Commando goes fortnightly

Along with information on the latest issues of war comic Commando comes news from DC Thomson that the long-running title will be published fortnightly this year - giving 104 doses of action and adventure to the title's fans worldwide.

Commando 4375: Diary Of A Hero
Story: David Motton Art: Cam Kennedy Cover: Jordi Penalva
Originally Commando No 545, re-issued as No 1555.

This story is taken from the pages of the diary of a true hero. It tells of seven men’s fight to survive behind enemy lines with a traitor in their midst. It brings courage to life, tells of bravery of the highest order.

"This story had been one of my favourites as a young reader, read and re-read many times," says Calum Laird, Commando's current Editor, in a special introduction to this reprint issue from the comic's archives. "Then in 1981 - when I joined the staff of Commando for the first time - it was one of the stories I had to check over for re-issue. And re-read again. Now I’ve given myself the chance to read it through once more.

"It remains a cracking tale," he feels, "full of Commando heroes, and with a belting sting in the tail. It’s wonderfully constructed and, with artwork by Cam Kennedy and Penalva, looks absolutely right into the bargain.

"I like it as much now as I did in 1967."

Commando 4376: Space Watch
Story: Ian Clark Art: Ricardo Garijo Cover Art: Ian Kennedy
First Published as No 2774 in 1994

A battle in outer space tests G-Tex Wolf Brady to the limit – especially when a ruthless computer hacker makes his latest challenge even more dangerous!

"Ricardo Garijo worked for Starblazer before Commando," notes George Low, former Commando editor, "and he brought all his sci-fi skills to this 1994 plot where Commando strayed off its usual course, taking to space… and beyond… with its linked G-Tex stories, the brainchild of writer Mike Knowles.

"The futuristic script (this time by Ian Clark) set the tone for Ricardo to work his magic, while Ian Kennedy took a break from Spitfires and the like to tackle spacecraft.

"What’s it about? Saving whales and the world for a start. Quite an undertaking and great to read."

Commando No 4377: The Street Fighter
Story: Ferg Handley Art: Olivera Cover Art: Janek Matysiak

Not every confrontation between United States Marines and the Imperial Japanese Army took place in the steamy jungles of the South Pacific. The battle for Manila in the Philippines was a house-to-house struggle, pure and simple.

This didn’t bother Marine Eddie Novak. In the war’s early fighting he’d lost buddies and now he was out for revenge, no matter when - or where - he got the chance.

Commando No 4378: The Fighting Judge
Story: Alan Hebden Art: Mike White Cover Art: Mike White

As a High Court judge, Mr Justice Jardine had a fierce reputation as a hard man. Hard but fair. His judgements were respected even by those on the receiving end of a verdict.

When he joined the Army’s legal branch he remained the same hard but fair man. His working environment changed, though. Gone were the wood-panelled courtrooms, replaced by tents or makeshift offices.

And another thing changed too. He picked up a rifle… to deadly effect.

• Official Commando web site: www.commandocomics.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 

• Commando is also available for  iPad and iPhone. The apps are free to download through the Apple iTunes App Store and a digital subscription is priced at £4.99 per month, compared to a £99 annual print subscription. For those not sure there are four free issues to download prior to making a purchase.

• Commando Comics iPhone App on iTunes


• Commando Comics iPad App on iTunes

Commando Goes Fornightly

If you're looking for the first four new Commandos released for the first half of April, you'd better be quick. The next batch will be out on 22nd April as publishers DC Thomson have had their sale dates brought forward.

This means four new issues of the popular, long-running pocket war comic digest will then be every fortnight until July, so Commando will now go on sale on the first Thursday of every month rather than the second.

Commando 4283 - Operation: Red Commando
Story: Alan Hebden Inside Art: Vila Cover Art: Ian Kennedy (could that be a touch of Dan Dare on the radar Console?)

In early 1942, Lieutenant Rory Granger and his Commando squad were chosen for a daring mission to destroy a vital German radar station in the far north of Norway.

