SIX decades ago today, Britain’s hero of the spaceways Daniel Macgregor Dare was born on the pages of Eagle comic.
But the victor of a thousand battles against the dastardly Mekon could have been a flying padre instead of an interstellar pilot.
That was the initial idea of Southport vicar The Reverend Marcus Morris back in 1950, before science fiction took over and allowed recently qualified artist Frank Hampson to draw what quickly became a legend, as well as massively influential on British science fiction from that point on.
I am not overly familiar with Dare, only reading a few Eagles when I was young, so for the full story on the great man, click here to read an article in the Liverpool Daily Post by Mark Gorton (who also made a great film about Dan too, narrated by Tom Baker).
If you’re in the Southport area, there is also an exhibition of Dan Dare memorabilia at Southport College.
Finally, given the success of Doctor Who, how about a Dan Dare TV show – but who would play Dan? Vote on my suggestions or add your own.
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Other seems to have a lot of fans. My vote doesn’t seem to show up so I’ll just say I went for Michael Fassbender (300, Centurion, Inglourious Basterds) or on the outside track maybe Simon Pegg?
Funnily enough, the others’ favourite is Michael Fassbender