwatch It's Looking Good for Spring [Wrangler; Palitoy Pocketeers games] shopping feature (uncredited). / Next Week

 9 Personality Plus Clare Grogan pin-up and mini-bio (uncredited). / 10 'Happy Birthday' LP's Up for Grabs! competition.

Eagle says a special thank you to the following for their help this issue... The Magna Carta School, Staines. Epic Records.

There's still an educational element to Eagle's remit, with surprising success. One such fact is that penguins can catch colds, as the Antarctic is so cold it is germ free, thus penguins have no immunity to the sniffles. Non-fiction highlight of the issue, and I can't get the image of penguins sneezing out of my head - smiling each time I imagine them wiping their beaks on their wings, grumbling away. This is the Eagle of old shining through the new paint job. Barely visible, but still there.

At the offices of the Cranberry Argus, reporter Howard Harvey - the only witness to Doomlord's arrival on Earth - tried to convince his editor that his story was true.

If you are even minimally aware of series such as The Invaders you will know that attempting to convince superiors, or authorities, of alien activity is likely to end in failure. Worse, it might be seen as an eccentricity which points to instability, losing the character their safety nets of regular income and credibility. It is never a good sign when a character jumps straight to his "They're coming... They're coming..." act, rather than patiently investigating and collecting evidence.

Alan Grant is a great writer, but here panders to a degree of clichéd writing which doesn't feel real. In only two installments of the story, Harvey has lost all credibility as a reporter. Tailing the police officer, Harvey loses him at a train station, though sees a vaguely-familiar man get on the train - a closer look reveals that he is wearing the same distinctive alien ring. Arriving at King's Cross Station, he finally remembers the man's name, Sir Matthew Hodges, Cranbridge's member of Parliament.

While the photographic standards are, admittedly, better than average, there is still no discernible advantage to presenting Doomlord in such a manner. Artistic quibbles aside, it is to the strip's credit that the casual murder of bystanders isn't shied away from - with one such unfortunate shown to be disintegrated when the alien's disguise begins to falter.

The Adventures of Fred is a precursor to Mr. Bean, or Matt Lucas' Pompidou, perhaps. Utilising signs to tell its story, with the Inspector Clouseau-like character oblivious to their warnings, the single-page introduction is, however, merely adequate. Comedy is difficult, and when there is the added complication of creating scripts achievable through photography, it makes necessary exaggeration almost impossible. It is impossible to capture crazy antics in photo strips with the same anarchy present in drawn strips.

"Welcome. I see you have returned to sample another weird and bizarre tale from my museum of extraordinary exhibits.

The story behind this charm bracelet is unusual. A romance, perhaps? Alas, no, let me tell you about the person who used to wear this... Harvey Pell, the man who had no heart!

Rivalries in London's gangland sees numerous unlikely and odd "accidents" claim the lives of various people. Edward Rogan, a food connoisseur is poisoned at his own dinner table, the Gray brothers - driving enthusiasts - were involved in a fatal smash when their brakes failed, and Charley "Birdy" Burdett, fell from an office block while birdwatching. Accidents they are not, for they are the work of an assassin whose modus operandi has earned him the moniker "Heartless" Harvey Pell.

Pell's next hit is Tony Lombardo, a man who spends his free time on the shooting range. Deciding on an appropriate method with which to dispose of Lombardo, Pell breaks into the man's office and sets up a pistol to fire the next time someone speaks into the 'phone. Having seemingly set up the perfect murder, he is interrupted by an opportunistic thief who sees the office door open. Tied to the chair, in line with the pistol, Pell is forced to wait on Lombardo returning to his office to release him, hoping that nobody uses the 'phone...

A taut story, with a clever set-up, handled in a clunky manner through the photo strip format. The character of Pell would be revisited in Accident Man, proving that no good idea goes to waste, though here the conceit is badly squandered. With Lombardo's pistol so prominent in the photographs, it is likely he would move it back to its proper location before going anywhere near his 'phone.

The Unexplained!, a text feature which covers supernatural dogs, is suitably placed at the end of The Collector, though is far from an in-depth account of such beasts. Such a small feature was never going to be satisfying, or include the best (i.e. downright creepiest) stories, yet the complete absence of credible (and documented) reports make this a brief note that, yes, such things might exist. Maybe. Possibly. If you squint hard, and don't try to rationalise away such things. More gravity would have helped, but the main problem is with the length.

