Eagle was a seminal boys' comic in the UK, often hailed as one of the most impactful in the nation's publishing history. The brainchild of Reverend John Marcus Harston Morris, a previous RAF chaplain, the comic emerged at a time when British publications primarily targeted younger readers with strips in comics like The Beano.
For an older demographic, The Magnet and The Hotspur mostly offered adventure narratives in text form. Recognising an untapped market for adventure comics, Morris aimed to produce a more wholesome version compared to American offerings. To achieve this, he collaborated with artist and writer Frank Hampson. Hulton Press decided to publish the comic, with the title "Eagle" suggested by Hampson's wife, and Morris assuming the role of the inaugural editor.
The first issue hit the stands on 14th March 1950 and was an instant hit. Over its twenty-year lifespan, Eagle underwent a few changes in ownership, initially moving to Odhams Press before finally settling under the IPC umbrella.