However, the plan went awry. Rory and his men found themselves up against a ruthless enemy in the bitterly cold wastes of Russia, fighting just to stay alive!

Commando 4284 - Race to Freedom
Story: Ferg Handley Inside Art: Keith Page Cover Art: Keith Page

Reeling back from the German onslaught in May 1940, Private Tom Dawson and his mate, Harry Greene, saw their company decimated in a terrifying Stuka attack. They teamed up with other stragglers — including a very unconventional Signals officer — determined to join the mass evacuation at Dunkirk. But to get to those beaches they’d have to make a perilous journey through occupied Belgium...

Commando 4285 - Mercenaries!
Story: Mike Knowles Inside Art: Ricardo Garijo Cover Art: Alan Burrows
Previously No 2575 from 1992

Thirsting for excitement and adventure, paratrooper Jack Nash had seized the chance to become a mercenary — a hired soldier in someone else’s war — with the promise of action and a hefty pay-packet.

Well, Jack got plenty of action — more than most men could handle. As for the money, that might just be a different story...

Commando 4286 - Welcome to the War!
Story: Mike Knowles Inside Art: Olivera Cover Art: Ian Kennedy
Previously No 2626 from 1992

They kept telling Andy Webster that he was doing a great job, beavering away behind the scenes as the war raged all over Europe. But that wasn’t good enough for Andy. He wanted to be in the front line, right in the thickest of the action.

Well, his dearest wish would come true far sooner then he thought, but there was one big snag. It didn’t look as if he would survive to enjoy the glory!

• 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

Attention! New Commandos on Sale

Four new Commandos are now on sale in all good newsagents in the UK from publishers DC Thomson...

Commando No 4275: The Camouflage Kings
Story: Alan Hebden Inside Art: Vila Cover: Ian Kennedy

During World War II, Randolf King, a civilian film set designer, was employed by British Military Intelligence. His specialty was still the creation of illusions — but not for the movies this time. His talents were to put to use fooling the Germans with fake airfields, bases — even ships!

However, Randolf had a nemesis — a mysterious enemy with skills the equal of his own and, it seemed, the ability to anticipate his every move...

Commando No 4276: Deadly Feud
Story: Mike Knowles Inside Art: Macabich Cover: Macabich

August von Wurtburg, disgraced military cadet, had escaped from pre-First World War Germany, and his enemies, by joining the French Foreign Legion. There, to his surprise, he had been moulded into a skilled and dangerous fighting man.

When he returned to Germany after World War 1 he found it, and his family, in the grip of armed militias — a land on the brink of civil war. August would need all his considerable skills just to stay alive, never mind help his family.

Commando 4277: Combat Zone
Story: Ian Clark Inside Art: Ricardo Garijo Cover: Ian Kennedy
Previously No 2606 from 1992

The news team had known that filming a documentary in the middle of a combat zone was bound to be dangerous work. But nothing could have prepared them for a life-or-death chase by a gang of cut-throat bandits out for blood... or a direct attack by Hind helicopter gunships, each armed with a terrifying arsenal of machine guns, rockets and anti-tank missiles!

Commando 4278: Warriors of the Wilderness
Story: Alan Hemus Inside Art: Vila Cover: Alan Burrows
Previously No 2559 from 1992

A plane crash in an icy wilderness sets off a rescue operation with a difference because a Russian general in the plane carries vital secrets in his head. It means he must be rescued — or killed.

This desperate mission will make comrades of a strange assortment of fighting men...

• For more information, check out the official Commando site at: www.commandomag.com, which alos includes features on popular Commando characters such as Ramsey's Raiders and an ongoing day-by-day diary of World War 2...


• 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

Into Action with new Commandos

Attention, troops! the latest Commandos from DC Thomson are on sale now, as follow...

Commando 4271: An Inch from Death
Story: Ian Clark Inside artwork: Ricardo Garijo Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally No 2592 from 1992

In the shadows of the old sawmill the two officers fought like tigers − a British Military Policeman and an SS war criminal locked in savage hand-to-hand struggle.