As the nature of the articles are not usually of interest, I normally give Daley's Diary a brief glance, note the contents, then move on. But this issue's contents has an intriguing comment regarding the fate of the Grand National.

I shall be very sorry, like all lovers of sport, if this year's Grand National is the last to be run. It's become part of the British way of life.

While various attempts, over the years, to have the race brought to an end due to animal welfare concerns, there has never really been a sense that such concerns might actually come to anything. What was different in the early eighties? I kinda want to know how close the race came to ending, but I'm not interested - or invested - enough to go looking. Context in the reporting of current events is appreciated, especially when texts are analysed at such a remove. Approaching the commentary now, without immediate access to material of the period covering the event in detail, makes for a frustrating and tantalising read.

The year was 2210, one mile above the Earth, in the parliament of the Terran Federation, delegates sit in emergency session. . . .

Dan Dare begins strong, with an armada of eight thousand ships approaching Earth. The president reveals that he is a robot, exploding with enough force to destroy the satellite upon which the parliament are aboard. Luna Base, HQ of the Terran Defence Fleet, launch a force to repel the invasion, though possibly not in time.

The Kármán line, sixty-two miles above Earth, is generally accepted as the point at which Earth's atmosphere gives way to outer space, which itself is far higher than the flying ship is portrayed as being. It is a curious statement to make - one hundred miles places the parliament in space, though far, far too low to be in a stable orbit. Comic-book science, however, cocks a snook at such details.

At only two pages it is difficult to imagine how this is going to play out without an increase in space for the strip, though the art more than makes up for such brevity. While robots masquerading as humans is an overplayed device, the final panel is a surprising reversal of conventional depictions of the security of Earth space.

An extremely stiffly posed shot in the first panel of Sgt. Streetwise is enough to turn me off reading the strip immediately, and I honestly don't care what happens. Already, two issues in, the photo strips have outstayed their welcome.

Lord Spencer's men arrive via train, and is told he will be ruler of the Tower of London within the hour. Mick Tempest, the Tower King, has other ideas, and charges into the battle, though must retreat due to overwhelming forces. At Tower Bridge a small group of Tempest's men prepare to hold off the invaders until the bridge can be raised.

Beautiful, engaging, and utterly compelling, The Tower King continues to impress.

The Money Page, for which read "readers' mail" (with additional quirks), poses two problems, the first of which is the more troublesome - Glamorous Teacher, which praises attractive teachers, and showers gifts upon them, is annoying. Summing up a person's career with a statement of how good they look? Not cool. It would have been more appropriate to reward teachers who provided real, solid life-changing classes. The kind of teachers who are remembered long after their pupils have left school. They may not be the most photogenic, but their value to society is incalculable.

The second issue with the letters page is the poor formatting, wasting much of the page. When readers have spent time writing to a publication their comments should be presented in a respectful manner, and with enough variation in content that the page isn't fragmented snippets. As a new title the number of suitable letters might have been low, though this is where thoughtful, and erudite, responses come into play. By padding the page with an ugly border, then boxing off each section, there's so little presented that the title might as well have not bothered including it.

01

Eagle [Vol.21]

#03

Eagle [Vol.21] #1

27 Mar 1982. Cover price 20p.
32 pages. Colour & B&W contents.
IPC Magazines Ltd.

Edited by David Hunt.

Cover by Gerry Embleton.

Free Space Spinner.

Contents:

 2 Eagle Hotline Eagle is Back! text introduction by David Hunt. / A Welcome from the Stars comments from John Craven, Peter Davison, Roy Castle, Ian Botham, Lenny Henry, and John Bond; photographs (uncredited). / How Times Change the new artists - the men who capture the action on film for our exciting photo-stories! Introduction to John Powell, Dave Watts, and Gary Compton. / Wanted! reader feedback requested. / Ernie UNTITLED [Eagle's Official Eagle Mascot] w:/a: Dave Follows.

 3 Doomlord An Alien Stalks the Earth, part one, w: Alan Grant; photography by Gary Compton.

 7 Kids are Tough! Darren Defies Thugs! text feature about Darren Daly by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photograph (uncredited). / Big Mouth readers' mail. / Eagle Interview Peter Davison by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photographs (uncredited), illustration by Dave Follows.

 8 The Whole Town's Popping! advertisement for Waddingtons Pop-Aways.

 9 Personality Plus Bryan Robson pin-up and mini-bio (uncredited). / Fifty Freebie Man. United Books Up for Grabs! competition.

