New from Commando!

The info on the latest issues from the award winning Commando comic have been released. These issues are on sale 28^th February 2013

Commando No 4579 – The Regimental Spoon

Soldiers’ lucky charms and mascots come in all shapes and sizes — from medallions to pet goats and all things in between. But surely one of the oddest objects to become a talisman of good fortune was a spoon. Yes, that’s right, a humble spoon.

   Don’t believe it? Well, between these covers is the story of how this kitchen utensil went to war with generations of the same family — and returned home safely every time.

   Make up your own mind if the tale is true.

Story: Mac MacDonald

Art: Keith Page

Cover: Keith Page

Commando No 4580 – Burma Vengeance

In the dense Burmese jungle, British troops were being driven back towards India, their spirits sapped by a series of defeats at the hands of the advancing Japanese.

   Corporal Dan Farley had been left in command of a group of fearful survivors. They expected to be killed at any moment…but then a grizzled veteran Sergeant – ruthless and tough – came of out of nowhere to save their skins.

   Dan wanted to be like this lethal newcomer, but the mysterious NCO was on a mission of his own. He had a score to settle with a brutal Japanese Colonel. This quest was personal and it could only end in death…but whose?

Story: Alan Hebden

Art: Vila

Cover: Janek Matysiak

Commando No 4581 – Hero From Hollywood

Almost every man has a hero…the one bloke in all the world he’d give his right arm to be like. Corporal Joe Brent’s number one he-man was the big, granite-fisted American film-star – Chet Marvin.

   In the days before the war, Joe queued up to see every movie he made, and marvelled at the sheer guts of the man.

   Then, one day in 1941, against a background of exploding German bombs and throbbing aero-engines, Corporal Joe Brent and his celluloid hero met face to face. It should have been the greatest day in Joe’s life.

   But this was no Hollywood film set. This was war! And when the shot and shell are no longer blanks, it’s easy to sort out the men from the boys…

Introduction

A little bit of “conspiracy theory” never goes amiss in Commando and author Eric Hebden takes full advantage here with his invasion that never was. The main thrust of the story, though, is a hero with feet of clay — or a bad case of the jitters — and he manages that with equal aplomb.

   The art is strong, inside and outside, by two men who handle the drawing of horses with the same skill as Hebden handles the story. And horses, as the best of artists will tell you, are tricky beasts to capture.

   Giddy-up and get reading!

Calum Laird, Editor

Hero From Hollywood originally Commando No84 (August 1963), re-issued as No559 (June 1971)

Story: Eric Hebden

Art: Jones

Cover: Alvaro

Commando No 4582 – The Secret Tanks

The French Char-B tank was one of the best fighting vehicles of the Second World War. But France had surrendered in 1940 so why were there a lot of them in the desert in 1943? And why did they have enemy markings? It was a secret which the Germans were determined to hide but which the Allies were equally determined to uncover.

Introduction

This solid tale features a story-telling device that works well in Commando – the linking of World War II with the Great War which had ended a little over twenty years previously. Here, the connection is a fighting father and son, and the dependable sergeant that served alongside them both.

   Then, of course, throw into the mix the “Secret Tanks” of the title – great, clanking French Char Bs – and we have a classic in the making.

   Commando legend Gordon Livingstone’s art is up to his usual high standard here, and shows his versatility in drawing action and adventure, whatever the conflict.

Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor

The Secret Tanks, originally Commando no 2210 (August 1988), re-issued as No 3708 (April 2004)

Story: David Heptonstall

Art: Gordon Livingstone

Cover: Jeff Bevan

New from Commando!

Commando No 4567 – Collision Course

So how did Flight Lieutenant Kerrie Matheson, in his unarmed DH 86 transport, end up hurtling straight towards an enemy Bloch 220 Auvergne aircraft?

   Well, it had all started off as a routine secondment from his posting at Coastal Command. He became part of a mission to build a long distance air bridge, ferrying Allied planes from French-held Africa to Egypt.

   Then his routine flying duties took a deadly turn – with mystery, espionage and murder setting him on a

Collision Course.

