British comics legend Dan Dare is officially charting a new course. B7 Comics has announced a major revival of the classic Pilot of the Future, but this time the character will return not as a weekly or monthly comic strip, but as a trilogy of original graphic novels that aim to reintroduce Dare to a modern audience.
The first book in the series, titled Dan Dare: First Contact, brings together the creative team of writer Alex de Campi and artist Marc Laming. The project has full approval from The Dan Dare Corporation, marking this as the next canonical step in the character’s long history.
According to the announcement, First Contact will be a slightly oversized, approximately 112-page graphic novel designed to blend the classic spirit of Eagle-era Dare with contemporary science fiction storytelling. B7 plans to release the book in multiple formats, including digital, paperback, standard hardback, and a Kickstarter-exclusive premium edition. The crowdfunding campaign is scheduled to launch on 1 February 2026, with publication targeted for late 2027 if funding is met.
The story itself promises a high-stakes narrative about a dying planet and a desperate mission that leads to a first contact with potentially catastrophic consequences for Earth. It’s described as a tense, cinematic reimagining of Dare, but one that still holds onto the optimism and sense of adventure that defined the original strip created by Frank Hampson in 1950.
Artist Marc Laming, known for his work on Star Wars and James Bond, expressed his enthusiasm for stepping into a legacy he grew up admiring. He says he wants the new series to honour the heritage of Dare’s early visual storytelling while presenting something fresh for today’s readers. Writer Alex de Campi, whose past credits include Rogue Trooper: Ghost Patrol and Madi, called it a privilege to bring the character to a new generation. She emphasised the balance between modernising the story and keeping the charm and wonder that have allowed Dan Dare to endure for more than seven decades.
Colin Frewin, CEO of The Dan Dare Corporation, signalled strong support for the project, describing the creative team as ideal custodians for this new era of Dare adventures. B7’s Andrew Mark Sewell, who previously oversaw the 2017 Dan Dare audio drama reboot, said the new graphic novels will deliver an exciting and sometimes terrifying space adventure while retaining the heroism, stoicism and wry humour that make Dare such a distinctive British icon.
This revival marks a notable shift in how Dan Dare stories are being presented. Rather than returning to the traditional serial format in which the character became famous, B7 is opting for long-form, premium graphic novels designed for both collectors and new readers. It’s a move that reflects broader trends across the UK and European comics markets, where prestige graphic novels increasingly take precedence over short-form periodicals.
Though Dan Dare has seen various reboots over the decades—including 2000AD’s more radical take in the late ’70s and later interpretations from Titan and Virgin—this new incarnation positions itself as a thoughtful continuation rather than a reinvention for shock value. If successful, B7 Comics has hinted that the trilogy may open the door to further stories in this format.
For fans of British science fiction, and particularly for those who grew up with Eagle or its many reprints, this marks one of the most significant relaunches of the character in years. Whether First Contact signals a bold new era for Dan Dare or simply a respectful passing of the torch will become clear when the first pages debut during the 2026 Kickstarter campaign.
(Source: Downthetubes.net)
This was my dad’s favourite comic growing up.