10 Thunderbolt and Smokey! UNTITLED [Two players don't make a football team], part one, w: Tom Tully; photographs by John Powell.

14 Sgt. Streetwise The Police Had Need of Men Like Him... Men Who Stayed Streetwise!, part one, w: Gerry Finley-Day; photographs by Dave Watts.

16 Dan Dare Return of the Mekon, part one, w: Barrie Tomlinson; a: Gerry Embleton.

18 Sgt. Streetwise The Police Had Need of Men Like Him... Men Who Stayed Streetwise! cont.

19 Eagle Fun Spot School Report - Jim Davidson; photograph (uncredited), illustration by Dave Follows.

20 The Tower King UNTITLED [A Gutted City, Haunted by Crazies], part one, w: Alan Hebden; a: Jose Ortiz.

24 Squadron Leaders advertisement for Humbrol 1/48 and 1/72 scale models.

25 Eagle Data File F-15 Eagle fact file; illustration (uncredited).

26 Daley's Diary Strange Names! / Arnold's Dilemma / Great Mates / 'Picca-Dilley'! / A marathon a day... text features by Daley Thompson.

27 The Collector Eye of the Fish w: Roy Preston; a: Pat Wright & Ron Smith, photography by Gary Compton.

31 Read Mike Read UNTITLED [I'm the strange character who struggles in to London at the crack of dawn] (half page) text feature by Mike Read; photographs (uncredited). / Shopwatch UNTITLED [Kensington board game; The Puffin Adventure Sports Series] shopping feature (uncredited); illustration by Dave Follows.

32 Dan Dare Return of the Mekon, cont.

A messy cover, with Embleton's art covered by redundant lines of text, half of the space given over to promoting a free gift... which would have covered the announcement that there was a free gift. Sheer genius. The messy appearance is continued inside, with Eagle Hotline, a catch-all editorial page appearing to have taken some design hints from early eighties magazines. It is nice to see Eagle's past remembered, with Dan Dare and Digby, Harris Tweed, and Jeff Arnold represented, though this, for the moment, is all the Eagle relaunch has to say about its illustrious original incarnation.

How do you compete with one of the most celebrated and beloved titles to bear the Eagle name? By changing everything which made the original so compelling, and to promote photo strips over traditional comic strips.

Midnight. A fireball streaked down over the sleeping town of Cranbridge -

The only witnesses were P.C. Bob Murton and Howard Harvey, a reporter from the Cranbridge Argus -

Officer Murton is immediately killed by Doomlord, having his knowledge absorbed, and is soon disintegrated with a beam from the alien's ring. Howard Harvey is rendered unconscious, before Doomlord takes the physical appearance of Murton. When Harvey awakens, he travels to the police station to report Murton's death, but is brought face-to-face with Murton, very much alive, and wearing the alien's ring.

Doomlord, the first of this issue's photo strips, attempts to present a dramatic SF tale with all the limitations of its photography undermining any credibility. Doomlord's introduction, it must be admitted, is fairly impressive given that he appears to be wearing a discarded duvet, with a mask which is far more convincing that that used in photos of Tharg. It isn't a perfect introduction to Doomlord, but it isn't anywhere near as bad as some complaints about the revived series would have you believe.

The world really wasn't calling for a mix of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers and The Day the Earth Stood Still, but Alan Grant provides enough interest to keep things moving along without getting caught up in extraneous detail.

A mandatory sports strip for Eagle, Thunderbolt and Smokey!, is a run-of-the-mill school-based photo strip.

The educational record of Dedfield School was second-to-none! But when it came to getting results on the sports field, it was a very different story...

Losing seven-nil, Dedfield - nicknamed 'Dead-Loss' - are a football team without support from their teachers, though Colin Dexter (Thunderbolt) is determined to turn the team's fortunes around. When he learns that Smokey Beckles, recently transfered to the school, isn't going to play for a losing team, his hopes seem dashed.

That the only black character is named Smokey should tell you all you need to know.

On a more positive note, the strip presents a problem, shows a partial solution, and throws a few wrenches in the works. From a purely storytelling standpoint, this is a fairly strong opening, though presented in dreary grey, page after page of photographs, this can't quite overcome its appearance. If this had been a traditional comic strip its plot might have been enough to make a success of the concept, yet there is nothing here worth getting excited about.

