Chris K. :: DAN DARE (Bellamy, Eden, Hampson)

Bellamy, Frank - Dan Dare; Project Nimbus (May 21, 1960)

3 Comments - 3,707 Views - 3 Likes

Previous Item:
Bellamy, Frank - Dan Dare: Terra Nova, Volume 10, Number 39, page 2 (Nov 14, 1959)

Artwork Details

Title:	Bellamy, Frank - Dan Dare; Project Nimbus (May 21, 1960)
Artist:	Frank Bellamy (All)
Media Type:	Mixed Media
Art Type:	Title Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	3,707
Likes on CAF:	3 4
Comments:	3
Added to Site:	5/14/2015
Comic Art Archive:

Description

I wrote some broader background about the creation of Dan Dare in another gallery update - it can be found here - http://cafurl.com?i=21972

I�ve included this piece as representation of the transition of the Dan Dare strip from Frank Hampson to Frank Bellamy after Hampson stepped away from the strip in late 1959. Bellamy was an incredibly gifted, but very different artist from Hampson�and he certainly had his own ideas and methods for the strip. When the publisher examined Bellamy�s first page of Dan Dare production art he was taken aback; Bellamy had changed Dare�s look so dramatically that long time readers might not even recognize him. Granted, he did so at the request the request of new owners who thought the strip was dated and required redesigning, but he was still taking huge liberties with a property that was still extremely popular. Bellamy was also not a fan of Hampson�s studio system � he did not need reference photography and he preferred to work on his own.

But, he would eventually adopt a �studio� method of his own � but certainly one that lacked the patterns and the rhythms of the Hampson-led studio. Bellamy sometimes drew the first page�sometimes the second�sometimes both pages�and sometimes several panels on a page that would also feature panels by other series artists. It was a more erratic approach � and one in sharp contrast to Hampson's many-hands approach, where the drawing, inking, lettering and coloring were all separately completed by a team of artists. But, Bellamy�s approach did at least periodically (and somewhat randomly) include two of Hampson's former assistants, Keith Watson and Don Harley. Overall, while graphically beautiful, Bellamy's redesigns were controversial. He departed the strip about a year after taking it over. A few years later, Keith Watson returned to the strip full-time and he re-introduced the Hampson original designs.

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About the Owner

	Chris K. Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	August 2008
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Chris's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Terry Doyle
Member Since 2004

Posted on 6/8/2015

Outstanding and iconic Bellamy Dare cover!

Lars C.
Member Since 2013

Posted on 10/15/2017

I just love Bellamy's work. His work at Dan Dare was awesome. This is such a great page.

Aaron N.
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 9/23/2020

This is quite an astonishing page. I can't think of a more original alien ship design outside of maybe Giger(?). This must have blown some young English minds back in the day.

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