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Showing posts with label Keith Page. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Keith Page. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

First Commando comics of 2016

There's another stack of British comics out this week, including four issues of Commando. Here's the info directly from publishers D.C. Thomson...
Commando Issues 4879-4882 – On Sale 14 January 2016

Commando No 4879 – Banquet Of Blood
Budapest, 1945.
   Why is Doctor Jane Mallory poised to attack her cowardly colleague, “Jelly” Jakes?
   The answer is at the heart of the latest mission for the Convict Commandos. They must uncover a dangerous secret which turns normal soldiers into crazed, ravenous hordes capable of killing anything — or, indeed, anyone — who gets in the way of their desire to eat.
   Is this the Commandos’ most terrifying adventure yet? Jelly definitely thinks so!
Story: Alan Hebden
Art: Manuel Benet
Cover: Manuel Benet


Commando No 4880 – Showdown!
Everybody had thought a lot of Inspector Harry Andrews of the Malayan Police. He was a real man, all guts. Pity he had been captured and probably killed by the Japanese when the invasion over-ran his outpost. He’d put up quite a fight, though.
   Then, there was his brother, Colin — just a war correspondent, not a fighting soldier. He’d never be half the man Harry was, they said. Even though he got himself on a desperate mission to the district in Malaya where his brother had disappeared…but they didn’t really know Colin Andrews…

Introduction
Our premier Gold Collection title of 2016 kicks things off in spectacular style, with a reassuringly gritty jungle tale. This book is brimming with action and intrigue which never lets up. 
   Spence’s script is expertly drawn by C.T. Rigby with his usual aplomb, while Lopez Espi’s cover is a masterclass in pulp illustration.
   I hope you enjoy this story and are looking forward to many more like it throughout the year.
Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor
Showdown!, originally Commando No 227 (September 1966)
Story: Spence
Art: C.T. Rigby
Cover: Lopez Espi


Commando No 4881 – Death Drop
In 1944, Allied forces in Southern Italy met fierce resistance from the German defenders who fought bitterly from the cover of the mountains and hills.
   When a British airborne unit were tasked with landing behind enemy lines and hampering the German escape, this seemed straightforward.
   However, Captain Roy Hopkins soon found out the hard way that nothing ever went according to plan. He and his men would have to fight every step of the way if they were to complete their mission…
Story: Ferg Handley
Art: Keith Page
Cover: Keith Page


Commando No 4882 – Another Tight Spot…
Andy Leslie had known all along that he would have to face danger when he volunteered to serve with the Parachute Regiment. That had turned out to be the way of it, Andy battling his way clear from one tight spot after another with the famous Red berets.
   Nobody had ever warned him that he might end up in the sea, bobbing about in a dinghy. There was nothing predictable in any day of Andy’s war…

Introduction
Welcome to the premier Silver Collection issue of 2016.
   This fast-paced tale of the continuing adventures of a Parachute Regiment soldier was drawn by the late Ricardo Garijo. Another Tight Spot was actually his first Commando book – the first of over 90 issues that he completed before his death in October 2009. His final book, The Winter Warriors (No 4257), was published posthumously in December of that year.
   An exceptional talent, this influential and hugely popular Argentinian artist is much-missed to this day.
Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor
Another Tight Spot…, originally Commando No 2469 (May 1991)
Story: Alan Hemus
Art: Garijo
Cover: Ian Kennedy
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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Commando issues out now

Another four issues of Britain's longest running adventure comic are in the shops today. Here's the PR from D.C. Thomson...
Commando No. 4831 – Flight Of The Furies 
In 1939, confident young Pilot Officer Duncan Marlow fell foul of an obnoxious C.O. and was posted out of the way to Griffin Island — a small garrison off Africa’s West Coast.
   Discipline was lax and the Governor was untrustworthy. He was on friendly terms with the Germans who were stationed nearby, even though War between both countries was all but inevitable. What was going on…?
   Soon Duncan, aided by a down-at-heel fellow pilot, found himself fighting the enemy in old Fury bi-planes. He was determined to strike back!