Sgt. Streetwise is slightly better, being the adventures of Detective-Sergeant Wise of Special Undercover Operations. Wise operates on his own, without a radio, cuffs, or weapon, even going so far as to forgo identity papers, and after his homeless disguise is blown has to take on a new identity to continue his work.

Snow-covered streets add slightly to the feel of the strip, though this is a pale imitation of detective television shows, and requires a great deal of suspended disbelief at the frankly ludicrous set-up. As with all the photo strips, the reproduction isn't sharp enough to justify such an elaborate means of creation, and there's no real sense of drama despite a well-staged opening.

Splitting the strip, so that Dan Dare could take the colour centre-pages is annoying, and completely unnecessary, displaying a lack of

The return of Dan Dare comes in Return of the Mekon.

It appeared to be the final confrontation between two beings whose adventures had thrilled a generation. Colonel Dan Dare, valiantly fighting to save Earth from the sworn for of mankind... the cold, merciless mastermind of Venus - the Mekon!

The Mekon surrenders after an intense battle, vowing that one day he will get his revenge on Dare. The World Supreme Court, highest judicial body on Earth, passes judgement, sentencing the Mekon to be placed in a life support capsule, enclosed in a meteor, then set adrift in space. Forever. Because a slap on the wrist and a fine isn't going to deter such a heinous villain as the Mekon. Preparations are duly made, and a meteor, with the Mekon imprisoned inside, is sent off into space.

In such a prison, time became meaningless. Was it a month, a year, or a century before other beings approached the meteor?

Aliens pick up the meteor hoping that valuable ore will be discovered within it, and cut it open - despite getting a life-reading from within.

The inhabitants of the planet Korzak were a meek race... and the sight of the green-skinned being terrified them!

Informed that Treens have lived in peace for many years, leaderless and abandoned, becoming farmers and traders, the Mekon is outraged. Deciding to exact his revenge on Dare, he orders his rescuers to take him to the location of his enemy, beaming down to the planet to continue his battle - only to discover that Dan Dare died hundreds of years before. A gravestone states that he died before his battles with the Treen Empire, puzzling the Mekon, and though he cannot defeat a dead man, he can take his revenge on the planet Earth.

Another strip split to take advantage of colour pages, this time continuing on the back page, Dan Dare is a decidedly odd return. Focusing on the Mekon rather than the titular hero, the story goes so far as to kill off Dare on the final panel. This can be taken as a statement of intent for the revived title - don't expect things to remain as they were. It is only partially successful in bringing back Dan Dare's world, feeling slightly too rushed to properly establish a timeline of events.

The solar power satellite was the most important result of the American space programme of the 1980's. A vast array of solar panels had been placed in stationary orbit above the equator...

Solar energy from the sun was converted into microwaves and beamed down to a huge receiving station on the ground, where the microwaves were reconverted into electric power and fed into a grid.

It should have been the start of a new era.

Instead, it was the beginning of a disaster!

The microwaves had disrupted the balance of the Earth's atmosphere, making the generation of electricity in any form impossible. Without it, aircraft fell out of the sky... Ships drifted helplessly... Road traffic ground to a halt...

...and nuclear power stations melted down!

Without electricity there was no radio or TV... No telephones or newspapers... No form of transport... Nor was there heat or light.

In the days that followed, panic swept the world as nobody knew what was happening.

Without electricity food production and distribution broke down, forcing starving mobs out to the countryside in a desperate bid to find some.

Finally, after panic and starvation, came disease and death on a scale unknown since the black death.

Small bands of survivors formed tightly-knit groups to defend themselves and continue life in the ruins of civilisation. In London, within the walls of the Tower of London, such a group was led by a man named Mick Tempest.

There's a lot to like in The Tower King, and much back-story to deliver, which it does as rapidly as possible. The extended sequence of reported information, which builds up to the appearance of the titular character, may take up two whole pages, but as it is essential to everything which follows it is a justifiable journey. The city of London, seen only partially in the vignettes, may not be the most original choice of location to place the series in, though the concepts are interesting enough to overcome this lack of imagination.

Its primary selling point, a modern world deprived of power, had already been visited in the television series The Changes, based on Peter Dickinson's books, though in a slightly different form.

The strip's introductory text is slightly over-playing the reality of such a situation - heat can be provided from fires, and printing presses of old did fine without electricity. Regardless, one has to hand it to Hebden - the text boxes prefacing the story is very dramatic and attention-grabbing manner in which to begin the story. The close of the story proves that there are forms of transport in the new landscape of London, though given that the strip had already shown us horses...

