In Review: Thorgal - The Master Of The Mountains

Writer Jean Van Hamme may be more familiar to us for his contemporary thrillers such as Lady S, Largo Winch and XIII with Largo Winch having been turned into a movie and XIII into a mini series, but he has also written the Viking sword and sorcery adventures of Thorgal.

Thorgal first appeared in Tintin magazine in 1977 with the first compilation album being published in 1980 and to date there have been 32 Thorgal albums. Van Hamme wrote the first 29 before handing over the reigns to Yves Sente while the artist for all the books has been Grzegorz Rosinski. Cinebook has now translated 13 of the French language albums into English with the latest being The Master Of The Mountains which isn't so much sword and sorcery as crossbows and time travel.

Thorgal has been trekking alone through the snowy mountains and takes refuge in an abandoned cottage for the night. There he discovers a young slave called Torric who has escaped from Saxegaard, a local tyrant who styles himself Master Of The Mountains. The next morning they discover that the snow has gone, and the cottage is lived in by a young woman called Vlana. Having spoken to Vlana at length, Thorgal wakes up again to discover the snow is back, the cottage is abandoned and Torric is gone. As he leaves the cottage thinking it was all a dream, Saxegaard himself arrives and while Thorgal has never met him before, Saxegaard seems to know rather too much about him and about his dream. As realisation dawns on Thorgal that he has been time travelling between two related time periods, Saxegaard forces him to return to the past once again.

A time travel story was not what I was expecting from a Thorgal book and Van Hamme weaves an intriguingly complicated tale as Thorgal and Torric move backwards and forwards in time discovering the differences that their actions have caused after each time jump. Grzegorz Rosinski's art takes in everything from the sweeping landscapes of the mountains to the viciousness of the hand to hand combat in a style that is reminiscent of John Ridgway's colour work, as well as providing an oil painting for the cover.

Since this is a fantasy tale the method of time travel is largely irrelevant and it is the consequences of the characters actions in each time period that drive the story on as the plot becomes more complex, twisting back and forth from the past to the present through the numerous time jumps. In a way it is reminiscent of the Doctor Who story Blink in which the Weeping Angels take their victims back in time and effectively force them to take the 'long' route to the present by living through each day. In this book it means that the reader soon realises that the Master of the Mountains and the slave boy who is running away from him could actually be one and the same person while being left wondering just where Vlana fits in.

Master Of the Mountains is an unusual story for Thorgal but it is an intriguing and satisfying one that can readily be read as a stand alone book without the need for knowing the often complex back-story of the main character.





There are more details of the English language Thorgal books at the Cinebook website.

There are more details of the French language Thorgal albums at the Thorgal website (in French).

First Beano Book, Marvelman Cover Art up for auction

Over 200 items of British comics and art form the Summer 2010 auction at UK auction house Compalcomics, including a rare Beano book discovered in a charity shop and cover art for an early issue of Marvelman by creator Mick Anglo.

Beano Book No 1 was found in a pile of annuals at the back of a charity shop in St Andrew's, Scotland and luckily, the manageress, Tammy, and her volunteer, Matthew, realised it was something special and sent it to Compalcomics to be auctioned on behalf of Cancer Research UK. The book is in robust, bright condition and estimated at £1500-2000.

But that's not the only rarity in the catalogue which includes art by Ken Reid, Dudley Watkins, Martin Asbury and John M. Burns and some rare Dan Dare toys.

An 1890 bound volume of Comic Cuts 1-26 is available, the scarce first issue with creamy fresh pages. Cheerio 1-49 is at lot 4 and bound with Kinema 1-36 which it became in April 1920, and there's a bunch of low grade Film Funs (including No 1) at lot 10, all at No Reserve.

Tiger Tim was enormously popular in the 1920s and lot 21 includes his first six annuals with a Painting Book and the rare Bruin Boys wooden train set, the characters all with coupling and wheels (apart from Porky Pig, whose obvious weight put paid to a set).

Football is very much on many peoples' minds this Summer and The Football Post, which was only printed in Nottingham, concentrated on their great local teams, Forest and County. There are 146 clean, flat issues from 1935-39 at lot 30. Sports paper Topical Times gave away some superb free gifts and their 1933 selection of football stars coloured cards and supplements are highly collectable. You could've used a pair of Stanley Matthews' shorts to make a tent. Have a look at lot 32.

Hotspur complete years are well to the fore with unusually high grades for 1934 and '35 and the title is well represented right through the war years along with Wizard's two rare Holiday Books, one with a cover no-one in their right minds would surely ever commission today. The Beano and Dandy's lesser sibling, Magic Comic, only ran for 80 issues to 1941 and a particularly good selection including Nos 2, 3 and 4 awaits your attention. The Beano also competes in this rarified atmosphere.

