Dan Dare life. After this initial storyline other writers were used and different supporting characters came and went, including Professor Pinkerton, a female scientist similar to Professor Peabody, and a new Digby (again, a descendant of the original). The Mekon was generally the foe in alternate stories. In 1987 the strip became more like a space opera, with increasing violence. Now drawn by John Gillatt, Dan took on a tough-guy look. He led space commandos and packed a hi-tech gun reminiscent of that carried by Judge Dredd. The original strip, featuring the characters of the 1950s Eagle, was revived in 1989, with
Eagle (ship) Eagle (ship) Eagle was a freighter which was sunk intentionally near Lower Matecumbe Key, Florida, to become an artificial reef and diving spot. The ship was built in 1962 for Danish shipowners J. Lauritzen A/S at Bijkers Shipyard, Gorinchem, Netherlands, and named "Raila Dan". In 1969 she was sold to the Dutch shipping company Poseidon and renamed "Barok". In 1974 she was sold again, and renamed "Carmela". She was then sold and renamed "Ytai" in 1976, and yet again sold, and renamed "Etai" the following year. In 1981 she was sold and renamed "Carigulf Pioneer", and sold for the final