And now the ruthless Nazi had the edge, his hands closing round the Redcap’s throat, forcing him closer, closer still, to the buzzing, razor-sharp blade of the bench saw...

Commando No 4272: The Shadow War
Story: Mike Knowles Inside artwork: Denis McLoughlin Cover: Alan Burrows
Originally No 2585 from 1992

16-year-old Danny Webster hated being a miner. So, after a pit accident, he decided to do what many lads dream of doing — he joined the French Foreign Legion.

But life there wasn’t a bit like any of the films he’d seen and Danny found himself in Indo-China, fighting a shadow army above... and below... the ground!

Commando No 4273: The Raven and The Renegade
Story: Ferg Handley Inside Artwork and cover: John Ridgway

When Major Otto Schafer took command of a small village in Brittany, he had to show the locals that he meant business — by taking a large group of villagers hostage.

Sensing disaster, his new adjutant Klaus Mayer urged him to reconsider. Trying to persuade his new CO, Klaus loaned him a book telling the remarkable tale of a similar situation from the region’s turbulent past.

Otto was fascinated by this fantastic tale. And you will be too when you read it...

Commando No 4274: Rifleman From Rio
Story: Alan Hebden Inside artwork and cover: Mike White

When he joined the Brazilian Army to escape a deadly enemy in Rio De Janeiro, Luis Silveira didn’t expect to find himself fighting half a world away in Europe. But he did.

When he arrived in Europe with the rest of his unit, he didn’t expect to run across that same old enemy from Rio. But he did.

The bitter fight was on once more.

"This issue features our first inside artwork from Mike White for quite some time," notes Calum, "but still up to his expected standard.

• For more information, check out the official Commando site at: 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

Commando celebrates Ian Kennedy anniversary

The latest batch of issues of DC Thomson's long-runing war picture library title Commando includes the first two of four re-issues of classic Ian Kennedy illustrations for the comic. Number 4261 was the first cover he executed and 4262 was the first complete book he drew, 40 years ago.

Desperate Despatches brings to a close the adventures of the Headline Heroes created by Norman Adams and given from by Keith Page. The popular newsmen have fought their last battle... or have they? A groundswell of opinion on the Commando website is asking for the reporters’ notebooks to be re-opened. Who knows if that will happen?

The Ghost Front is set in the Ardennes, the third of three stories based round the Battle of the Bulge and, sadly, the last contribution by Ricardo Garijo who passed away last year.

Commando No 4259: Desperate Despatches

Story: Norman Adams Inside art and cover: Keith Page

The year was 1901 and a run-in with “The Mad Mullah” of British Somaliland was all in a day’s work for the intrepid war reporters of the Trident newspaper, working alongside rival scribes Charles Black and Ned Bly. Sent to South Africa to cover the final stages of the Boer War, the news men didn't think there would be much of a story there... but with a rogue Boer Commando unit on the rampage and the return of an old enemy, there most definitely was a story to tell. And you can read the exclusive right here, of course.

Commando No 4260: The Ghost Front

Story: Ferg Handley Inside art: Ricardo Garijo Cover: Ian Kennedy

In December 1944, after a six-month-long, hard-fought advance by the Allies, the Ardennes sector of Belgium seemed so quiet it was nicknamed “The Ghost Front” by troops stationed there. All that changed with the shock German offensive which became known as The Battle Of The Bulge.

With his fellow soldiers reeling from this surprise attack, First Lieutenant Sam Bendis – a Signals Corps Field Photographer – would have to step up to the challenge of leadership. He and his new buddies would have to dig in…and fight to the death if need be.

Commando 4261: Seek and Strike

First published in Issue 453
Story: Roger Clegg Inside art: Amador Cover: Ian Kennedy

High over the Mediterranean appeared the Junkers 87s to raid and pummel the Allied convoys bound for Malta. Their deadly work done, the Junkers flew off and disappeared... no one knew where. Time and again, it happened.

