Spaceship Away Part 29 Spring 2012 (magazine review).
In many respects, the latest issue of ‘Spaceship Away’ is more text dominated than usual. This is, in part, because writer Charles Chilton, who allows them to reprint his ‘Journey Into Space’ comicstrip died in January at the great age of 95. There is also a continuing part of ‘Shadow Over Britain’ where Chilton’s lead character, Jet Morgan, has been brainwashed.
Oddly, there is only one ‘Dan Dare’ story this time around and he’s referred to but not actually in the story. If you want your Dare fix, Andrew Darlington’s piece ‘Dan Dare On Mars’ is about a book that was written in 1956 and the only prose novel of our British spaceman. There is also an examination by Martin Crookall of recent attempts of resurrecting Dan Dare with present day sensibilities and their failure.
Also, unusually, is a one-off story called ‘No Greater Love’ written by Philip Harbottle with art by Ron Turner where a trapped astronaut is rescued by the brain on his spaceship. Very 50s-ish.
The Garth strip, ‘Finality Factor’, is still moving on, even if I have problems with Martin Asbury’s depiction of the blonde giant’s head. A lot the time, I think its down to poor panel composition. Asbury’s great with battle scenes but head close-ups were an obvious problem.
There’s all the usual other stuff from letters pages to pin-ups and cutaways, Certainly enough to complete your passion for British material.
GF Willmetts
(pub: Spaceship Away. Rod Barzilay, 8 Marley Close, Preston, Weymouth, Dorset DT3 6DH, UK. 40 page A4 glossy stock magazines. Price: £ 7.95 (UK) inc p&p, 3 issues for £21.50 (UK) inc p&p)
check out website: http://spaceshipaway.org.uk