Story: Alan Hebden

Art: Keith Page

Cover: Keith Page

Commando No 4568 – Eighty-Eight!

It’s not every day you see a German 88mm gun being operated by a group of “Fighting Kiwis” – New Zealanders from a British and Commonwealth Expeditionary Force battling in Greece, determined to hold back the German onslaught.

   But this was not an everyday story.

   Thanks to a bungling SS officer, the Kiwis were able to help themselves to the enemy artillery’s pride and joy. Having been relentlessly pounded by the very same guns, they decided to give the Jerries a taste of their own medicine!

Story: Alan Hebden

Art: Jaume Forns

Cover: Ian Kennedy

Commando No 4569 – Beach-Head!

Johnny Malloy was a little guy – five foot zero or thereabouts, but he wore the coveted Commando flash on his shoulders.

   He seemed lazy, good-for-nothing, a coward – yet every man in his platoon was ready to die for him when it came to the bit.

   Who was he then – this odd little Commando? Just about the most important guy in the British army, that’s all!

Introduction

   All the ingredients for a classic Commando story are here – a dicey but vital mission, a group of soldiers who don’t trust a comrade…and Gordon Livingstone’s inimitable artwork. I say inimitable with confidence as many have tried and none has succeeded.

   Flipping open the Ken Barr cover in 1963, you’d be met with a script and art which neatly capture all the fine details of service life, thanks to a generation that lived through a world war and National Service. There’s a priceless authenticity about this. And you can have it for only £1.50. What a bargain!

Calum Laird, Editor

Beach-Head originally Commando No 54 (January 1963)

Story: Parsons

Art: Gordon Livingstone

Cover: Ken Barr

Commando 4570 – Arctic Victory

After a few weeks in a certain squadron of the RAF Regiment, Phil Adamson was beginning to wonder if this unit really was just for the defence of airfields. What with unarmed combat instruction, learning about explosives and a mock-raid on a local flying school, it was more like training for a crack Commando squad.

   He didn’t know how right he was!

Introduction

Although it first appeared in the Spring of 1988, it somehow seems fitting to republish author David Heptonstall’s icy tale in mid-January, the chill of winter still in the air.

   Artist Terry Patrick’s rendering of Arctic Scandinavia – especially on pages 26 and 27 – is very effective and, as always, cover legend Ian Kennedy does Commando proud.

   The story seemingly starts as an air yarn but then changes gear, morphing into a “men-on-a-mission” adventure with a hint of espionage. It’s a little bit different.

Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor

Arctic Victory, originally Commando No 2177 (April 1988)

Story: David Heptonstall

Art: Terry Patrick

Cover: Ian Kennedy

DANDY EXHIBITION LAUNCH AND DIGITAL DANDY EVENT - SATURDAY 8TH

On Saturday 8^th December at 2pm there will be an opening event for the University of Dundee’s latest comics exhibition which will celebrate the 75th birthday of the world’s third-longest running comic, The Dandy, created by Dundee publishers DC Thomson. The exhibition looks back over the Dandy’s past, but also towards its future as it moves on-line with the launch of the Digital Dandy this week.

The exhibition features original artwork from DC Thomson’s collections dating back to the earliest years of the comic, much of which has never been shown in public before. The launch event will also give an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse at the creation of the new Digital Dandy, with a discussion led by Dr Chris Murray, with contributions from Morris Heggie, former Dandy editor, new Digital Dandy editor Craig Ferguson, Digital Production manager Mark Hunter, writer Dan McGachey, long-time DCT artist David Sutherland, and one of the artists who is very closely involved in the direction of the Digital Dandy, Stephen White (Brassneck and Keyhole Kate).

The exhibition and launch have been created as part of an on-going partnership between DC Thomson & Co Ltd, the University of Dundee Museum Services and the newly established Scottish Centre for Comics Studies based at the University. Dr Chris Murray, director of the centre, said: “We are proud to be able to help The Dandy celebrate its 75th anniversary, which is a remarkable achievement. Of course, the comic is also in a process of transition, as the final print version goes to press and is replaced by a new digital Dandy. This promises to be an exciting and innovative step forward for comic and its beloved characters.”