Eye of the Fish, a complete story, is introduced by The Collector.

"Welcome. I am known as The Collector! Some of my exhibits may seem a little out of the ordinary to you. But then so, too, are the reasons why I keep them!"

Terry Lansberry and his father go fishing near a sign which prohibits such activity, but their illicit sport is soon brought to a halt by darkening skies. Terry disappears in a flash of light, swiftly followed by his father, thereafter learning an important lesson...

Yes, it is a slight, and incredibly silly, variant on a well-worn theme, but it doesn't really need to be brilliant. A complete story, however well crafted, is essential to giving readers of an anthology value for money - you never know if they are going to purchase the next issue, so as long as they get one full story then their purchase has been validated.

With a superb beginning from The Tower King, an intriguing question (or two) lingering in Dan Dare, and Doomlord's inherent possibilities, this is a solid, if unexceptional, beginning. Or, if you prefer, it is a rather subdued revival with much potential.

Eagle [Vol.21]

#02

Eagle Vol.1

Eagle Vol.1

14 Apr 1950 - 06 Apr 1951 (52 issues)
Hulton Press, Ltd.

Edited by Marcus Morris.

01 (14 Apr 1950; cover price 3d) Dan Dare, The Adventures of P.C. 49, Captain Pugwash, Professor Brittain Explains, Seth and Shorty, Skippy the Kangaroo, Heroes of the Clouds, Discovering the Countryside, Real Life Mysteries, Chicko, Rob Conway, Tommy Walls and The Great Adventurer strips begin. Plot Against the World by Chad Varah, and Lash Lonergan's Quest by Moore Raymond text serials begin. The Spies who Saved London text feature by Bernard Newman.

Note: Cricket Coaching feature by Learie Constantine. Make Your Own Model Racing Car by G.W. Arthur-Brand and Sporting Personalities: Stanley Mortensen features.

02 (21 Apr 1950)

Note: Cricket Coaching feature by Learie Constantine.

03 (28 Apr 1950) Grandpa begins. School For Spies text feature by Bernard Newman.

Note: Cricket Coaching feature by Learie Constantine; Try It Yourself, Make Your Own Model Racing Car by G.W. Arthur-Brand and Sporting Personalities: Reg Parnell features.

04 (05 May 1950)

Note: Cricket Coaching feature by Learie Constantine.

05 (12 May 1950) The Spy Catchers text feature by Bernard Newman.

Note: Make Your Own Model Racing Car by G.W. Arthur-Brand and Sporting Personalities: Bruce Woodcock features.

06 (19 May 1950)

Note: Cricket Coaching feature by Learie Constantine.

07 (26 May 1950)

Note: Cricket Coaching by Learie Constantine and Make Your Own Model Racing Car by G.W. Arthur-Brand.

08 (02 Jun 1950) Codes And Ciphers text feature by Bernard Newman.

Note: Cricket Coaching feature by Learie Constantine.

09 (09 Jun 1950)

Note: Cricket Coaching by Learie Constantine and Make Your Own Model Racing Car by G.W. Arthur-Brand.

10 (16 Jun 1950)

Note: Cricket Coaching feature by Learie Constantine.

11 (23 Jun 1950)

Note: Cricket Coaching by Learie Constantine and Make Your Own Model Racing Car by G.W. Arthur-Brand.

12 (30 Jun 1950) Spy Messages text feature by Bernard Newman.

Note: Cricket Coaching feature by Learie Constantine.

13 (07 Jul 1950)

Note: Cricket Coaching feature by Learie Constantine. Make Your Own Model Racing Car by G.W. Arthur-Brand and Sporting Personalities: Reg Harris features.

14 (14 Jul 1950)

Note: Cricket Coaching feature by Learie Constantine.

15 (21 Jul 1950) Emergency Call text story by Ronald Syme.

Note: Cricket Coaching by Learie Constantine and Make Your Own Model Racing Car by G.W. Arthur-Brand.

16 (28 Jul 1950) Harris Tweed - Extra Special Agent begins. Spies Museum text feature by Bernard Newman. The Strange Affair of Hairy Harry text story by Chesney MacGuire.

Note: Sporting Personalities: Jack Parker feature.

17 (04 Aug 1950) Cortez, Conqueror of Mexico begins. The Fires Within text story by Charles Willis.

