Eagle (British comics) Riders of the Range and P.C. 49 helped ensure a weekly circulation of almost a million copies, but it was the adventures of Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future, which most captivated readers. Created by Hampson—now a full-time staff artist with his own team—Dan Dare was the UK's first science-fiction comic strip of any significance. Readers were thrilled by the square-jawed British spaceman's weekly exploits, and his struggles with The Mekon. While Morris (who by now had resigned from St James) edited the magazine from Hulton's premises at Shoe Lane in London, the comic was created in a converted bakery
Keith Watson (artist) Keith Watson (artist) Keith Watson (Ormesby, 1 February 1935 – Cheam, 9 April 1994) was a British comics artist most famous for his work on Dan Dare and TV Century 21. Watson joined the studio team of Frank Hampson working on the "Dan Dare" strip in Eagle in 1958. After Hampson left the strip the following year, Watson worked on "Captain Condor" for the rival Lion (comic). He later returned to Dan Dare, becoming the sole artist. Watson worked on the Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons strip in TV Century 21, and the Joe 90 strip in the self-style comic,