But the day came when these killers met their match − a sturdy old Fairey Swordfish that took to the air with a torpedo slung below her belly. One, plane, one torpedo — but she’d finish them all.

Commando 4262: Cougar Squadron

First published in Issue 2967
Story: Ian Clark Inside art and cover: Ian Kennedy

In the skies over Vietnam, the Americans and the North Vietnamese fought for supremacy day after day. When expert tactician Major John Gardener was given command of the crack Cougar Squadron, he thought his great planning skills would make all the difference.

But he quickly found out that tactics on the ground did not always work in the air. Especially when you are up against an enemy who is every bit as cunning and able as you are!

More Commandos are, of course, already on their way: coming on 28th January the 28th are two more classic contributions from Ian Kennedy, a high-explosive story from Alan Hebden and Keith Page plus high-flying tale from the pen of Sean Blair and the brushes of José Maria Jorge.

• For more information, check out the official Commando site at: 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

Seek and Strike out for the new Commandos...

The latest issues of DC Thomson's Commando went on sale a day early this week as we bid goodbye to 2009.

There's also some advance news for the next round of issues on sale in January 2010. "We'll be starting the year by re-issuing the first book featuring an Ian Kennedy cover by way of thanking the man for 40 years of sterling service to Commando," says editor Calum Laird. "The book is No 453 from 1970, and is titled Seek and Strike."

downthetubes hopes to pay its own tribute to Mr Kennedy's stirling service to Commando and comics in the new year, but in the mean time, check out these interviews with the artist in conversation with Chris Weston and Terry O'Donnell.

Here are the new Commando issues on sale now...

Commando No 4255 (previously No 2608 from 1992): Never Volunteer!

Story: Cyril Walker. Art and Cover Art: Ibanez

The Dakota droned away and the canopy cracked fully open above Bob Slade, a private in the Parachute Regiment. He adjusted his rigging lines and took a quick glance at the barren desert wastes below.

Unlike his mates descending all around him, Bob had been here in North Africa before — as a soldier in the French Foreign Legion, charged with the murder of an officer. And he knew as well as every other Legionnaire that the Legion never forgets... nor forgives!

Commando No 4256 (previously No 2618 from 1992): Battling Rust-Bucket!


Story: Ian Clark. Art: Gordon Livingstone. Cover: Jeff Bevan

The Duchess of Alna was a pleasure boat by trade, more suited to ferrying holiday-makers than going to war. Yet that’s exactly what she had done in 1940, as one of the heroic "Little Boats" of the Dunkirk Evacuation.

And now, more than 50 years later, when some said that she was only fit for scrap, this unlikely battleship was off to the rescue again — slap in the middle of a war-zone!

Gordon Livingstone (now retired) and Jeff Bevan were both staff artists on Commando when this book was first published. Jeff’s work was seen throughout the Boys' Papers but Gordon was almost exclusively a Commando artist, taking an average of four weeks to illustrate a complete book.

The two new stories on sale this month are both set in the Ardennes, marking 65 years this month that the Battle of the Bulge was fought there. The Winter Warriors is the last new book drawn by the late Ricardo Garijo, completed before Need To Know but held over for the Ardennes connection.

Commando No 4257: The Winter Warriors

Story: Ferg Handley. Art Ricardo Garijo. Cover: Ian Kennedy

The Ardennes, December 1944. In the murderous confusion of what became known as "The Battle Of The Bulge", Allied soldiers warily stalked the frozen wastes and eerie forests of the battlefield, aware that at any moment they could be cut down by enemy gunfire. Not to mention marauding Nazi panzers or the terrors of hidden minefields.

For a squad of rookie American GIs it was going to take all their wits and courage to stay alive...

Commando No 4258: Friends Or Foes?

Story: Peter Grehan. Art and cover art: John Ridgway

When the Germans launched their Ardennes offensive — the desperate last-ditch "Battle Of The Bulge" — in December 1944, they sewed seeds of confusion amongst their enemies by using special units dressed in Allied uniform.