Note: Try It Yourself and Sporting Personalities: Cathie Gibson features.

18 (11 Aug 1950; cover price becomes 4d) The Secret of the Mine text serial by Ronald Syme begins. The Churchill Murder Plot text by Bernard Newman. The Wreck of the "White Queen" text story by Sydney J. Bounds.

Note: Improve Your Swimming feature by Roy Romaine, English and European Breast Stroke Champion. A Model Plane to Make and Fly by G.W. Arthur-Brand, Try It Yourself and Sporting Personalities: Gordon Richards features.

19 (18 Aug 1950) Ambush in the Desert text story by Lewis Jackson.

Note: A Model Plane to Make and Fly by G.W. Arthur-Brand, Try It Yourself and Improve Your Swimming feature by Roy Romaine.

20 (25 Aug 1950) Secret Inks text by Bernard Newman. Car Fourteen text story by Duncan Hall.

Note: Improve Your Swimming feature by Roy Romaine. A Model Plane to Make and Fly by G.W. Arthur-Brand, Try It Yourself and Sporting Personalities: Jaroslav Drobny features.

21 (01 Sep 1950) Couriers of The Jungle text story by R.A. Garland.

Note: Improve Your Swimming feature by Roy Romaine. A Model Plane to Make and Fly by G.W. Arthur-Brand feature.

22 (08 Sep 1950) The Truth About Cowboys text series by Grierson Dickson begins. The Head-Hunter text story by Tony Lethbridge.

Note: Improve Your Swimming feature by Roy Romaine. Building a Model Railway by J. Walkden Fisher, Try It Yourself and Sporting Personalities: R.T. Simpson features.

23 (15 Sep 1950) The 'Black Cutter' text story by E. Harper.

Note: Improve Your Swimming feature by Roy Romaine. Running a Model Railway by J. Walkden Fisher feature.

24 (22 Sep 1950) The Truth About Cowboys text by Grierson Dickson. Land Ahead text story by Martin O'Connor.

Note: Improve Your Swimming feature by Roy Romaine. Running a Model Railway by J. Walkden Fisher, Try It Yourself and Sporting Personalities: Leslie Compton features.

25 (29 Sep 1950) Feet Filled With Lead text story by Bernard J. Farmer.

Note: Learn Boxing with Freddie Mills, Running a Model Railway by J. Walkden Fisher and Try It Yourself features.

26 (06 Oct 1950) The Truth About Cowboys text by Grierson Dickson.

Note: Learn Boxing with Freddie Mills and Running a Model Railway by J. Walkden Fisher features.

27 (13 Oct 1950) Journey into an Undiscovered World by Macdonald Hastings, "Eagle" Investigator's First Assignment.

Note: Learn Boxing with Freddie Mills and Running a Model Railway by J. Walkden Fisher features.

28 (20 Oct 1950) Michael Thinks Twice text story by C. Bell.

Note: Learn Boxing with Freddie Mills, Running a Model Railway by J. Walkden Fisher and Sporting Personalities: Bill Liddell features.

29 (27 Oct 1950) Flight into Danger text story by Michael Carreck.

Note: Learn Boxing with Freddie Mills and Running a Model Railway by J. Walkden Fisher features.

30 (03 Nov 1950) I Make a Submarine Escape text by Macdonald Hastings.

Note: Learn Boxing with Freddie Mills and Running a Model Railway by J. Walkden Fisher features.

31 (10 Nov 1950) The Sea Adder text story by Richard Tracy.

Note: Learn Boxing with Freddie Mills and Running a Model Railway by J. Walkden Fisher features.

32 (17 Nov 1950) Curious Creatures begins. Hawk-Eye and the Wolf Cub text story by D.E. Roberts.

Note: Sporting Personalities: Freddie Williams feature. Learn Boxing with Freddie Mills and Running a Model Railway by J. Walkden Fisher features.

33 (24 Nov 1950) Thunder Reef 'A New Serial of Smuggling on the Coast of Brittany' text by Adrian Seligman begins. Ticket to Tombstone text by Charles Chilton.

Note: Learn Boxing with Freddie Mills and Running a Model Railway by J. Walkden Fisher features.

34 (01 Dec 1950) I Take a Riding Lesson from the Household Cavalry text by Macdonald Hastings.

Note: Learn Boxing with Freddie Mills and For Collectors Only features.

