The current series of Doctor Who ends tonight with an episode that producer Steven Moffat promises is "the maddest ever". Forty years ago Doctor Who wasn't on at this time of year, taking a break until Day of the Daleks started on New Years Day 1972 (a story just released on DVD by the way).
However, 40 years ago this weekend Doctor Who was still running in comic strip form in the pages of Countdown. Here's the episode from the serial Backtime from issue No.34, dated October 9th 1971 (published October 2nd of that year). Artwork is by Frank Langford and, although Whovians may hate to see it, The Doctor is quite clearly called "Dr.Who" here and in numerous other comic strips of the Sixties and Seventies, just as he was in the Peter Cushing movies and in the closing credits of the TV show itself back then. That's his name you see. The question whose answer has been hidden in plain sight for decades. Who is The Doctor? Who is The Doctor! And why not? ;-)
For those of you who miss the days of 160 page British annuals on pulpy paper with many strips in black and white, or if you just want a good laugh, you'll be pleased to know that the new Viz annual, The Cleveland Steamer, in out now.
The large format hardback collects selected strips and features from Viz Nos.182 to 191 including favourites such as The Fat Slags, Drunken Bakers, Roger Mellie, Biffa Bacon, Eight Ace and others along with one-off strips such as Davy Jones' excellent spoof of old UK adventure strips with The Clockwork Mountie Grand Prix Boxing Jungle Boy of the Foreign Legion.
Contributors include Simon Thorp (once again providing an excellent cover), Graham Dury, Christina Martin and James MacDougall, Paul Palmer, Barney Farmer and Lee Healey and many more. There's also a couple of pages by me featuring Felix and his Amazing Underpants...
...and The Pathetic Sharks...
For traditional comic fun with an adult twist, Viz: The Cleveland Steamer is on sale now at £10.99.
Here's a couple of comics I've contributed to that are on sale now from newsagents and supermarkets. First up, Toxic No.192 from Egmont has 40 pages of strips and features plus a few free gifts including a 300 page Jack Christie novel, Day of the Assasins, by Johnny O'Brien. Great value for £2.75!
There are six all-new strips in this issue: Busted Bieber, Captain Gross, Bro vs Bro, Luke's Spooks, my Team Toxic strip and the debut of Quiff & Rooney by Stik. (Unfortunately my punchline "It looks like Hallie is going to meet the stars after all" as a starstruck Hallie Tosis blasts off into space is missing. Perhaps it was too corny even for comics!)
I was also commissioned to design an X-Factor Bonkers Maze for this issue which was great fun. I was pleased to see it spread across pages 10 and 11. The published version has a few tweaks, with artwork rearranged and blown up, so I thought you might like to see the original version here. (Captions would have filled the white areas.) Start from the centre and avoid Jedward's Dressing Room, Simon Cowell in the shower, and the Zombie Judges! Your goal is fame, fortune, a castle, a pool and a robot butler...
Elsewhere on the stands today you'll find The Dandy No.3554 from DC Thomson at a mere £1.50, assuming your newsagent is one of the ones still stocking it. (Distribution seems patchy in some towns these days sadly.) Including the eye-catching Nigel Parkinson cover there's 22 pages of new material including the start of a new series, Rocky's Horror Show by Wilbur Dawbarn.
Usually, David Mason provides the scripts for Postman Prat (and a great job he does) but I was asked to write the one that appears this week. As well as drawing and colouring it I was also asked to letter it, (previously this was done in-house by DC Thomson staff) and I will be lettering it every week from now on.
There you go, two ongoing titles proving that the mainstream UK humour scene is still in there fighting. Chortle!
Breaking from the usual balance of two new/ two reprint Commando releases, this week's four editions are all reprints from the 1970s. "These are “By Special Request” — the quartet chosen by Commando readers as their best-remembered stories" says editor Calum Laird. "There were more than these four suggested (far more!) but these came up again and again so they made the grade."
