Garth Ennis Dan Dare Omnibus Volume 1 US Edition

by Garth Ennis, Gary Erskine (Artist)

Dan Dare was once a hero. He brokered peace with alien races, pushed the frontiers of space, and saved the planet from total annihilation... repeatedly. But now, his Space Fleet has disbanded, the United Nations has crumbled, his friends scattered to the solar winds. Britain is once again the world power, but Dare, disillusioned and disappointed by his once-precious home country, has quietly retired. But there's trouble mustering in Deep Space. The H.M.S. Achilles is picking up strange signals when, suddenly, an enormous fleet of hostile ships ambush the destroyer. Now, as the crew struggles to stay alive, they realize with horror that the hostiles have brought a weapon of unimaginable power. Dan Dare, the pilot of the future, has been called out of retirement. Whether you're joining the adventure for the first time, or you're already a Dan Dare fan, this hardcover collection of the entire seven-issue series is a perfect addition to any library.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 17, 2008

About the author

Ennis began his comic-writing career in 1989 with the series Troubled Souls. Appearing in the short-lived but critically-acclaimed British anthology Crisis and illustrated by McCrea, it told the story of a young, apolitical Protestant man caught up by fate in the violence of the Irish 'Troubles'. It spawned a sequel, For a Few Troubles More, a broad Belfast-based comedy featuring two supporting characters from Troubled Souls, Dougie and Ivor, who would later get their own American comics series, Dicks, from Caliber in 1997, and several follow-ups from Avatar.

Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.

Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.

Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.

While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.

Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.

After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.

In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.

Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.

In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.

In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis

Reviews

[47Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan Dare is one of the calmest characters I've seen in fiction. Even when facing his archenemy he is cool-headed and logical. His strategies always yeald positive results, though the odds are constantly stacked against him. Sure, there is some luck involved, but all due to the alliances he makes with the other characters. He is a leader, through and through who will never back down from protecting his beloved Britain.

The Earth has been virtually destroyed by the Treen and the China-US war. Half the Treen went into hiding years ago under the Mekon's leadership. Now they're back. Their first attack on a British patrol is devastating and they haven't even used their secret weapon, a black hole. Dan Dare is retired from his days as an officer, but the British Prime Minister brings news that will see Dare return to the fight as admiral of the British fleet.

Dare answers a distress signal only to see a horde of mythical Treen monsters on the horizon. There is only time to evacuate some of the women and children before an electrical storm hits. Soon they are surrounded and fighting for their lives. They are saved by the Achilles, the only ship to survive the Treen# first attack, but an approaching Treen ship forces them to flee. Dogby sacrifices himself in a destroyer to allow their escape. 

On Earth, the home secretary and Dare's good friend, Jocelyn Peabody is becoming suspicious of the Prime Minister who has cut off all communications. After he inexplicably orders the fleet to relocate, he flees the planet. It becomes clear he has sold out humanity to the Mekon. Dare apparently gives himself up to the Mekon, but instead provides his allies a target to light-jump into.

Back among his allies, Dare formulates a... well, daring plan to attack the Treen head on. At this point it's become obvious that any serviceman would willingly sacrifice himself for admiral Dare. He rams the enemy flagship and leads the assault himself. The rest of the British fleet suffers heavy losses while Dare faces the Mekon. Dare goes all Jedi when he deflects an energy bolt back into the Mekon and kills him.

Jocelyn already plans to dissolve the Parliament and change the direction the country is headed by the time she gets word that the battle was won. She wants to direct Britain's resources to reunite the human population and rebuild the damage caused by the Treen.

[Nicolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the most British Garth Ennis comicbook that I have ever read. It is pretty clear that Ennis has an affection for the Dan Dare character, regardless of what he wrote in the introduction, that he treats the material with reverence. You won't see any of his go to material here that you see in his other books (The Boys,Preacher, Hitman, The Punisher) and if you read Ennis, you know what I mean. There is barely any blood. Of course, when you are in space, one need not be stabbed or shot. Just explosive decompression will do.

I enjoyed reading it though. Ennis is a good enough writer that he need not resort to his usual devices to tell a story that shows the tolls of an intra-system space war.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dan Dare is a proper English character. A "Keep Calm and Carry On" sort. As such, he was a major part of Richard Branson's failed Virgin Comics/Graphic India expedition (which was a bloody shame because it was a SMART idea).

Dan Dare has had some decent hands on the reins for his short-lived resurgences; Pat Mills, Grant Morrison, Garth Ennis and recently Peter Milligan. Warren Ellis's Ministry of Space was a pastiche, and Doctor Who's Torchwood takes a few nods.

This is a British Science Fiction Story. It does what it says on the tin. He's polite, genteel and mannerly. He's the pilot of the future. He's an idealist--he wants a better world. Still believes in it.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first real exposure to the Dan Dare character, and my first assessment was he is essentially an English version of the Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon style of hero. That turns out to be more or less correct, but with more emphasis on the "English" part of the equation. Dan is an idealist, and he's very English. Stuff upper lip. Self-sacrifice for the greater good. Mostly just expecting people to do their duty. The biggest difference between Dan Dare and, say, an American idealistic hero is a distinct lack of moralizing or that sort of gosh-golly-gee-whiz naivete that a character like Superman might possess. He doesn't need to give a speech to rally the troops, or even give words of encouragement. He just let's it be known he expects people to do what they need to in a rather firm manner, and that's always enough for whoever he's dealing with.

Bottom line: this came across as a by-the-numbers space opera, but a good introduction for Dan Dare.

