Commando comics for April 23rd

Latest press release from DC Thomson....
Commando Issues 4803-4806 – On Sale 23 April 2015

Commando No 4803 – The Deadly Waters

When German forces invaded the Netherlands in 1940, Dutch Army Lieutenants Dirk Dreise and Ruud Aaker fought in the front line. The campaign went against them, though, forcing them to escape to England where they were assigned to clandestine intelligence work.

   Eventually the tide of war turned and in 1944 they were back in their homeland, determined to throw the invaders out. For them, the fighting raged not in the air or on land but on the waters of the flooded polders.

Story: George Low

Art: Vila

Cover: Janek Matysiak

Preview: http://www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/23rd-april-2015-collection?issue=4803 

Commando No 4804 – Tough Guy

Joe Brady was as tough as the Liverpool slums that had bred him — and, boy, he could hate!

   The many Nazis he met knew the cold ferocity which blazed in his eyes as he swept into battle, but they could tell no one.

   For dead men tell no tales.

Introduction

Some of you may wonder how we choose which titles to let you read again. Well, there are loads of different reasons but, it the case of this story, one trumps all others. It was drawn by Victor De La Fuente and, as far as I’m concerned, any excuse to let you see his magnificent art is good enough. I grew up reading Commando stories and his illustrations never let me down, combining accuracy, aggression and activity in every frame.

   Victor’s style influenced many other artists, and at least one reader, to get involved in comics. Thanks, Victor.

Calum Laird, Commando Editor

Tough Guy originally Commando No 149 (January 1965), re-issued as No 743 (May 1973)

Story: Kenner

Art: Victor De La Fuente

Cover: Scholler

Preview: http://www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/23rd-april-2015-collection?issue=4804 

Commando No 4805 – Brothers in Danger

Canadian sniper Michel Caron had been recruited by Gabe Dubois, his adopted brother, for a special mission that required expert, high-precision shooting.

   In the bombed-out ruins of Caen in Northern France, death lurked in every shadow — and the brothers soon realised that both of them would have to be ready to sacrifice anything, even their own lives, to complete their deadly task…

Story: Kris Roberts

Art: Morahin

Cover: Janek Matysiak

Preview: http://www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/23rd-april-2015-collection?issue=4805 

Commando No 4806 – Secret of The Alps

All it took was one shot from a flare pistol to bring the entire German armoured column to a chaotic standstill.

   There was no shock wave, no heat blast…just a silent explosion of brilliant light that blinded every pair of eyes within a mile. Even inside tanks there was no protection from this unearthly glare, this terrible…

Secret Of The Alps

Introduction

Saichan — responsible for the inside art here — drew 13 Commandos in total. Well, not quite, his final book (Unlucky 13) had to be finished by another artist. The reasons are lost in the mists of time but it wasn’t due to lack of quality for his style — though quirky, and cartoon-ish in places — is certainly effective.

   The story is classic Alan Hebden, a man well known for intricate plotting and (just) believable secret weapons. He was on his game for this one!

   Saichan’s Unlucky 13, by the way, featured some of Commando’s early recurring characters — The Bomb Gang. This story is as explosive as any of theirs.

Calum Laird, Editor

Secret Of The Alps, originally No 2343 (January 1990), re-issued as Commando No 3947 (October 2006).

Story: Alan Hebden

Art: Saichan

Cover: Ian Kennedy

Preview: http://www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/23rd-april-2015-collection?issue=4806 

Festival appearance cancellation

I'm very sorry to say that due to a persistent virus/flu I won't be able to attend the Birmingham Comics Festival tomorrow. I'm annoyed with myself for several reasons because of this, especially as I was one of the first guests invited by organiser Steve Tanner who is one of the good guys in the UK comics industry. (Steve's also the publisher of Time Bomb Comics. Check them out.)

I'm also sorry to not be able to meet up with friends and colleagues old and new, and that I'll miss the readers who are attending. I was really looking forward to going and I'm gutted not to be there. My sincere apologies to those of you who were bringing comics along to be signed and/or hoping to buy a sketch. I hate letting people down. 

