Frank Hampson (1918 - 1985) visionary cartoonist best known as the creator and designer of “Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future”, published in Eagle comics, founded and edited by Marcus Morris (1915 - 1989) publisher Hulton Press. Frank Hampson worked for Eagle from 1950 to 1962. Later he worked in advertising, journals, comics, and illustrated books including a number of the Ladybird publications. He also worked in educational illustration. However for children reading Eagle comics in the 50ties Frank Hampson’s “Dan Dare” was the fantastic journey into outer space. 'Pilot of the Future' had integrity, adventure, comedy, characters, great stories and terrific design. Many years later Hampson was voted 'Prestigioso Maestro' - the best comic artist since 2nd World War - at the Comic Art Convention in Lucca, Tuscany in 1975, and awarded the Yellow Kid Award. His work has been exhibited in galleries and venues including the London Cartoon Museum, and London Science Museum “Dan Dare and the Birth of Hi-Tech Britain” 2008 acknowledges Hampson’s relationship with technology. Hampson’s Dan Dare influences can be seen in design and notably in modern architecture. But back to the plot “...later the reader comes to the story a second time. Now he can study the pictorial subplot, and enjoy looking for and finding details, inventions, concepts, ideas, artefacts and hardware…” Frank Hampson
'Frank Hampson blue sky thinking' illustration: © 2017 Chad Riff Owl
Location: blue sky
Photographer: illustrator: Chad Riff Owl