Royal Engineer Sergeant Bob Ashford wasn't the only one who couldn't tell friend from foe. Nor was he the only one who decided to shoot first and ask questions later...

• For more information, check out the official Commando site at: 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

Ricardo Garijo: The Commando List

Following up on our tribute to Argentinian Commando artist Ricardo Garijo who died earlier this month after a long illness, ace archivist Vic Whittle has very kindly sent us a list of his Commando work.

DC Thomson have announced they plan to reprint some of his stories in 2010 as a tribute to the popular creator. A current issue of Commando, "Need To Know", is one of his last works before he died, but his fans may find this list of his work helpful in suggesting titles they would like to see again.

His first Commando title, 2469 Another Tight Spot..., was released in early May 1991, and has yet to be reprinted.

Ricardo did the artwork for over 90 Commando titles and the cover art for one - 3818 Fighting Back!

Included in Ricardo's titles (listed below, numbers in brackets indicate the issue has been reprinted), were four of the "Challenge" series titles, 1994 - 1995.

His last printed title 4236, Need to Know was released this month.

2469 Another Tight Spot...

2485 (4120) Rescue Team

2514 (4110) Death Duel

2543 (4216) Cellar Rats

2557 (4175) Dagger of Doom

2575 Mercenaries!

2592 An Inch from Death

2606 Combat Zone

2617 (3990) Kidnap!

2631 Too many Enemies

2650 Escape Line

2679 (3991) Mafia Gold

2690 (3997) Password to Freedom

2703 The Black Gauntlet

2721 Blood Hostage

2742 Battle Patrol

2746 Rogue Challenge

2774 Space Watch (Cover by Ian Kennedy)

2790 Axel's Challenge

2808 The Satan Challenge

2823 Hired Killers

2837 Wolfe's Challenge

2862 Murder Road

2874 Door Gunner

2898 Forgotten Enemy

2928 Double Identity

2950 Hired to Kill

2993 Joe the Joker

3010 Fear in the Forest

3029 Red Commando

3056 Boxer Terror

3079 The Mutineers

3090 Deadly Safari

3113 Rimble in the Jungle

3129 Battling Bull

3138 Death Zone

3162 Fight for Finland

3173 Bound for Burma

3190 Back to Berlin

3208 Trust Nobody!

3218 Black Sun

3238 Lych's Law

3254 Hold the Highground

3269 Fighters from the Sky

3285 Tiger Killer

3309 Warriors in Time

3330 Watch - and Wait

3343 Camera-Action

3367 Red Double Cross

3382 A Lonely War

3398 Seek the Stingers

3417 Assault Force

3440 A Man to Fear

3455 Curse of the Carsons

3470 The Weakest Link

3489 Know the Enemy!

3505 The Ritter Ring

3528 Code-Name Neptune

3543 The Misfit Maurauders

3553 Terror in the Tunnels

3569 Survival Mission

3586 Desert Jinx

3599 Dive into Danger

3608 Flying Tank

3632 The River Raiders

3642 Misfit Squad

3646 Jimmy goes to War

3665 The Long Road Home

3678 Unseen Enemy

3690 Returned to Unit

3709 Down to Earth

3726 Escape to Siberia

3741 Island of Storms

3750 Bad Move

3762 Deadly Payload

3783 Fighting for the Flag

3792 Driving into Danger

3809 Tank Attack

3818 Fighting Back! (Inc: Cover)

3832 Mystery Mission

3848 Storm Troopers

3865 Aces for Hire

3881 Rocket Man

3897 War of Words

3917 Escape to Survive

3926 Aces on Ice

4068 Sentenced to Death

4105 Strike Squad

4129 Jimmy's Private Air Force

4139 Rebel Army

4211 Storm over Spain

4236 Need to Know


If you have any particular favourites, send your suggestions to Commando via their official web site: www.commandomag.com


Web Links

• Ricardo Garijo: Official Web Site


Tributes

• Commando Magazine: Commando Artist Ricardo Garijo

• News Report on Ricardo's Death from El Eco de Tandil (in Spanish)

• Bear Alley Obituary by Steve Holland


Interviews

• Prensa Espacial, 26 February 2008 (in Spanish, about his astronaut portraits: Google Translate Link)

Card Work


• Monsterwax War of the Worlds Card Images

Commando art © DC Thomson.