Story: Steve Coombs
Art: Jaume Forns
Cover: Ian Kennedy


Commando No. 4832 – Terror Train 
Not one of the men waiting in the darkness of that tunnel was unafraid. Each felt the fluttering in the stomach, the trembling of the hands that meant stark fear had taken over.
   Were these a pack of cowards, then?
   No. Every man present was a hero, brave and full of fight. Picked men — British Commandos and the cream of the French Resistance, the Maquis.
   But they were waiting for a train with a deadly cargo, and each man knew that in a few seconds he might have an appointment with death! 

Introduction
It’s hard to believe that this classic Commando book hails from nearly half a century ago. Somehow it almost seems timeless – practically like a blueprint for everything that these ‘War Stories In Pictures’ were, and still are, all about.
   It’s beautifully illustrated, with a fantastically pulpy cover, and features great characters, thrills and action that never lets up. ‘Terror Train’ keeps on track, never going off the rails, right until the final word.
   Reader Announcement – Attention Please: Commando would like to apologise for the late arrival of the train puns in the previous sentence.

Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor
Terror Train, originally Commando No 209 (April 1966), re-issued as no 851 (July 1974)

Story: Redbridge
Art: Martin
Cover: Lopez ESPI


Commando No. 4833 – The Desert Duel 
Captain Jimmy Ramsey and his maverick Special Raiding Force were used to doing their own thing — dangerous hit-and-run raids deep behind enemy lines.
   So, during the battle of El Alamein in autumn 1942, when the Raiders were teamed with a Long Range Desert Group unit to capture an isolated German airfield, tensions mounted between the tough, hard-headed factions. Both the SRF and LRDG felt they could do the job better on their own.   
   They would have to stop clashing long enough to fight the real enemy!

Story: Ferg Handley
Art: Keith Page
Cover: Ian Kennedy


Commando No. 4834 – The Man Who Was Afraid
What makes a good fighter pilot? It’s mostly skill, and Charles Crombie had plenty of that. But it isn’t only skill — you also need to be able to fly through a hail of bullets and flak threatening to hack you out of the sky at any minute. And that was what Charles was afraid of.
   Then he took to wearing an old coin around his neck. It was his lucky charm. As long as he had it with him, he knew no fear.
   As long as he had it with him…

Introduction
You might be interested to know that the original working title for this story was ‘The Courage Is Inside’. Obviously, I wasn’t in the Commando office in 1977 when the script came in (I was aged 5 at the time). But I’m guessing that one of the reasons it wasn’t used is that although appropriate to the subject matter, it somehow just doesn’t seem ‘Commando-ish’ enough to go in front of Ian Kennedy’s dynamic cover montage.
   The story’s a good one – even though it features the fairly well-used plot device of a lucky charm – and there’s a main character that we’re genuinely rooting for. And it is all brilliantly illustrated, as usual, by Gordon Livingstone.
Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor
The Man Who Was Afraid, originally Commando No 1152 (August 1977), re-issued as No 2476 (June 1991)

Story: Mclean
Art: George Livingstone
Cover: Ian Kennedy 
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Thursday, April 09, 2015

Latest Commando issues out today

Here's the latest info direct from DC Thomson on the Commando Issues 4799-4802 – On Sale 9th April 2015


Commando No 4799 – Eagles Of New Eden
After the tumultuous events of the English Civil War, Sergeant Samuel Carrick and his fellow Roundhead soldiers were victorious but disillusioned. So disillusioned, that they sailed away to start new lives in the far-off Americas.
   The idyllic farming colony they established was christened New Eden. Here they worked hard and lived peacefully off the fruits of their labours.
   This peace was shattered when enemies old and new stood against them. It seemed Samuel and his comrades would have to fight for their lives once more…

