As has been the case for the past couple of years, the majority of the magazine is the work of two writers, David Britton and Steve Winders, both acknowledged experts on the historic comic and both always capable of teasing out something new from a study of the Eagle's colourful pages. David continues his look at Jeff Arnold with the third part of a feature on his days with the 6T6, drawn by Jack Daniel; and the second part of his look at Frank Bellamy's 'Heros the Spartan', one of my favourite strips from Eagle.
Busy Steve Winders looks at Stonewall Jackson, The Happy Warrior and his ever-welcome PC49 tale, as well as conducting the interview with Keith Page. The latter is perhaps the most interesting as Keith's career has encompassed everything from an important stint on Dan Dare following in the footsteps of Keith Watson, to – one of his latest publications – a biography of Tony Hancock. Some of the highlights have included his work on various Gerry Anderson comics, contributions to Starblazer and Commando, and the 'Charlotte Corday' stories.
'Stonewall Jackson' was an oddity in Eagle, originally appearing in the pages of Comet and reprinted in Eagle shortly after a new editorial regime was imposed on the paper. It was written by Leonard Matthews, who now had overall control of the Hulton papers and who was overseeing a cost-cutting exercise; however, the author concludes that Matthews's biography was accurate, albeit over-written.
This is not an accusation that can be aimed at The Happy Warrior', which concludes this issue. The strip had to be accurate (to the point of hagiography) as Churchill, its subject, was still alive. Indeed, he was presented with a leather-bound copy of the strip when it was reprinted in 1958; that copy later sold for £2,750 at auction in 2014.
Elsewhere in this issue, Alan Palmer offers a comprehensive look at the Dan Dare Space Book and its creative talent and Jim Duckett dips into 'Martin Mere', a lost Hampson strip, and the Anastasia Presso Book.
This issue is also the last chance readers have to win the artwork by Graham Bleathman that graced an earlier issue. It's also the last issue of the subscription year, so maybe you can take a punt at joining the Eagle Society.
The quarterly Eagle Times is the journal of the Eagle Society, with membership costing £30 in the UK, £50 (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.
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