All are welcome for what promises to be an informative and engaging series of talks about The Dandy’s history and its future.

The exhibition is open Monday-Saturday until 7th January (except when the University is closed for Christmas 23 December – 2 January). The launch will be on Saturday 8^th December at 2pm in the Tower Building, University of Dundee. Admission is free.

For further information email museum@dundee.ac.uk or c.murray@dundee.ac.uk

Kingdom: Call of the Wild review

This is another in our exclusive range of Things We Should Have Reviewed Ages Ago But Are Only Getting To Now.
In the past few years there have been two genuinely classic creations. One is Ewing and Flint’s Zombo, and the other is Gene the Hackman.
This is the second collected volume of the series Kingdom, pulling together the third and fourth stories.
The first of these, Call of the Wild, sees our hero Gene and his young human companion Lizzie arrive at last in what is left of civilisation. Of course as is the way with these things, that is merely the beginning of their troubles and it is soon action all they way as Gene encounters another pack of Auxs, each with a spectacularly punny name in the way that only Dan Abnett can get away with.

This story ends on a bit of a downer, but thankfully with this being a GN, the reader doesn’t have to wait an entire year for the next series to find out what happens next.
And what does happen next is His Master's Voice. And boy… oh boy. There have been a lot of unanswered questions from the previous stores about Gene and his kind. Here is where we get the answers. And the thing is, we really do. Abnett doesn’t skirt around the edges of do it in a half-hearted way that says he didn’t really know in the first place – you know - like in Lost.
That is not to say that there are still not many questions to be answered. The Big Questions from Call of the Wild are still out there, and the ending of that story still needs to be resolved.
But His Master's Voice ends on a prefect note that in a way almost has Gene come full circle… but at the same time end up in a completely different place.
And before I go, I should really mention Richard Elson’s art. It is as you would expect, quite superb. His line work is magnificent, characters perfect and actions scenes kinetic and dynamic. This is helped along by seamless colouring from Abbey Ryder.
All in all this is a very good book, but it only leaves the reader wanting more, and there hasn’t been any new Kingdom  for quite a while. Fingers crossed we get some this year!

Sugar Glider and Sugar Glider Stories #2 review

We reviewed the first issue of Sugar Glider here.
Issue 2 has been on the review pile for a while and it has taken us far too long to get to it. But boy was it worth the wait.
The first issue of Sugar Glider, as well as the spin-off title Sugar Glider Tales was fantastic in setting up the world and characters, and in this issue we pick up where that has left off.
Thee is a new mysterious figure roaming the streets of Newcastle – the, frankly rather loony, Don Quixote. I’m being a bit too simplistic here. There is an awful lot going on, and the characters as much more rounded and real than my describing Quixote as a loony makes them seem, but I feel that to tell you too much about him would lessen the impact.
All I will say is this: Sugar Glider is one of the best Small Press titles, no, strike that. It's one of the best comics I have ever read, and I have read a lot of them.
It doesn’t just standing up against other Small Press titles, it easily holds it’s own against any superhero title you would care to name. Yes, That’s what I said.
If you read comics, you really should be reading this.


Sugar Glider Stories #2

See the previous Sugar Glider Stories review here.
Much like the previous SGS, this is a series of short stories, some no more than a page or so in length, but each adds something to the overall narrative of the book and the world of Sugar Glider.
Reading this, I was impressed by not only how complex it is, but the degree of effortlessness that seems to be present in the writing. This book dances back and forth in time, filling in spaces from Sugar Glider #2 and ending up just where that one begins, as well as letting us see what’s going on in the background of the events in the main comic.
Like I say – it is complex, but handled with deceptively consummate ease. What could so easily have been a disjointed mess reads very smoothly.
As with the last collection, the art is a mixed back, ranging from pages that would sit easily in a professional comic to art that is decidedly amateur.
Now – I thought long and hard about the word I would use to describe the art before going for amateur. And I mean that word in a very good way. The art may not be to any sort of professional standard, but it never once comes across as bad.
The strips are clearly drawn, with the action easy to follow and characters are distinct and can be recognised easily, even when drawn by artists with polar opposite styles.
If you’re reading Sugar Glider, and if you’re a comic fan you should be, then you should be reading this too.