Introduction

With only a few notable exceptions — step forward the Convict Commandos — recurring characters have been rare on the pages of Commando over the last 50-odd years. However we were of the opinion that you, our readers, might like a series which carried the story over more than one issue. With the pen of Ferg Handley recruited to do the writing, we decided that a historical saga spanning many generations would hit the spot.
   Episode Seven sees the stories of three inter-linked families continue in the aftermath of the English Civil War. Although supposedly a time of peace, there were still many factions in society at loggerheads. In order to live the way they desired, many opted for new lives across the Atlantic. As some of our characters found out, this was a hard existence, fraught with danger and disaster. Our story is, of course, fiction but the experiences of our heroes are not far from the truth as encountered by many.
   We hope you enjoy this story and the journey to come.

Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor

Story: Ferg Handley
Art; Keith Page
Cover: Keith Page



Commando No 4800 – Flying Fools
Flight Lieutenant Roy Ogden was a pilot who fought and flew strictly by the book. He had a neat, tidy squadron that fought neat, tidy air battles and got quite good results…quite good.
   Then a big Texan pilot called Mike McClusky arrived on the scene; a daring, slap-happy flier who roared, “Get in and mix it, boys!” across his radio. Suddenly the results were terrific.
   That was when Roy’s neat, tidy squadron changed into a bunch of…

Flying Fools!

Introduction

   As you can imagine, working (ha!) here, we get to read a lot of war stories of all flavours. Despite the numbers of them, only occasionally do you get one that combines all the “classic” elements of a war story. This, however, is one of those. Not wanting to give the game away, I’ll refrain from itemising them, but you’ll know them when you see them. What’s more, with a bit of disbelief suspension, they come together to make a cracking story.
   Backed up by Sostres’ contrast-heavy inside art, the plot the story that waits behind Ken Barr’s cover is well worth the investment of your time.

Calum Laird, Commando Editor

Flying Fools originally Commando No 180 (September 1965), re-issued as No 819 (March 1974)

Story: Bounds
Art: Sostres
Cover: Ken Barr

Commando No 4801 – A Tiger’s Tale
“Tiger!” — a cry that struck fear into many a soldier’s heart during the Second World War. Little wonder when it meant that you were about to encounter 50-odd tons of armoured might, impervious to all but the heaviest weapons and with an 88mm gun whose shells could punch right through another tank from a mile away.
   Tanks, though, don’t operate themselves — they need crewmen. Crewmen like the five here who will tell you…

A Tiger’s Tale

Story; George Low
Art: Vicente Alcazar
Cover: Ian Kennedy


Commando No 4802 – School For Spies
High on a rocky crag on the west coast of Scotland stood Whitecrest House, home of the Mackay family of Strathfiddich. Over the centuries its grim, stone walls had looked down on many tales of bravery, mystery and intrigue.
   Now, in the Second World War, it was being put to a peaceful purpose — a boarding school for boys. But what the boys didn’t know was that under their feet, in hidden cellars and dungeons, was another kind of school, where the students had names like Kurt…and Hans…and Ernst…

Introduction

   The Ed and I have often wondered why espionage stories are slightly more difficult to do in Commando’s format, compared to traditional military action —difficult, but not impossible as this book certainly is a success. The main bugbear is that spy tales tend to involve a variety of people standing in shadows, talking to themselves (usually explaining the plot) in lots of “thought balloons”; and then we might have several pages of more explanations, sometimes done in flashback. All of this is fine, of course, but can grate a little over 63 pages. 
   However, this yarn is thoroughly entertaining, with lots of incident and interesting characters — ensuring that School For Spies is a class act. Top marks all round!

Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor

School For Spies, re-issued as No 2380 (June 1990), originally Commando No 1058 (August 1976).