Talking of atmosphere, Superman was first reprinted in the UK with The Triumph in 1939 and most of these issues should fly at lot 63. Also flying will be Dan Dare's Spaceship and Rocket Builder construction sets (Mum, whaty'do you do with my spanner?)

Wrapping off this huge auction, there's a fine selection of artwork on offer including Desperate Dan, Oor Wullie and The Broons by Dudley Watkins, Frankie Stein and Faceache by Ken Reid and Reg Parlett, a 1957 Mick Anglo Marvelman cover, two pages of John M. Burns Bionic Woman from Look-In, along with two pages of Battlestar Galactica from the same comic by Martin Asbury, plus rarely-offered with Ron Embleton art from his satirical Penthouse strip Oh! Wicked Wanda - and some great Rupert the Bear work, too.

The US section profiles The Batman #5 and #11, first issues of Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers, X-Men and Giant-Size X-Men #1; and there's also a high grade Brave And Bold #34 - the first Hawkman adventure.

• Bids will be accepted until Tuesday 1 June at 8 PM UK time. To go directly to the main page for the catalogue, click here: www.compalcomics.com/catalogue

• Compalcomics holds four auctions a year. As a member of this list you will receive a message shortly before auctions open and close. Results of most auctions are posted online two weeks after the closing date.

VE Day Anniversary marked in new Commandos

The first two stories of the latest Commandos from DC Thomson, on sale this week, continue the VE-Day series first issued for the 50th anniversary 15 years ago. Denis McLoughlin handles the tank story with Commando regular, Ibanez, take care of our paratrooper story. Covers, with portraits on the back, are by Ian Kennedy.

Commando No 4298 is written by relative newcomer Steve Coombs with art by the veteran José Maria Jorge. "We think the combination has worked well," editor Calum Laird says.

If you haven't picked up a Commando recently, you might want to at least check these out. To the Last Man, released earlier this month, proved an entertaining story from Ferg Handley, covering a period of the Second World War era that has had little coverage in war comics, revealing that even after the surrender of Germany in 1945 life was not plain sailing for occupying forces.

The Commando format of two frame pages and lengthy caption boxes as well as balloons to drive the story doesn't suit all tastes - but its now unique position on the UK news stand as an adventure digest affords it some respect, and its continued publication is evidence enough that it works as a storytelling medium. The stories continue to be well crafted, often offering new insight into wartime conflict and the soldiers that fought in those wars.

Commando 4295: Death Ride
Story: Ian Clark Inside art: Denis McLoughlin Cover Art: Ian Kennedy

From the first day of war in 1939, the soldiers, sailors and airmen of the countries opposed to Hitler's Germany knew that it would be a long, bloody struggle before the Nazis were toppled to defeat.

They couldn't know then that the day of victory would come in May, 1945. For Sergei Baltor, Soviet tank commander, it would finally end in the burning centre of Berlin, dead comrades and shattered tanks marking every mile of the road to victory.

Commando 4296: Strike in Silence
Story: Ian Clark Inside art: Ibanez Cover Art: Ian Kennedy

For Sergeant Bill Copeland of the US paratroopers there would be plenty of trouble to face before VE Day — both from the enemy and from within his own ranks...

Commando 4297: The Strangest Allies
Story: Ferg Handley Inside art: Carlos Pino Cover Art: Carlos Pino

Germans in tanks are Panzer men, aren’t they? Crews of Panthers, Mark IVs or maybe even Tigers.

But not Churchill tanks.

And yet, that’s what happened. A group of Germans and Austrians, each with their own reasons to hate the Nazis, volunteered to serve in British tanks fighting their own countrymen. They were determined to help the Allied cause, even if some Allied soldiers didn’t want them to.

Commando 4298: Crossed Sword Squadron
Story: Steve Coombs Inside art: José Maria Jorge Cover Art: José Maria Jorge
• View a work in progress page for Crossed Sword Squadron on the Commando web site

Veteran pilot Pavel Sobotka was the sole survivor of the 9th Escadre — a much-feared Polish fighter squadron that had been whittled away, pilot by fighting pilot, through the long, hard-fought years of World War II.

Then, as Pavel's Hawker Typhoon hunted for the enemy over the D-Day beachhead, he encountered an figure from his past, dragging up memories. Memories best left forgotten...

• Official Commando web site: www.commandomag.com


• Click here for subscription information or write to: D.C. Thomson & Co Ltd, The Subscribers Department, Commando Library, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL or Freephone (UK only) 0800 318846

Smuggling Vacation sequel Day of the Deal finally goes on sale

There will be plenty to look out for and buy at this weekend's Comic Expo in Bristol this weekend (if you're one of the lucky ones who have a ticket for this now sold out event) - but one title you definitely need to track down is Jason Wilson's Day of the Deal.