By sheer bad luck this is the second event in six months I've had to cancel due to some virus or other. All the months in-between I've been as right as rain!

On a positive note the guest line-up is so amazing that I'm sure my non-appearance will have no impact on the enjoyment of those attending. It sounds like it's going to be a fantastic event and the weather forecast is excellent so I'm sure that everyone who attends will have a great time. 
http://www.thecomicfestival.com/home

DWM Special Edition preview

Thanks to TARDIS technology (and the generosity of Panini UK) here's a quick preview of the Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition: The Art of Doctor Who that will be in the shops tomorrow! 

Even better than expected, the summer special features a wealth of information and artwork of the history of Doctor Who in comics, annuals, sweet cigarette cards, Target novelizations and more.

There's even a few images shot directly from the artwork which show off the brush strokes as well as the margin notes. Naturally the Doctor's more predominant appearances in titles such as TV Comic and Countdown are covered but it also shows covers to publications such as TV Tornado and Judy which featured the Time Lord. 

Where possible, quotes from the artists involved have been included and there's a new interview with Dave Gibbons on his time drawing the strip for the early issues of Doctor Who Weekly.

Editor Marcus Hearn and his team of writers have been very thorough in researching their subjects. As well as covering the history of the comic strips over the last 51 years there are also features on the DVD sleeve design, fanzine artwork, concept art of the series and much more. 

The 100 page special is an excellent publication packed with information. Essential summer reading for any Doctor Who fan and/or fan of British comics history. 

Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition No.40 - The Art of Doctor Who published Thursday 16th April 2015. £5.99.

Herb Trimpe R.I.P.

I'm very sorry to hear of the passing of artist Herb Trimpe at the age of 75. He was known in the comics industry for many strips including his long run on The Incredible Hulk from 1969 to 1975 and the original artist on Marvel UK's Captain Britain in 1976.

The first work of Herb Trimpe's I noticed was on Incredible Hulk No.115 in May 1969. A striking cover and interior art that grabbed my attention on the shelf of my corner shop and which I eagerly bought for a shilling (5p). 

I've admired his work ever since. It was the beginning of a great era for the Hulk and it became my favourite American comic at the time. 

Many of those strips were of course reprinted in the British weekly The Mighty World of Marvel. 

He drew other strips as well of course, putting his love of aircraft to use by drawing The Phantom Eagle one-off in Marvel Super-heroes, the early issues of Captain Britain, various Western comics, and a long stint on Marvel's Godzilla comic in the 1980s, to name but a few. In recent years he wrote and drew a new strip for digital comic Aces Weekly.

A book on the artist's work, The Incredible Herb Trimpe, was already scheduled to be published soon by Twomorrows: 
http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1196

From the Twomorrows website.

My sincere condolences to Mr.Trimpe's family and friends.

Interview with Herb Trimpe:
http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=1593 

More information:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/04/14/herb-trimpe-passes-away-aged-75/

All images on this post (except the Twomorrows book cover) are from my personal collection.

Summer with Doctor Who

The Summer Special Edition of Doctor Who Magazine will be published this Thursday (16th April) and this time the theme is The Art of Doctor Who.

I reported the news about this issue several months ago when it was still in the production stages with a different cover. I think the new cover looks far more eye-catching. Nice and bright for summer reading. 

Here's what the original solicitation details said about the mag:

"The latest Special Edition of Doctor Who Magazine is devoted to the artists who have brought the television series' concepts to life in other mediums. New interviews and previously unseen artwork reveal the inspirations behind the annuals, the classic comics and the greatest book covers, from the early 1960s to the present day."

It will also bring the story up to date with articles on the digital work of concept illustrations for the latest episodes.

I'll give it a quick review here when I've seen it but I thought I'd give you the heads up now. The magazine will be on sale throughout the early summer months. 116 pages for £5.99.