35 (08 Dec 1950) Ticket to Tombstone text by Charles Chilton.

Note: Learn Boxing with Freddie Mills and For Collectors Only features.

36 (15 Dec 1950) Ticket to Tombstone text by Charles Chilton.

Note: For Collectors Only feature.

37 (22 Dec 1950) Riders of the Range begins. The Story of the Christmas Tree. Bagpipes for the Gallant text story by E. Vincent.

Note: Football Hints feature by Billy Wright, Captain of the Wolves and England. For Collectors Only and Sporting Personalities: Lt. Colonel Harry M. Llewellyn O.B.E. features.

38 (29 Dec 1950) I Join The Circus text by Macdonald Hastings.

Note: Football Hints by Billy Wright and For Collectors Only features.

39 (05 Jan 1951) The Strangest Hotel In The World text by Alastair Scobie.

Note: Football Hints by Billy Wright and For Collectors Only features. The First Man To... series begins.

40 (12 Jan 1951) I Learn to Fly text by Macdonald Hastings.

Note: Football Hints by Billy Wright and For Collectors Only features.

41 (19 Jan 1951) I Fly Solo text by Macdonald Hastings.

Note: Football Hints by Billy Wright and For Collectors Only features.

42 (26 Jan 1951) The Aster Road Burglary text story by F.P. Nevin.

Note: Football Hints by Billy Wright and For Collectors Only features.

43 (02 Feb 1951) The Clue of the Chopsticks text story by Moore Raymond.

Note: Football Hints by Billy Wright and For Collectors Only features.

44 (09 Feb 1951) Lion Hunt text by Alastair Scobie.

Note: Football Hints by Billy Wright and For Collectors Only features.

45 (16 Feb 1951) Ware Highwaymen! text story by Frank R. Grey.

Note: Football Hints by Billy Wright and For Collectors Only features.

46 (23 Feb 1951) Lost in the Bush text by Alastair Scobie.

Note: Football Hints by Billy Wright and For Collectors Only features.

47 (02 Mar 1951) A.N. Other text story by John Graves.

Note: Football Hints by Billy Wright and For Collectors Only features. Sporting Personalities: J.A. Palmer-Tomkinson feature

48 (09 Mar 1951) I Ride the Cresta - and Join the Shuttlecock Club! text by Macdonald Hastings.

Note: Football Hints by Billy Wright and Advice on Your Pets by Professor Cameron features.

49 (16 Mar 1951) Treasure In The Hills text story by Stephan Hopkinson.

Note: Sporting Personalities: Geoffrey Duke and Advice on Your Pets by Professor Cameron features.

50 (22 Mar 1951) The Scarlet Snuffbox text serial by E. Garnett begins. The Stolen Helicopter text story by Alan Hastings.

Note: Jiu-Jitsu for Self-Defence by Mazure and Advice on Your Pets by Professor Cameron features.

51 (30 Mar 1951) He Fell to Fame text story by Moore Raymond.

Note: Jiu-Jitsu for Self-Defence by Mazure and Advice on Your Pets by Professor Cameron features. Did You Have an Easter Egg feature.

52 (06 Apr 1951) Danger on the River text story by Webster Murray.

Note: Jiu-Jitsu for Self-Defence by Mazure. Rowntree's Present Eagle Eye, Nature Detective feature begins. Advice on Your Pets by Professor Cameron feature.

 

Eagle

Vol.2

On This Day: 24 Oct

Eagle and MASK (Fleetway Publications) #[345] (29 Oct 1988).

The Cream of Tank Girl by Jamie Hewlett & Alan C. Martin. (2008).

Dan Dare: Mission of the Earthmen by Eric Eden, Don Harley & Bruce Cornwell. (Titan Books; Oct 2017) ISBN-13: 978-1785-86289-2.

Rage #1 (24 Oct 1990 - 06 Nov 1990) *magazine*

Births:

John Phillips (1808); Phil Colman (1911); Mindy Newell (1953)

Deaths:

Dino Leonetti (2006)

Notable Events:

When the Wind Blows animated feature released in cinemas in the UK in 1986.
Judge Dredd appeared on Alexei Sayle's television series Stuff on BBC One in 1991.
The first episode of The End of the F***ing World broadcast on Channel 4 in 2017.

Toys

Having noted the real thing, it is time for toy cars.