This is a great, if sobering, sequel to the controversy-stirring but brilliant Smuggling Vacation (quite apart from media and MP furore at the storyline, at one point creator Jason Wilson considered himself banned from appearing at certain comic events to sell the self-published work).

Set several months after their first adventure, the new story catches up with the lives of now failed amateur smugglers Stan, Kaye and Mikey in their home town of Alleyton over the course of what’s meant to be typical lazy weekend.

The story contrasts sharply with the its high energy, fast paced drug smuggling predecessor, as Day of the Deal is set over 24 hours; set in one small town; and tells a more intimate and stinging tale, as Stan, Kaye and Mikey become involved in their most dangerous and humorous escapade yet.

It's a great story and it's to Jason's credit that he's again taken the initiative and published it himself once more, a testament to the sheer determination downthetubes admires about many a British comic creator.

Although lacking some of the Ealing comedy-style madcap nature of the first book, its focus on such a short time span as a drugs delivery unfolds provides plenty of wicked yet enjoyable character observation.

The finale, as drug masters, police and hapless wannabes all rush headlong to a grim conclusion for at least one of the main characters, is packed with some fine pathos and beautifully realized art. (Without giving too much away, the look on the faces of at least two characters as events reach a conclusion, for example is just brilliant).



The release of the book has been much delayed after Wilson and his first book became embroiled by association in a high profile Midland’s drugs investigation.

Copies of Smuggling Vacation were found at many raided addresses throughout England and the Netherlands as part of Operation Downpour – an investigation into an international drugs ring, which was successfully concluded last month with the conviction of eight men at Birmingham Crown Court.

Jason's first book was to feature in the trial as both exhibit for the Crown and Defence, as the Crown alleged some of the defendants had used the book’s distribution to mask their activities, whilst two defendants claimed they were honestly and legally distributing the book to British prisons as well as coffee shops in Amsterdam.

The head of the gang, Anthony Spencer, asserted many of his activities related to research for the forthcoming book Day of the Deal for which, as with Smuggling Vacation, he acted in the credited role as ‘Crime Consultant’ for the book’s author. (Spencer is also Jason Wilson's father).

The Crown asserted Smuggling Vacation had been used as a cover for their illegal activities and that the book illustrated some of the gang’s working methods, in particular in relation to mobile phones and covert codes employed by the gang.

However, the prospect of Smuggling Vacation being used as a prosecution exhibit and its creator appearing as a Defence Witness being used in the drugs trial were averted when all defendants in unison pleaded guilty before trial to avoid the anticipated heavy sentences that a long trial would bring.

Last month, as the gang was sentenced to a combined total of 40 years the Queen’s Council stressed that they accepted the book was not part of any illegal activity and that there enquiries had shown it to be a both substantial and legal enterprise by its author.

Even so, the following media coverage saw Smuggling Vacation featuring on BBC Television and Sky Television, on Serious Organised Crime Agency’s own website and several regional papers as ‘the cement mixer gang’ made the news that day.




Reporting on the trial, WebNewswire notes that Spencer and his criminal associates were under surveillance for months. Officers watched meetings at locations in Coventry, Sheffield, Kent and Amsterdam and saw the gang burying purpose-built safes which could store up to 140 kilos of drugs, filmed a cash handover, and watched as drugs changed hands.

Intelligence sharing with the Dutch Police led to the discovery of a farm in Zwanenburg, Amsterdam, which was being used as a drugs warehouse, and a flat in Ijplein, Amsterdam, that officers described as an Aladdins cave of drugs paraphernalia, including a pill making machine. Class A and class B drugs were also recovered.The investigation and anticipated trial had understandably delayed the release of the new book as any form of promotion would have been very inhibited and legally problematic, largely because of the drug dealing themes in the new book and its uncomfortable parallels with the recent trial.




Comics and books about drugs have often been the target of police and Customs action down the years. UK publishers Knockabout, who distribute titles such as the Furry Freak Brothers here, have been frequent targets for court action in the past.

• Day of the Deal is unveiled at the Bristol Comic Expo (May 23rd,24th). Prior to the launch at it is available at www.smugglingvacation.co.uk.

• Read our review of Smuggling Vacation

• Smuggling Vacation is available from Smallzone and www.smugglingvacation.co.uk or order it through any bookshop (ISBN:9780955917004) priced £6.99.

Web Links:
• Smugging Vaction Blog

Drugs Trial News Stories

• Serious Organised Crime Agency: 44 years for Career Criminals who planned to flood the UK with drugs

• BBC News:
Drugs gang jailed after surveillance in UK and Holland

• Sky News: Cement Mixer Drugs Gang Handed Jail Terms

• The Birmingham Mail: Midlands Drug Gang Jailed

• Grantham Journal: Grantham man jailed for his part in a plot to flood the UK with drugs

• Webnewswire: Cement mixer drug gang jailed