Story: C.G. Walker
Art: Gordon Livingstone
Cover: Phillips
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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Commando Nos.4791 to 4794 out this week

Thanks to DC Thomson, here's the info for this month's first set of Commando comics to hit the shelves on Thursday...
Commando Issues 4791-4794 – On Sale 12th March 2015
Commando No 4791 – The Eagles Strike!
The mid-17th Century would turn out to the most turbulent time in England’s already tempestuous history. In summer 1642, a full-scale civil war erupted between the armies of the Royalist “Cavalier” and the Parliamentary “Roundheads.”
   Even the village of Teverton in the far south-west of Britain was caught up in the strife, and a centuries-old feud between a trio of families was re-ignited by the spark of war. Things looked bleak as Englishmen battled fellow Englishman…

Introduction

With only a few notable exceptions — step forward the Convict Commandos — recurring characters have been rare on the pages of Commando over the last 50-odd years. However we were of the opinion that you, our readers, might like a series which carried the story over more than one issue. With the pen of Ferg Handley recruited to do the writing, we decided that a historical saga spanning many generations would hit the spot.
   Episode Six sees the continuing story of three sets of inter-linked characters move from the 14th Century to the harrowing times of the English Civil War of 1642. In the past, the characters had repelled Norman and Roman invaders. Now they are set to do battle with their fellow countrymen.
   We hope you enjoy this story and the journey to come.

Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor

Story: Ferg Handley
Art: Keith Page
Cover: Keith Page



Commando No 4792 – Call Him Hero
Look how young Sergeant-pilot Jack Sherwood left a Nazi prison camp — on the end of a home-made, twelve-foot vaulting pole!
   And this is only one of a hair-raising series of close shaves Jack survives in this great yarn. Sprinter, weight-lifter, jumper and vaulter, this crack user athlete has to pull out he knows before he gets clear of the Germans to fly — and fight — again.

Introduction

POW stories have always been a bit problematic in Commando. We’ve always tried to have lots of action in our stories so the static setting of a Stalag doesn’t really work. The other thing that’s difficult is having a lone character featuring throughout the tale. Endless pictures of a thoughtful hero can get a bit wearing. And yet, Mr Tyson has used both these themes and made a Commando tale that works very well.
   With Medrano’s inside art and Ken Barr’s slightly misleading cover, this is a rare classic seeing the light of day for the first time in 40 years.

Calum Laird, Commando Editor

Call Him Hero originally Commando No 186 (October 1965), re-issued as No 815 (February 1974)

Story: Tyson
Art: Medrano
Cover: Ken Barr



Commando No 4793 – The Rogue Mission 
The Home Guard never served overseas, did they? And they certainly didn’t take their improvised armoured vehicles to the east of Africa to fight Axis forces, did they? Of course they didn’t.
   Or did they? A bunch of Home Guardsmen from Hecklethwaite might beg to differ, for they know the story of…
The Rogue Mission

Story: Alan Hebden
Art: Carlos Pino
Cover: Carlos Pino




Commando No 4794 – Duel In The Snow 
Climbing dazedly from the shattered cockpit of his hijacked Zero, Pilot Officer Bill O’Hara was relieved to find himself still in one piece.
   But his troubles weren’t over yet. A deadly duel was about to begin on the side of a mountain will Bill, unarmed and exhausted, against a fanatical enemy officer out for revenge!

Introduction

After reading this story, part of me was tempted to go back through the pages and check for any rogue kitchen sinks that I may have missed — as author David Heptonstall seems to have thrown everything else into the mix. Duel In The Snow is a heady brew of aerial dogfights, Commando training, top secret missions, stolen Japanese Zeros and Himalayan mountaineering. 
   I think it’s fair to say that only in Commando can there be so much scope for such a gloriously entertaining, action-packed concoction, brought vividly to life by Ibanez’s stylish art and Ian Kennedy’s typically atmospheric cover.

Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor

Duel In The Snow, originally Commando No 2559 (March 1990), re-issued as No 3455 (November 2006) 

Story: David Heptonstall
Art: Ibanez
Cover: Ian Kennedy
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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Commando goes further back in time

The stories in DC Thomson's Commando comic have usually focused on World War 2, sometimes World War 1, and a few other 20th Century conflicts. It has featured stories of other eras too from time to time, but not for a while. That changes this week in Commando No.4775 with Eagles Arise by Ferg Handley and Keith Page being set in the 11th Century!