Officially-licensed products have long been an attractive proposition for publishers, and one which is largely undocumented. There are a few lists I'm actively maintaining, and attempting to add in dates where I can. Of course, sometimes things find me, rather than me having to go looking for them. I like to think of it as the universe smiling benevolently upon me occasionally. While I wasn't specifically thinking of model cars in terms of comic-books (and wasn't really looking for more work), I happened to notice a few in passing:

Corgi Box Sets

Corgi Classic 98759 - The Dandy set
Corgi Classic 98965 - Eagle set

Corgi Vehicles

Corgi Classic 98754 - Adventure

Dinky Vehicles

Dinky - Stripey - the Magic Mini

ERTL Vehicles

Dennis the Menace and Gnasher

Lledo Box Sets

Lledo BN1002 - Beano 65th Anniversary set
Lledo BN1004 - Beano Limited Edition Box Set
Lledo BU1002 - Bunty for Girls set
Lledo DA1002 - The Dandy set
Lledo RUL1003 - Rupert Bear 75th Anniversary Set

Lledo Vehicles

Lledo DG06196 - Model T Ford Van: Dennis the Menace
Lledo DG16037 - Dennis Parcels Van: Rupert Bear
Lledo DG16039 - Dennis Parcels Van: Rupert Bear
Lledo DG11026 - Horse-drawn Removal Van: Rupert Bear
Lledo DG21045 - Chevrolet Van: Rupert Bear
Lledo DG21055 - Chevrolet Van: The Dandy
Lledo DG21060 - Chevrolet Van: The Wizard
Lledo DG22012 - Packard Town Van: Punch
Lledo DG28038 - Mack Canvas Back Truck: Lord Snooty and his Pals
Lledo DG34011 - Dennis Delivery Van: Winker Watson
Lledo DG43019 - Morris Van: Rupert Bear
Lledo DG43021 - Morris Van: Rupert Bear
Lledo DG43040 - Morris Van: The Wizard
Lledo DG43042 - Morris Van: Adventure for Boys
Lledo DG44015 - Scammell 6w Truck: Rupert Bear
Lledo DG44042 - Scammell 6w Truck: The Hotspur
Lledo DG50009 - Bull Nose Morris Van: Rupert Bear
Lledo DG50051 - Bull Nose Morris Van: The Dandy
Lledo DG50056 - Bull Nose Morris Van: The Hotspur
Lledo DG50059 - Bull Nose Morris Van: The Skipper
Lledo DG51010 - Chevrolet Box Van: Rupert Bear
Lledo DG52013 - Morris Parcels Van: Rupert Bear
Lledo DG52025 - Morris Parcels Van: Tiger
Lledo DG52030 - Morris Parcels Van: Bash Street Kids
Lledo DG58022 - Morris Z Van: Lion
Lledo DG58026 - Morris Z Van: Biffo the Bear
Lledo DG59023 - Bedford 30cwt Truck: Dennis the Menace
Lledo DG59033 - Bedford 30cwt Truck: Bunty for Girls
Lledo DG61011 - Pontiac Delivery Van: The Topper
Lledo DG63028 - Bedford 30cwt Delivery Van: Whizzer and Chips
Lledo DG63035 - Bedford 30cwt Delivery Van: Minnie the Minx
Lledo DG71024 - Morris LD150 Van: Wham!
Lledo DG71029 - Morris LD150 Van: The Rover
Lledo LP06610 - Model T Ford Van: Rupert Bear
Lledo LP06784 - Model T Ford Van: Minnie the Minx
Lledo LP13209 - Model A Ford Van: Andy Capp
Lledo LP13210 - Model A Ford Van: Andy Capp
Lledo LP13240 - Model A Ford Van: Rupert Bear
Lledo LP21144 - Chevrolet Van: The Beano
Lledo LP44044 - Scammell 6w Truck: Garth
Lledo LP50089 - Bull Nose Morris Van: Rupert Bear
Lledo LP50180 - Bull Nose Morris Van: The Dandy
Lledo LP50181 - Bull Nose Morris Van: The Dandy
Lledo LP52014 - Morris Parcels Van: The Adventures of Rupert
Lledo LP59016 - Bedford 30cwt Truck: Rupert Bear
Lledo LP59021 - Bedford 30cwt Truck: Jane in the Mirror
Lledo LP59028 - Bedford 30cwt Truck: Giles

Of interest to some, the Matchbox 'Adventure 2000' set (K-2001 Raider Command) was the vehicle seen during Dredd's journey across the Cursed Earth.