In Memoriam: Ricardo Garijo, Commando Artist

We're sorry to report the death of Argentinian artist and author Ricardo Garijo, a regular contributor to DC Thomson's Commando title, who died earlier this month in his native Argentina after a long illness aged just 55.

"It was a personal shock to learn that he had fallen ill," notes Commando editor Calum Laird in a tribute on the title's web site, "and an even greater loss when I learned of his death. It was too close to home in so many ways."

DC Thomson have announced they plan to reprint some of his stories in 2010 as a tribute to the popular creator. (We have published a list here) A current issue of Commando, "Need To Know", is one of his last works before he died.

A much-honoured artist, author and art teacher in his own country, Ricardo was born in Argentina in 1953. The second son of Spanish immigrant parents, his official website notes that his father survived a German concentration camp in World War Two, while his mother was active in the French Resistance. (Ricardo notes that when he was a baby, his mother swaddled him in clothing made from pieces of a British parachute).

He developed two passions as a boy: the US Space Program, which regularly inspired his art, and the Second World War. He drew for most of his life, working full time as a freelancer in graphic media since 1980, and for DC Thomson since 1982.

"When I was little (and rather fat), I was convinced that the moon was full of Suchard chocolates, which were the ones I liked," he recalled of his passion for space flight in an interview for the blog Prensa Espacial in 2008. "A few years later, my father took me to see a real size replica of the Mercury capsule. Inside was a mannequin with face cast, dressed in a spacesuit... I remember that chilled me -- how small [the capsule] was, [the idea of the astronaut [up there in empty] space... I caught the fever of space [exploration]."

Over some 40 years, he drew thousands of pages of comics and illustrations - including strips for the DC Thomson's popular pocket digest SF title Starblazer - before joining the Commando team in 1991 with Issue 2469. "Another Tight Spot" released in early May 1991, which has never been reprinted.

"When we started the Robot Kid series on Starblazer we knew just the artist," recalls the title's editor, Bill Graham. "That was Garijo at his best. He interpreted the scripts superbly, combining great action with just the right level of humour. I loved his stuff. He’s a real loss."

In the 1990's Ricardo began creating comics for other European periodicals, his work published in Spain, France and Italy. More recently, he began publishing his own magazine, Gurbos en Extinción, conceived as a tribute to the old Argentinean comic creators. One story for Gurbos, published in 2002, was "Diario de Plaza Moreno" ("The Diary of Moreno Square"), a fantasy story about his own home town.

In his tribute to the creator, Steve Holland notes that Garijo was also a popular artist in Italy, where he drew for Lancio, and Spain, where he produced two volumes of erotic adventures, Carol entre Rejas (Carol in Jail) and Carol en Buenos Aires in 1991 for Ediciones La Cúpula.

Garijo was also an author, with several books published, including an account of his father’s experiences during the Spanish Civil War. His first novel, El Fuego ("The Fire"), published in 2004, won critical acclaim and award Tragically, his second novel, El cielo de Piedra ("The Sky Stone") has yet to be published, as has a short story, Los Trenes ("The Station") which won him first prize in a national competition in 2008.

In addition to his comics work and writing, he also illustrated picture cards, including the 2003 release Don't Let It Happen Here, a harrowing series portraying some of the worst of man's atrocities against man, and a 102 card set for Monsterwax, The Art of H. G. Wells, which includes scenes from War of the Worlds, The Time Machine and The Island of Dr. Moreau.

