Editing Dan Dare (section)

====Characters====
Dan Dare was surrounded by a varying cast, initially:
* '''Dan Dare''' (full name [[Colonel]] Daniel McGregor Dare) was chief pilot of the Interplanet Space Fleet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/physics/research/astro/people/stanway/sciencefiction/cosmicstories/pilots_of_the|title = Pilots of the Future}}</ref> He was born in [[Manchester]], England, in 1967 and educated at [[Rossall School]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dandare.org.uk/DanDareWho1.htm|title=DanDare.org.uk – 1950s and 60s Who's Who (Transcribed)|website=www.dandare.org.uk}}</ref> Although not a super-hero, he sometimes pulled off exceptional piloting and often proved extraordinarily lucky. He excelled at [[jujutsu]], but he most often found non-violent solutions to predicaments. He was bound by a sense of honour, never lied, and would rather die than break his word.
:His lean-faced character was recognisable by the outer tips of his [[eyebrows]], which were wavy. His uniform looked like a typical [[British Army]] type (Frank Hampson used his own World War II army uniform as a model), though a lighter green. In place of British rank insignia it had coloured stripes and circles on the shoulderboards. His cap badge was a vertical, antique rocketship in a circle with one five-pointed star on either side. Initially, Dare had been intended to be portrayed as a [[chaplain]].
* '''Digby''' (Albert Fitzwilliam Digby) was Dan's [[Wigan]]-born [[Batman (army)|batman]]. Rotund and sometimes bumbling, he provided comic relief. He was fiercely loyal and the only character apart from Dan to appear in every story. His favourite recreation was sleeping and he was fond of traditional English food. His nearest relative was his Aunt Anastasia, after whom Dan named his spaceship.
* '''Sir Hubert Guest''', Controller of the Space Fleet, sent Dan on missions, and occasionally joined him. He was a veteran pilot, having been on the first mission to the Moon and led the first mission to Mars. He was based on Hampson's father.
* '''Professor Peabody''' (Prof. Jocelyn Mabel Peabody), the only major female, was the brains behind many of the team's most inventive plans.
* '''Hank Hogan''' and '''Pierre Lafayette''', stereotypically [[United States|American]] and [[France|French]], were two of the Fleet's best pilots and an inseparable double-act. Pierre was primarily a pilot, Hank more a mechanic.
* '''Sondar''' was a Treen, a reptilian inhabitant of northern [[Venus]]. Originally a servant of [[the Mekon]], he reformed after Dan spared his life during a traumatic episode that also caused his first experience of strong emotion, which the Treens suppressed. He became governor of northern Venus when the planet was placed under [[United Nations|UN]] rule at the end of the first story, but nevertheless joined Dan on later adventures. He was also a talented spacecraft designer, and designed Dan's personal spaceship.
* '''[[The Mekon]]''', super-intelligent ruler of the Treens, was Dan's archenemy. He escaped at the end of each story to return with an even more inventive scheme for the conquest of Earth.
* '''Christopher 'Flamer' Spry''', freckle-faced student at 'Astral' space academy, who accompanies Dan Dare on many later missions. Flamer was based on Hampson's son, Peter Hampson. No forename for 'Flamer' was ever given in the comic strip itself.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7376571.stm Dan Dare 'inspired UK innovation'] ''[[BBC News]]''</ref>
* '''Lex O'Malley''', bearded [[Irish people|Irish]] [[submarine]] commander, who accompanies Dan Dare on later missions.

With the exception of Digby, all the supporting cast were dropped after 1961, although Guest, O'Malley, Hogan and Sondar made occasional reappearances. In 1963, Keith Watson and writer David Motton were allowed to introduce a new supporting cast, who remained with the series throughout the rest of its run:
*'''Colonel Wilf Banger''', handlebar moustache, pilot and designer, an impulsive and volatile character. Banger designed and built the Tempus Frangit.
*'''Technician Nutter Cobb''', red-haired, broken-nosed. Banger's assistant, a Digby to his Dare.
*'''Major Shillitoe Spence''', balding, pencil moustache. A prim, fussy administrator.
*'''Xel''', first encountered in ''Operation Time Trap'' in 1963. Xel is another enemy in the mould of the Mekon. Having stowed away with Dare at the end of his first appearance, in the next story Xel allies with the Mekon but the two fall out. Xel would make regular appearances through the 60s before being finally captured.