Commando Editor Talks At Chalke Valley History Festival

Commando Editor Calum Laird is scheduled to give a talk at the Chalke Valley History Festival at Ebbesbourne Wake near Salisbury in Wiltshire. The talk entitled  “Achtung! Commando Comics” will take place at 1130 on Saturday 29 June 2013.

Calum will be discussing the history of the comic, the studio in Milan that provided many of the artists in the early years, and the quest for ensuring historical accuracy in all weapons, uniforms, aircraft and machinery. 

In addition he will be explaining how the comics are put together, discussing plots and artwork and also revealing exciting plans for the future.  Chalke Valley History Festival describes the talk with, “For anyone who loves their war stories told with gritty plots and tough-talking square-jawed heroes and with fabulous drawings to boot, this is an unmissable event.”

Tickets to the talk also include access to the Daily Mail Chalke Valley History Festival Airshow which takes place at 1430 at the same location on the same day and includes flying displays by various World War II military aircraft that Commando has featured over the years including the Supermarine  Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, North American P-51D Mustang, Fairey Swordfish and Messerschmitt Bf108  Taifun.

There are more details of the Festival and how to purchase tickets on the Chalke Valley History Festival website: www.cvhf.org.uk/programme/event/event-40-achtung-commando-comics

In the meantime the latest batch of Commandos are now in the shops...

Commando No 4603 - Scarecrow Squadron
Story: Norman Adams Art: Keith Page Cover: Keith Page

The de Havilland Tiger Moth was a reliable, if rather old-fashioned, aircraft used as a basic trainer for RAF pilots. Pilots like Charlie Chard who was only recently qualified when he and his comrades found themselves in the thick of the action against the German Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe.

He and his fellow fliers were known as "Scarecrow Squadron" - given the nickname because they were meant to chase away enemies flying over England's coast. A dicey job that, given that their planes were unarmed! Sitting in his open cockpit, Charlie wondered if any of them would survive…

• Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/23rd-may-2013-collection?issue=4603


Commando No 4604 - Bernie's Buccaneers
Story: Bill Styles Art: Vila Cover: Janek Matysiak

With four 1400-horsepower Packard-built Merlin engines powering them forward at close to 40 knots, the crew of MTB 989 felt like the raiders of old when they fired a broadside of torpedoes at enemy shipping.

Privately they called themselves "Bernie's Buccaneers" after their fearless, swash-buckling skipper. They always said would have followed him into the jaws of death…and one day they did just that!

• Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/23rd-may-2013-collection?issue=4604


Commando No 4605 - Target For Tonight
Originally Commando No 57 (February 1963)
Story: Eric Hebden Art: Roca Cover: Ken Barr

When crack British Commandos were ordered to fight alongside ace American Rangers in a double strike against an important target, it sparked off the bitter, blistering feud between them that made the "other" war look like a petty quarrel.

Here is the story of this war within a war; of Mike Travers and Red Dooley, who were tough enough to lead and control the best bunch of men that two great nations ever produced.

"The names of Eric Hebden and Ken Barr are well known to Commando fans - for their gripping stories and dynamic cover art respectively," notes Calum Laird of this represented tale. "Once again, they don't disappoint.

"This story of bitter, fist-fired rivalry is beautifully set up on the cover where the two main characters are pitched against one another… at daggers drawn, figuratively and literally.

"It's different with illustrator who provided the black-and-whites for the inside pages for Roca drew only one Commando book. 50 years on it's difficult to say why that would be but it certainly wasn't due to lack of quality. He imparts movement to the figures and uses a scatter of original compositions. Who knows what he might have made of subsequent commissions?"

• Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/23rd-may-2013-collection?issue=4605


Commando No 4606 - Lost In France
Originally Commando No 2162 (February 1988)
Story: Allan Chalmers Art: Nebot Cover: Ian Kennedy

Crash-landing a burning Blenheim bomber in occupied France would generally be reckoned pretty dangerous. And so it was, but compared to what fate still had in store for Harry Conway and his crew, that crash was a picnic!

"Veteran artist Ian Kennedy's stunning, dramatic depiction of a crash-landing Blenheim bomber would, quite rightly, make the reader imagine that they were in for a rollicking air story," says Scott Montgomery, Commando's deputy editor. "It certainly starts off as one but, unusually, this tale takes an intriguing detour into espionage territory, becoming more of a spy caper - which suits Nebot's almost cartoony art.