"Ricardo was a delight to work with," recalls DC Thomson's Bill McLoughlin. "He was always on time and his interpretation of stories excellent... He will be missed, but never forgotten."

Commando writer Ferg Handley made direct contact with Ricardo via his web site, and recalls him as "warm, gracious and friendly... It will always be one of my life’s regrets that I never got to meet him in person."

"I never forget any artist who has done his best to illustrate 63 pages of a Commando book. It's a difficult job, but Ricardo always did more than his best," recalls former Commando editor George Low. "He had talent, intelligence and ability... and he also had an enthusiasm which always shone through."

Ricardo Garijo, born 1954, died 4 October 2009, is survived by his wife, Adriana and three children, a boy and two girls.

Web Links

• Ricardo Garijo: Official Web Site

Tributes

• Commando Magazine: Commando Artist Ricardo Garijo

• Ricardo Garijo: The Commando Issues (list compiled by Vic Whittle)

• News Report on Ricardo's Death from El Eco de Tandil (in Spanish)

• Bear Alley Obituary by Steve Holland

Interviews

• Prensa Espacial, 26 February 2008 (in Spanish, about his astronaut portraits: Google Translate Link)


Card Work


• Monsterwax War of the Worlds Card Images

Photograph from El Eco de Tandil, 4 October 2009. Commando art © DC Thomson. Other artwork © Ricardo Garijo.)

Commandos At The Ready

A new batch of Commando issues from DC Thomson goes on sale tomorrow (8th October) in all good newsagents. As usual, the releases are a mix of new and reprint titles, with Issue 4235, "Desert Dispatches", a continuation of a war reporter series.

Written by Norman Adams, Commando expert Vic Whittle tells us the issue had the working title "Lights, Camera... Action!". After finishing the first six adventures, the last being Issue 4050 ("Hold the Front Page", Norman had agreed with former Commando editor George Low to end the series, but artist Keith Page enjoyed the yarns so much current editor Calum Laird decided to bring them back. "Desert Despatches" the first of four new titles.

Commando No 4235: Desert Despatches

Story: Norman Adams Art: Keith Page

Thought you'd heard the last of Fred 'Ferret' McGlone, Harry Hornby and Digby Bolton? They were the Trident newspaper’s finest war reporters in a bygone era. But Ferret still has a few tall tales to tell — and they’re all true, of course...

Like the time the intrepid newsmen went to cover the war in the Sudan, and Digby had swapped his sketch pad and pencils for a new-fangled movie camera. Get ready to read their Desert Despatches!

Commando No 4236: Need to Know

Story: Alan Hebden Art: Ricardo Garijo Cover Art: Ian Kennedy

A crack British unit was on a secret mission in German-occupied Greece. This operation was top secret, NTK − Need To Know. Then disaster struck. The officer in charge was killed and the only other person who knew their objective lost his memory in the same attack.

With the enemy on their trail, the team had to complete their vital task, and fast. If only they could work out what it was...

Commando No 4237: Oil Rig Raiders

Reprint, first published early April 1995 as 2845
Story: Mike Knowles Art: Denis McLoughlin Cover Art: Phil Gascoine

Out of the night they came − a gang of international terrorists intent on holding a whole North Sea oil rig and its crew to ransom.

But they were not to have everything their own way. A call for help had gone out. The Royal Marines were on their way!

Commando No 4238: Grady's Air Force
REprint, first published late May 1992 as 2567

Story: Ian Clark Art: Gordon C Livingstone Cover Art: Gordon C Livingstone

As he lumbered along in his ancient Tiger Moth biplane, Eddie Sampson couldn’t wait to join his old friend, Mick Grady, who now commanded the mercenary air force flying for the government side in a bitter African civil war.

It was hard to believe that this wild, reckless Irishman could be in charge of anything. But Eddie soon had other things to worry about when a salvo of tracers suddenly streamed past him − fired by six rebel jets that were closing in fast...

• Commando Issues 4235 - 4238 are on sale from 8th to 28th October 2009. For more information, check out the official Commando site at: 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