"We have the chance to do this again early next year so we’ll carry over the other suggestions and throw the floor open once again."
Here's the details of the four comics, with info from Calum...
Commando No 4431: LEGEND OF THE LONGBOW
It is said that if the British troops at Waterloo had used longbows instead of muskets they would have won the battle far more quickly. In the hands of an expert the longbow is a fearful weapon with its accuracy, range and rate of fire. And it is almost completely silent. Tim Rollins was an expert, and he passed his knowledge on to his secret group of French Resistance fighters. From now on, not one of the enemy soldiers in his area of France could ever feel safe.
Introduction by Calum Laird, Commando Editor:
When I decided to ask Commando’s readers to choose some favourite titles for another airing I wasn’t sure what reaction I’d get. Would they be interested in the idea, were our stories lodged in their heads and, if they were, would they know their names? I was not disappointed, though, they came up trumps. Not only did they know all the details they were only too keen to help. In fact there were so many suggestions that we’ll have to do this again. This story was suggested over and over so it must have caught the imagination. I wonder how many of you knew it was written by Mary Feldwick, one of our handful of lady contributors? No doubt you recognised Ian Kennedy’s cover artwork, but did you know it was one of his personal favourites. With inside art by Ibanez, it is obviously a tale to remember.
Legend Of The Longbow, originally Commando No 1354 (September 1979)
Story: Mary Feldwick Art: Ibanez Cover: Ian Kennedy.
Commando No 4432: V FOR VALOUR
All over occupied Norway the sign appeared — a big letter “V” hurriedly painted on buildings, walls…even on German vehicles! To the watching world V stood for victory — the eventual destruction of the Nazis and all they stood for. But to those who knew how often the Norwegian patriots risked imprisonment, torture, even death, V had another meaning… V FOR VALOUR
Introduction by Calum Laird, Commando Editor
This classic tale of two very different brothers was a popular request. Maybe it was Gordon Livingstone’s dynamic inside art or the dramatic tension of Penalva’s menacing cover. Or perhaps Cyril Walker’s well-spun plot. Whatever the reason, I enjoyed reading it again and I hope you will too.
V For Valour, originally Commando No 672 (August 1972), re-issued as No 1828 (September 1984) Script: Cyril Walker Art: Gordon Livingstone Cover: Jordi Penalva.
Commando No 4433: BOSS OF THE BARBARY APES
Since 1713 the mighty Rock of Gibraltar has been British, a massive stone fortress guarding the Mediterranean. But in World War Two, the Nazis had plans for capturing the Rock and knocking out the garrison by using deadly nerve gas. And all that stood in the way of the Germans was one lance-corporal and one small Barbary ape.
Introduction by Calum Laird, Commando Editor
I was surprised that this title cropped up so often as animal stories aren’t Commando’s most popular line. However, with a colourful story by Eric Hebden, an even more colourful cover by Ian Kennedy and inside artwork by Cam Kennedy, it’s easy to see why it was a winner.
Boss Of The Barbary Apes, originally Commando No 568 (July 1971) Script: Eric Hebden Art: Cam Kennedy Cover: Ian Kennedy
Commando No 4434: NEVER GIVE IN!
Hungry, cold and desperate, Bert Rankin crept forward. The thunder of the tropical storm covered the sound of his careful footsteps. Any second now he would strike the first blow in his mission to wrest Mindos Island back from the Japs. For Mindos was HIS island. He would never let them keep it. He would never give in…
Introduction by Calum Laird, Commando EditorIn all our readers’ suggestions, several creators’ names popped up over and over, showing how well they’d fired their imaginations. Jordi Penalva, whose dynamic cover this brings menace and movement to a static picture in a way that was all his own. With a story from the masterly Eric Hebden and illustrations from Franch, this is a classic Commando tale of the burning desire for revenge driving the hero to almost superhuman efforts.
Never Give In!, originally Commando No 654 (June 1972) Script: Eric Hebden Art: Franch Cover: Jordi Penalva
http://www.commandocomics.com