"It's a good thing when a few neat twists and turns can challenge readers' expectations."

• Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/23rd-may-2013-collection?issue=4606


• There are more details of Commando titles on their official website, www.commandocomics.com, and Facebook page.

COMMANDO SUBSCRIPTION OFFER

downthetubes is pleased to offer a discount on a subscription to DC Thomson's Commando comic, entitling readers to save 50% by ordering using our special discount code!

Follow this link to DC Thomson's subscription page.

When prompted, enter this unique code COMDT - then make your payment and your subscription will be up and running. The price quoted offers a 50% discount for three months at £12.50. That’s £68.50 off the shop price.

Please note, although the offer is not restricted to UK delivery (you need a UK bank account), the price increases for overseas delivery although the offer of 50% discount for three months is the same.

* Saving based on discounted Direct Debit price compared with shop price. First quarterly payment discounted by 50% at £12.50 and £25 per quarter thereafter. UK bank accounts only. One year discounted subscription rate of £99.

Keith Page seeks a publisher for "Tommy Atkins' Tour of the Trenches"

Commando artist Keith Page (whose credits also include Paint It Black, the Charlotte Corday saga with Stephen Walsh and the Bryant and May series by Christopher Fowler) has created a smashing-looking 32-page comic called Tommy Atkins' Tour of the Trenches - and is looking for a publisher.

If you're a publisher with a weather eye on the upcoming Great War centenary in 2014, why not drop him a line?

Check out Keith's blog at: http://keithpageukcomicsartist.blogspot.co.uk. Here are some of his pages...

New venue, ace guest list for Glasgow Comic Con

There's an impressive line up already announced for this year's Glasgow Comic Con, which will take place at the CCA Glasgow.

GCC is Scotland’s number one comic book festival, bringing in people from across the UK to celebrate the art or creating comic books.

The organisers tells the event has grown from a love for the medium and hole in the market place - and no doubt helped by Glasgow's position as a major centre of comic book creators.

A recently announced addition to an already impressive roster is Eagle and Eisner Award winner Simon Bisley, an artist best known for his work on 2000AD's ABC Warriors  and Sláine, along with Judge Dredd/Batman and DC Comics Lobo. His work has inspired various forms in media, including the Beast in the 2006 Doctor Who episode “The Satan Pit” and Simon Pegg’s character Tim Bisley on Channel 4[s sitcom Spaced.

Other artists, writers and comic creators confirmed for the event are; Alan Davis (Captain
Britain, Miracleman, D.R & Quinch, Wolverine), Carlos Ezqurra (Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, ABC Warriors), Alan Grant (Batman, Lobo, 2000AD), John Higgins (Watchmen, The Killing Joke, Judge Dredd), Cam Kennedy (2000AD, Star Wars: Dark Empire, Commando), Barry Kitson (Fantastic Four, The Hulk, Spider-Man), Mike Ploog (Ghost Rider), John Wagner (Judge Dredd, A History of Violence), Rufus Dayglo (Tank Girl) plus Hannah Berry, Peter Doherty, Gary Erskine, Ferg Handley, Yishan Li, George Low, Colin MacNeil, Lorna Miller, Robbie Morrison, Monty Nero,
Tanya Roberts and more to be announced.

Further to the many talks, panels, signings and sketches taking place, some of the UK's leading independent comic book publishers will be on hand, including Scotland's Black Hearted Press and publishers Com X, Jonathan Cape, Orang Utan Comics, Rough Cut Comics and a host of small press exhibitors, comic book shops, toy shops and many more exhibitors.

The event will also host the awards ceremony for the Scottish Indie Comic Book Alliance Awards, dedicated to the promotion of local comic books, graphic novels and sequential art in its many forms and comic creators; artists, writers, colourists, letterers, designers or editors. Winners from the 2012 SICBA awards include writer John Lees and artist James Devlin, as well as an Outstanding Contribution to comics award to David Alexander.

• Nominations for the 2013 SICBA awards are now open at www.sicba.org.uk

• Glasgow Comic Con 2013: Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th July 2013, Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JD. More information from Sha Nazir and John Farman, Event Producers Glasgow Comic Con, c/o Black Hearted Press, 15 Hope Street, Flr 3, Glasgow, G2 6AB. Web: www.glasgowcomiccon.com Twitter: #glasgowcomiccon Facebook: facebook.com/glasgowcomiccon