Dan Dare: Operation Saturn

    (Titan, 2005)
™ and © Dan Dare Corporation, Ltd. Introduction © Philip Pullman. Interview © Alan Vince.

Dan Dare is one cool strip. At my first exposure to this acclaimed British comic-strip serial, I was blown away. The art by Frank Hampson and his team is outstanding, reminiscent of Brian Bolland, Alex Raymond, and Hal Foster. The stories are far-seeing, and, once I read the glossary and foreword that included round-table discussions between Hampson, James Hemming, and Ashwell Wood, I realized that they created a strip based on scientific possibilities and present theories. With advisors like Arthur C. Clarke, you could not go wrong!

“Operation Saturn” takes Dan Dare and his men to Saturn to investigate the nine moons. What Dan does not know is Blanco, fellow passenger and Earthman, plans to seize control of Earth with the help of Varo. The ancient Roman custom of lethal “games” lives on Titan, as Dan and his fellow crewmates of the Valiant are sent to die in the arena. Dan and Digby join forces with Tharl to overthrow the evil overlord.

Calling adventure strip fans… Calling adventure strip fans… Dan Dare has arrived!

— Tim Lasiuta
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