[Vittorio Rainone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un Ennis tranquillo racconta una storia che non è nata da lui: Dan Dare, eroe inglese che lotta, in uno scenario fantascientifico, contro una malvagia razza di alieni verdi. Dan Dare ha una lunga storia editoriale alle spalle e quello di Ennis è un omaggio a questa fantascienza classica e senza fronzoli. Il risultato è sostanzialmente poco intrigante. Non brutto, ma nella marea di pubblicazioni di questo periodo non lo metterei certo in pole position.

[RND · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is there a better comics writer than Ennis when it comes to great "tough-guy" moments? This has him doing a sort of "Unforgiven" for the beloved Dan Dare character of British comics. A lot of great character moments, with an optimism that might seem rare for Ennis, but it's there in dribs and drabs in his war comics, the canon of which this feels it belongs to. It's also very British, very stiff upper lip.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the iconic figures in British comics gets another reinvention and it is surprisingly good. Ennis takes a lot of what makes Dare great and continues in that fashion. Fun stuff.

[Michael McKeever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgic take on a classic British comic

[Chris Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want more, bloody hell man!
surprised me, it did,
a great back to basics, classic storyline,
where good is right,
an bad is evil.

should be required reading for trumpers...

[Hugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely rip roaring fun! Great story, stunning art. I loved reading a British themed space opera!

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel is space war at its mindless best. Dan Dare is a former British super pilot of space and he has chosen to live in a self-imposed exile when his service is over. There was a massive nuclear war between the United States and China, effectively exterminating both countries, leaving Britain as the most powerful nation on Earth. Following their long traditions of naval power and international commerce, Britain has created a large space fleet with a multi-planet commercial empire as well. It is also the case that the in new Pax Britannica, there has not been a great deal of empathy for the struggling remnants of the former powers.
The sense of comfort and security has been shattered with the return of the forces of Mekon of Mekonta coming at Earth packing the ultimate weapon, something far more powerful than merely nuclear bombs. The situation is so grave that Dan Dare is approached and asked to come back to lead the fight.
Students of history will recognize the allusions to the great and grand traditions of the Royal Navy and the time in 1940 when Britain stood alone against the seemingly invincible armies of the Third Reich. There are also many references to the collaborators that sold out their countries for what turned out to be short-lived political power. The odds are against the gallant British soldiers and sailors, but they fight bloody well until the end, when of course Dan Dare proves victorious over the evil Mekon. Many die, yet nearly all of them show great valor in a fight for control of the Solar System and the future of humanity.

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice surprise. Ennis takes on British sci-if hero Dan Dare for a rip-roaring intergalactic war story. I’ve never read a Dan Dare comic before, but he strikes me as a sort of proto-Adam Strange with distinctly British sensibilities. I would think this treatment of the character is less in line with previous incarnations than with Ennis’ humanistic war comics. It starts with Dare semi-retired only to be recruited back into service, which he greets with aplomb. Ennis notes in his introduction that Dare is a departure from the usual dark characters he writes, being a true heroic idealist. His reverence for Dare (and his supporting cast) shines through in every issue; he writes him as a confident leader and brave soldier, driven to fight for a better Britain in the face of corruption and alien tyrants. Heroism in this form always gets me, and the scenes of Dare leading troops off-planet or quietly mentoring Ms. Christian leave a big impression.

My complaint is that the pacing is pretty chaotic in the final issues. Also, the Mekon is a generic bad guy (though Ennis tries his hardest to give him personality).

Recommended, even if, like me, you’ve never read Dan Dare. And Gary Erskine’s art is a plus. He can make people talking just as interesting as big space battles.

[Richard Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

How terribly British!
This is a fantastic updating of seminal British comic book hero, Dan Dare. It's gung-ho all out action adventure against the evil Mekon and his Treen hordes, there are stiff upper lips all over the place but its all mixed up with a story about the loss of the British identity.
Perhaps it's because writer, Garth Ennis, comes from Belfast that he is able to provide perspecive to the problem of being British - past glories are hijacked by a vile far-right and past shame is continually wept over by the lame left-wing.
Dare (the character) provides a cathartic release, harking back to Great British heroes such as Churchill and Nelson, yet his nobility is based on a simple desire for regular people to live in peace and freedom.
The villains are despicable and the heroes are brave, yet the politics are nuanced and subtle.

After a slew of disappointing US comics, it is great find British creators can still turn it on.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no attachment to or history with the Dan Dare series before this version put forth by Garth Ennis. I was reading it simply because his name was attached to it. I get a feeling this was created as a nod to the old series and was tailored to those familiar with the previous series. Because of this, some of the weight of the story is lost, the big baddie is a bit more generic, and you feel like you're missing some backstory.

Beyond that, however, you get a solidly written tale of a war hero in the twilight of his life who is called upon to once again save Britain and the world. The rest of the story is pretty standard: build up your characters, set the stage for the climactic battle, and add some interesting sideplots to accentuate the story. There's one odd detour taken in the middle of the series, but beyond that there's not a lot beyond the pretty standard storyline.

[Lobo DeSade · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very poor, I normally enjoy Garth Ennis, and I love most of the stuff he writes like The Boys, Preacher, Max Punisher, Marvel Knights Punisher and his war stories. But this didn't feel like an Ennis book, I see people saying "its a typical British comic", for a proper English/Irish Garth Ennis book pick up Dicks. Dan Dare seemed like it was holding him back from his normal creativity, it seemed like a story that stereotypical comic nerds would go for, and not a tasteful reader.

[Karl Kindt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull, lifeless homage to the awesome classic series. Very disappointing. I love Garth Ennis' stuff normally, I since I love the original DD, I had high hopes for this.