OVERLOAD #1!

ZOMBIE THATCHER RETURNS FROM THE DEAD TO TERRORISE BRITAIN

New indie British comics anthology kicks off with Maggie Thatcher at the helm.

She shut the coal mines, privatised every major public utility in the UK, introduced the poll tax, pre-empted the banking crisis and stole the milk from our childrens’ mouths – and now she’s back from the dead to re-take her rightful place as the leader of the country from the weak-minded ConDem coalition.

That’s right: Maggie Thatcher is back – and this time, she’s a zombie.

Be afraid – Tory politics never looked so scary.

Launching at Kapow! Comic Convention at the London Business Design Centre in Islington on Saturday 19 May is the new black and white comics anthology OVERLOAD from The Copydesk Ltd.

Martin Conaghan, editor of OVERLOAD, will be holding a portfolio review session at table 34 at Kapow! on Saturday 19 May at 13:00BST and again on Sunday 20 May (also at table 34) at 13:00BST for potential OVERLOAD contributors. Writers and artists are welcome.  

Issue #1 of OVERLOAD features a stunning cover by Graeme Neil Reid (2000AD, Judge Dredd Megazine, The Beano) depicting the Iron Lady in all her zombified glory, attacking the good people of London – taken from the inaugural issue’s headline story ‘Primus Inter Pares’ (“First Among Equals”) – which sees the UK overcome by the dead returning from the grave and former prime ministers attempting to re-take 10 Downing Street. Written by Gordon Rennie (Judge Dredd, Doctor Who, Dept of Monsterology) and Emma Beeby with art by newcomer Eoin Coveney, it’s a ‘biting’ satire on the country’s current political decline at the hands of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat alliance.

Rennie and Beeby issued the following statement:

"The Prime Minister must be aware of the fear sweeping the nation about the coming zombie apocalypse. Will he now release HM Government's plans to deal with this matter? This comic is a call to action. The people need to know the truth; need reassured that they have thought of every eventuality. No matter how terrifying. We hope Overload's readers will follow suit, and email their MP to ask what they intend we do when the dead rise. We all know it's going to happen."

Also featured in issue #1 is ‘Comort’ written by Dave Cook and Gary Crutchely (2000AD), a short story about the things in life we turn to when the chips are down.

‘Staring Into The Eye Of A Blackbird, You Can See The Things He Likes And The Things He Doesn’t’, written by Martin Hayes with art by Graeme Howard depicts the tale of a lonely young man whose existence disturbed by dreams of a mysterious blackbird that watches his every move...

‘Omen’, written by Geoffrey D. Wessel (Keeper) with art by Steve Penfold (Fallen Heroes)the right-wing media agenda while an alien invasion takes place…

Cy Dethan (Cancertown) scripts ‘Open Source’ with art by Aaron Moran in a story about protect something precious by keeping it hidden in plain sight…

While writer Matt Gibbs and James Reekie (The Ballad of Frank Satre) deliver the haunting ‘Otherworld Sailor’ – a tale about ancient religion and a shocking visitation.

OVERLOAD is intended to be a regular black and white anthology title showcasing the work of established talent, while introducing some new creators to the comics industry. All material is creator-owned, with Overload reserving first reprint rights and some digital publishing rights. All deals are non-exclusive. We do not accept completed stories which have not been pre-approved. We do accept unsolicited idea submissions,  but not unsolicited scripts. Submissions are by invite-only. For more information, send an email to: overload@copydesk.co.uk  You can view a sampler of Overload #1 here: http://issuu.com/martinconaghan/docs/overload1

#1 £4.0036 PAGES Suggested for mature readers

Keegan Jask: Tales from Heaven-11

Straight from the pages of critically acclaimed science fiction annual ‘Omnivistascope’ comes

the collected tales of Keegan Jask in: Tales from the Heaven-11 written by Paul von Scott with art

by Leigh Shepherd

Keegan Jask is a space adventurer and raconteur operating from the Omega Bar of the Heaven-11 galactic

service station. There he recounts his incredible adventures, which are almost too good to be true...

