Eagle Times v36 no4 (Winter 2023)

After 36 years, it's no surprise that Eagle Times must occasionally depart from its core interest of the classic Eagle comic that ran from 1950 to 1969. Non-Eagle subjects don't often make the cover (the last was Captain Condor 18 months ago), but this issue highlights Classics Illustrated, as does the lead article by Kevin O'Donnell.

O'Donnell mentions that he was a reader of the British editions back in the early 1960s, which gives the article some personal insight into how the comic was perceived: he was encouraged by teachers at his primary school to read one a day, seeking out the creepier and more fantastic stories (Frankenstein, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea) while girls might have preferred The Song of Hiawatha.

No mention that some of the Thorpe & Porter issues included a number of originals, most notably (and expensively) an adaptation of the James Bond movie Doctor No. A couple of the originals were drawn by Norman Light who appears in my new history of Badger Books, Beyond the Void.

David Britton also slips off topic twice this issue, taking a look at a character named Dan Dare who first appeared in Fawcett's Whiz Comics in 1940. Nothing like the pilot of the future so loved by British schoolboys, this Dan was a fearless "freelance detective".

Later in this issue, Britton tackles another American comic in the shape of Eagle Comics, published by Rural Home Publishing Company of St. Louis, Missouri, in 1945. It lasted only two issues, mixing war-themed strips with non-fiction strips and features. A second Eagle predecessor is promised for next issue.

Milton Caniff is one of the most famous American artists, responsible for 'Dickie Dare', 'Terry and the Pirates' and 'Steve Canyon' (the latter presumably to be covered next issue). There is an insightful transcript of a brief radio talk Caniff recorded for Australian broadcast in which he discusses the origins of the strip and his creative process.

Off the beaten path, although related to Girl Annual, is Harry Royle's brief biography of actress Shirley Cain (nee Roberts), who was the subject of a Kay Weston article in the 4th annual volume. Shirley was then studying at RADA and went on to have a successful career on stage and screen.

Back to the Eagle itself, we have Jim Duckett's opening article on 'Knights of the Road', memorably drawn by Gerald Haylock. Inspired by Hell Drivers starring Stanley Baker and Patrick McGoohan and featuring future Bond Sean Connery and future Doctor Who William Hartnell amongst its astonishing cast. A thriller about lorry driving might not feel very 'Eagle', but writer JHG Freeman (writing as Gordon Grinstead) managed to squeeze out plenty of excitement over a two-year run, the first year of which is covered here.

'Cricket with the Master' was a feature by Patsy Hendren which six Eagle readers with six professional cricketers. This episode concentrates on Hendren's astonishing career, which had ended in 1937 after thirty years professionally in the sport.

This issue is rounded out with one of Jim Duckett's 'In and Out of Eagle' features and a story featuring PC49 by Steve Winders, suitably Christmas themed.

The quarterly Eagle Times is the journal of the Eagle Society, with membership costing £30 in the UK, £45 (in sterling) overseas. You can send subscriptions to Bob Corn, Mayfield Lodge, Llanbadoc, Usk, Monmouthshire NP15 1SY; subs can also be submitted via PayPal to membership@eagle-society.org.uk. Back issues are available for newcomers to the magazine and they have even issued binders to keep those issues nice and neat.