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Dan Dare: The Red Moon Mystery by Frank Hampson
01/01/2005 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Titan Books. 95 page illustrated hardback. Price: £14.99 (UK), $19.95 (CAN). ISBN: 1-84023-666-3. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out websites: www.titanbooks.com
OK, chums, we are now back in 1952, hugged up over a cosy fire reading our Eagle comics. Well, maybe not. I had another 5 years plus 4 before I could read and that became a reality. Still, it was a good life in 1998 for Dan Dare and his batman, Digby, as they take a deserved vacation on Mars and visit the Colonel's Uncle Ivor, a renowned archaeologist and his discovery of ruins from a lost Martian civilisation and a mention of some 'red moon' that wiped them out in a matter of days. 1998? Well, it was the 1952 version of our future. Just think what would happen today had we not gone to Mars?
Wouldn't you believe in this coincidence? The red moon returns and will forever be capped as it becomes a reality. Sir Hubert orders Dan and Digby to investigate and their spaceship is seriously damaged by the magnetic field the Red Moon generates and a hasty evacuation of Mars before calamity comes calling. All serious problems, chums, especially as the Red Moon then changes course and is heading for Earth.
Dan Dare is still the man for the job, mainly cos of all his experience and although it wouldn't be prudent of me to reveal the ending, largely cos this is only part one and part two isn't due until February, the calamity at the end leave Dan and his party in a worse personal situation than the one they attempted to solve.
As commented in my previous reviews of these Dan Dare books, these will definitely appeal to you if you like old-fashioned space opera. What I found interesting with this story is the focus on the humans in the Solar System rather than Venusians, although they do make a brief appearance. There's also some nice gags in there based on the blustering of certain characters. Hampson also appears to have a slight fetish for having Digby running around in his underwear. What is important is that the Dan Dare strip does not talk down to a teen-age audience and is suitable for all ages. Whether today's generation would have as deep appreciation for these stories is debatable but if you were born anywhere in the past 50 years then you'll find this an entertaining read. There's also more features on the Frank Hampson studio and more of the interview with Dare's creator with loads of photos.
We really do need more books of this nature coming out featuring other characters and to keep the history of old British comic stories alive and they look brilliant on your shelves so buy already.
GF Willmetts
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