Tales from the Heaven-11 is a 134 page paperback collection. It features all 8 stories from Omnivistascope plus an all new adventure, ‘Down among the Dead Men’. 

The book includes nearly 50 pages of extras! Including introductions from author, artist and Keegan Jask himself, Telling Tales - The Making of Keegan Jask, a 4 page sketchbook, Officer Flojag’s service logs, a

16-page ‘Jasklopaedia’ with over 300 entries on the world of Jask, the board game and 2-page role-playing game.

Keegan Jask - Tales from Heaven -11 launches at Bristol Comics Expo and is available on sale on Saturday 12th of May, marking ten years since the creators first appearance at the Bristol train sheds with the National Comic Award winning Solar Wind.

Thereafter the comic is available for £9.99 plus postage from: www.omnivistascope.com. Contact

the author via e-mail: paulvonscott@yahoo.co.uk, or by post: Paul Scott, 13 Kiln Crescent, Bishop

Middleham, Ferryhill, County Durham, DL17 9AP. United Kingdom.

Acclaim for Omnivistascope

SFX Fanzine of the Month - (5 Times)

“What’s that you say? You didn’t know fanzines came this professional looking? No, neither did we, hence why we’re so impressed with Omnivistascope.”

Silver Bullet Comics – 4 Bullets out of 5!

“Omnivistascope is a highly polished and highly professional book, and is well worth a look by any fan of science fiction” – Kelvin Green

Down the Tubes -

Pick of the Week!

“It’s a great collection…featuring some great strips and art” – John Freeman

Comics International- 10 out of 10! 

“Resplendent self-published Sci-Fi Anthology”

White Knuckle review

Okay, I’ll try to get through this review without it turning into some kind back slapping exercise.
We’ve been falling far behind with our reviews of late, so have missed out entirely on reviewing Cy Dethan’s previous two books: The Indifference Engine and Broadcast.
So, briefly: they’re both awesome and you need to buy them.
You may remember our review of Slaughterman’s Creed a while ago, which was a taught, frightening thriller that really deserves to be a movie.
White Knuckle is the story of Seth Rigal, a ‘retired’ serial killer, who is living his life out in more or less quite seclusion, or at least as close to normal as it is possible to get for a former strangler. However, events take a turn – whether these are for the better or the worse is up for debate – and he finds his quite life is no longer as quiet as he wants it to be.
As always, Dethan has populated the story with a believable cast of characters. The dialogue is authentic – even characters with only one or two lines come across as fully rounded and real.
As he did with Slaughterman’s Creed, he uses flashbacks to flesh out the story and add pathos to scenes – this is helped in no small measure by the art (more of that soon).
I’m reluctant to talk too much about the story, but I will say it’s a perfectly paced slow burn as events gradually escalate into, well, the ending. Which I will not talk about either, save to say that it, too, is perfect. And annoying, in a good way, as I really should have saw it coming, but such is the skill of Dethan that I did not.

Now, on to the art. Valia Kapadai is quite wonderful. I was lucky enough to meet her briefly at the Bristol Convention a year or two back, and I must say that there is a certain level of dissonance to be found in the bloody and violent images she beautifully reproduces and her own gentle and sweet self!
She has created an impressive body of work here, with page after page of glorious, fully painted, work. It’s a mind-boggling amount of pages to paint, and the fact that she has not only done it, but maintained a very high quality of art throughout, is a testament to her skill.
So, as I said with Slaughterman’s Creed – this should be a movie, or at the very least a TV mini-series.
Never mind your Scalped or whatever other US thriller type comics you’re reading. You should be reading this, and everything else this writer puts out. He’s probably the best kept secret in British Comics, and if I had my way, he would be a secret no longer.
Buy this.

White Knuckle is published by Markosia