 Here's the info, direct from Commando HQ... 

 Commando Issues 4775-4778 – On Sale 15 January 2015

Commando No 4775 – “Eagles, Arise!”
England, after 1066, was a violent place. As William of Normandy tightened his grip on the English throne, it was a time of war and great unrest.
   The incoming Norman forces ruled with an iron fist. One especially cruel member of the new ruling class was Roland of Alain — who aimed to crush any resistance from those he regarded as peasant upstarts.
   One such “upstart” was Carrick. He and his band of rebels were determined to put up a fight against their oppressors. A fight to the death, if necessary…

Story: Ferg Handley
Art: Keith Page
Cover: Keith Page


Commando No 4776 – Sea Fury
Spray lashed the cockpit screen, blinding the big pilot as he fought the bucking controls to belly-land the crippled Albacore in the choppy sea. Once, twice, she bounced before she hit the icy water at terrifying speed.
   This was the second time young “Gusty” Bellows of the Fleet Air Arm had come off second-best to Kapitan Kreuzmann of the German Navy — the ruthless Kreuzmann, with his submarine mother-ship, “Seewolf”, bristling with guns, and his pack of U-boats. But Gusty was determined that next time it would be different — if there was a next time…

Introduction

It’s a difficult thing to do, to write a successful war comic based on ships. Ask Pat Mills — creator of Charley’s War — he’ll tell you. What Roger Clegg did here was to throw in some aircraft, add a man wracked with guilt and paint a very effective villain. All these lift it above the waves trying to suck it under.
   With a menace-laden Ken Barr cover and some very atmospheric art by the King Of Zip-A-Tone, Gordon Livingstone, who almost has you feeling the icy water round your ankles, it the classic Commando formula — believable characters struggling against the odds…and themselves.

Calum Laird, Commando Editor

Sea Fury, originally Commando No 168 (June 1965), re-issued as No 805 (January 1974)

Story: Roger Clegg
Art: Gordon Livingstone
Cover: Ken Barr



Commando No 4777 – Sky Warriors
Towards the end of the Second World War, the Balkan Air Force operated over Greece and Yugoslavia, supplying the Partisans and fighting Axis air power. Made up of men and aircraft of many different nationalities, it was an uneasy alliance at the best of times. Former enemies were expected to put aside their differences and work together.
   The tensions looked to have come to a head when Polish fliers clashed with a new-arrived Russian unit but that was just the start.

Story: Alan Hebden
Art: Jaume Forns
Cover: Ian Kennedy




Commando No 4778 – Death On The Wind
Staff-Sergeant Harry Sale of the Special Air Service had fought his way out of more tight corners than he cared to remember. Now he was across in the USA, away from the bullets and the bombs, passing on his specialised knowledge to squads of hand-picked Yanks.
   It was supposed to be a hard-earned break from the savage war in Europe but, before Harry could begin to relax even a little, a silent and deadly new weapon was drifting ever closer to his training area…

Introduction

Okay, a story about a tough SAS Sergeant — I like it already. Except he’s swapped the savage war in Europe for a training exercise in Oregon, USA? Oh, righto… 
   Does this premise sound slightly underwhelming? It briefly crossed my mind but I’m glad to admit I was completely wrong. In fact, Death On The Wind is Commando at its most inventive — turning a plausible idea on its head and heading off on a taut, gripping adventure where hunter becomes hunted (and hunter once again!). 
   We’re lucky, then, that we might actually judge the book by its wonderful, moody cover — painted by the late, great Phil Gascoine.

Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor

Death On The Wind, originally Commando No 2433 (December 1990)


Story: Alan Hemus
Art: Denis McLoughlin
Cover: Phil Gascoine
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