LONDON, August 28 /PRNewswire/ --

- With Photo

Aviator and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson today announced that Virgin
Comics (http://www.VirginComics.com) will be bringing legendary super hero
Dan Dare out of retirement and back into the outer reaches of the galaxy,
with an all new Dan Dare comic book series. The new series will be published
monthly beginning November 2007 and will be written by legendary comic
author, Garth Ennis (author of Preacher, The Boys, Hitman, John Woo's Seven
Brothers and other acclaimed and best-selling titles).

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Dan Dare has been an icon since 1950. Elaborate stories of his space
travel and galactic battles defending people of the universe captivated
post-War baby boomers. Dan Dare's adventures burst to the forefront of pop
culture, selling nearly 1 million copies each week in the pages of the Eagle
Comic.

"Dan Dare is the quintessential British hero. He's our Captain America,
our Superman, our Batman, he's all of them rolled into one. He's the original
and the best," said Garth Ennis, recipient of several National Comics Awards
for the best in UK comics and Will Eisner Awards for the best in US comics.

"Dan Dare is an heroic, thoughtful and fiercely independent character; I
was an avid reader of his epic journeys. It is a pleasure for Virgin Comics
to be involved with such a legendary character -- one of the original great
aviators," said Sir Richard Branson.

"Dan Dare is the real original Super Hero. In the 50's, on the front page
of The Eagle, he was selling one million copies a week. Today, his impact and
appeal to readers across the UK and around the world can be even greater with
Virgin Comics. This is a perfect partnership," said Colin Frewin, CEO of The
Dan Dare Corporation. "Superman, Batman and Spider-Man beware -- Dan Dare --
Pilot of the Future is back to protect us all.

Virgin Comics' Dan Dare is set in the future, albeit not too many decades
from the present day. Colonel Dare is still vibrant and courageous -- but now
he's retired. His retirement is a self-imposed exile, the result of his
disgust with politics and the post-nuclear warfare that has destroyed North
America and much of Asia -- leaving the UK as the world's last remaining
superpower. Readers familiar with Dan Dare stories will recognize many of the
original cast including a wiser and more experienced Digby; the innovative,
brilliant and beautiful Professor Peabody; and of course the enemy of all
that is good, the super-intelligent ruler of the Treens -- The Mekon,
together with a mix of galactic evil beings.

"Dan Dare and Virgin are a perfect combination -- two iconic UK brands.
We are thrilled to be working with Colin and Garth to redefine this
quintessential character for a new generation of readers around the world,"
said Sharad Devarajan, Virgin Comics' CEO.

"Dan Dare + Garth Ennis = AWESOME," explains Gotham Chopra, Virgin
Comics' Chief Creative Officer. "There's not much more to say because this is
a combination that doesn't require hype -- great comic heroes plus great
comic writers equal a great time for all of us. Expect nothing less."

The Dan Dare Corporation retains all film, animation and gaming rights.

ABOUT VIRGIN COMICS

Virgin Comics LLC is a character entertainment company creating original
stories and epic myths for worldwide audiences. The company was founded in
November 2005 by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Enterprises Ltd., alongside
entrepreneurs, Sharad Devarajan, Gotham Chopra and Suresh Seetharaman. Among
Virgin Comic's titles are the breakthrough new comics and graphic novels:
Devi, Ramayan 3392 AD, Seven Brothers with John Woo, and Voodoo Child with
Weston and Nicolas Cage. http://www.VirginComics.com

ABOUT THE DAN DARE CORPORATION

The Dan Dare Corporation is the global rights holder in the intellectual
property Dan Dare and the Eagle Comic. It represents the film, television,
merchandising and publishing rights. The Company produced the highly
successful CGI animated series 'Dan Dare - Pilot of the Future' in 2001. The
US$20 million production in LA has now been distributed by Columbia TriStar
to over 130 countries worldwide. In October 2007, the book 'The Best of the
Eagle' will be published worldwide. http://www.dandare.com

Note to Editors:

LONDON, August 28 /PRNewswire/ --

Pictures accompanying this release are available through the PA 
Photowire. They can be viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or 
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk.

Web site:  http://www.VirginComics.com 
               http://www.dandare.com