Draw Your Weapons! New Commandos are on sale now...

The latest issues of Britain's only monthly war comic, Commando, are on sale now – and along with those comes details of the Draw Your Weapons exhibition at the National Army Museum, which includes a number of special events, listed below, which include appearances by artist Keith Page and editor Calum Laird.

Commando No 4419: The Mystery And The Museum
Story: Mac MacDonald Art: Keith Page Cover Art: Keith Page

It was a relic of a past British Army campaign in a far-flung corner of the world. Just another piece of military gear dropped and forgotten in the heat of battle.

Even so, the man who had found it, Sergeant John Rogers, wanted to know more and took it to the National Army Museum. There it was quickly identified as a Foreign Service Cork Helmet and the owner's name in faded ink was made out on the lining.

So what was the real story of soldier Ben Trimshaw and how did his headgear come to be abandoned in a remote watchtower in Afghanistan?

"It’s well known that the home of the best action and adventure stories is Commando," says editor Calum Laird of this story. "Likewise, the best place to go for the history of the British Army is Chelsea, and specifically the National Army Museum. Like Commando, it does exactly what it says on the tin.

"And what does that have to do with this story? Well, when the Museum and Commando got together to mount an exhibition of our artwork, imaginations were fired to produce a story that would feature the talents of both, dare I say it, institutions.

"So, with the advice of the NAM experts, the fevered imagination of writer Mac MacDonald and the artistic skills of Keith Page a unique story was created. The story you have in your hands. We have enjoyed putting it together, we hope you enjoy reading it just as much."

Commando 4420: Scourge of the Stormbirds
Story: Ferg Handley Art: Olivera Cover Art: Ian Kennedy

By 1945 the end of World War II was nigh. Frank Bailey, a USAAF squadron leader just wanted to make sure his team would survive to see the end of the conflict.

So Frank trained his boys hard, constantly impressing on them that each time they flew their P51 Mustangs against Nazi fighters it could be their last.

And that was before they encountered Germany’s newest weapon, the sleek, jet-propelled Me262 — the deadly Stormbird...

Commando 4421: Ambush Zone
Originally Commando No 3128 (March 1988)
Story: Ferg Handley Art: Olivera Cover Art: Mike White

It was an area of dense jungle with a few faint trails criss-crossing, some leading nowhere. Yet somehow a British platoon had to navigate this wilderness — and protect a young native whose influence could help turn the tide of war against the Japanese.

All this with a ruthless enemy lying in wait, setting up one deadly ambush after another

"This story is more up-to-date than some of this year’s re-issues and there’s a very good reason why," says foremer Commando editor George Low in his introduction to this story. "Most of you will be familiar with Ferg Handley and his work and this is the second script I commissioned from him, “Lucky Lenny”, No. 3102, being the first.

“Ambush Zone” is a gripping story set in the jungle with a British patrol and their guide pitting their wits against a deadly enemy, the inside artwork executed well by Olivera and the eye-catching cover by Mike White."

Commando 4422: Mad Mike
Originally Commando No 335 (June 1968)
Story: Mac MacDonald Art: Victor de la Fuente Cover Art: Gordon Livingstone

Take a good look at the guy on the cover. He’s putting up quite a fight, but just a few weeks ago he was a shambling deserter on the run.

Yet he has only one man to thank for turning him from a selfish coward into a fighting fury…Mad Mike, the man the Japs could just not face.

"If you were to come up with a design brief for an artist to create a quintessential Commando cover, you wouldn’t go far wrong if you had this one in mind," notes Calum Laird. "In the background a vividly-coloured sky, full of drama and menace. And in the foreground a powerful figure blasting out of the frame with a Bren Gun. It really doesn’t get more Commando than that.

"And what a title!

"Inside the cover the art and the tale don’t disappoint. Victor Fuente’s figures have action and movement while Mac MacDonald’s story is a classic of action, feuding and…but wait, if I say more I may give the game away. This is one to read. Right now!"

Draw Your Weapons Special Events

Here's the run down of events that are part of the Draw Your Weapons exhibition at the National Army Museum in London in September.

When the Comics Went to War
8th September 2011, 7.00pm

Exploring the history of the British war comic book genre, from the first publications to the present day, this talk charts the evolving depiction of warfare and the experiences of the children who lived through it.

Draw Your Weapons Art Workshop
5th, 12th and 26th November 2011 2.00pm-3.30pm

Exclusive workshops for budding artists of all ages to learn new techniques, design their own storyboard and hear the tales behind the artwork. These Saturday workshops will be hosted by popular comic illustrators and by acclaimed war artists.

• For the latest information visit: www.nam.ac.uk/exhibitions/special-displays/draw-your-weapons-art-commando-comics

• Official Commando web site: http://www.commandocomics.com/

• Commando Official Facebook page


• 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

Panel Borders: The Shop around the Corner

Continuing radio show Panel Borders month of shows looking at comic book shops, Alex Fitch talks to the former proprietors of comic shops that existed in the 1980s and 90s and have left lasting impression on their fans.

Dark Horizons opened in the back of Terri Hooley’s cult record shop Good Vibrations, Belfast in 1985 before graduating into a shop in its own right; in its first incarnation, the store was co-owned by John McCrea who has gone on to become a popular comic book artist on such titles as Troubled Souls,Hitman and Herogasm, written by Garth Ennis.

At much the same time in Richmond, Jon Browne opened They Walk Among Us, a store he co-owned for 22 years which found fame as the comic shop featured on TV in Spaced and in the most recent series of Red Dwarf.

Alex talks to John and Jon about their memories of running comic shops, the vagueries of stocking popular titles and how one shop burned down and the other became absorbed into a chain in the 2000s.

• Panel Borders: The shop around the corner airs at 5.00pm, Thursday 18/08/11, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com

Thundercats UK TV Premiere date announced

Promotional art for the new ThunderCats animated series. © Warner Bros.

ThunderCats, one of the most beloved cartoons of the 1980s, returns to UK TV next month on Cartoon Network UK - and, as we previously reported, a new comic from Panini UK will follow, although no release date for this has yet been announced.

Launching on Saturday 10th September at 11.00am on Cartoon Network, with a new episode every Saturday, the new Thundercats is a "reimagining" of the iconic animated series on Cartoon Network.

Set as an epic tale, the much anticipated return of ThunderCats tells the story of a hero's journey to fulfill his ultimate destiny, starting with the story's origin of Prince Lion-O's ascension to the throne.

On Third Earth, the kingdom of Thundera is being threatened by the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra, and Lion-O, the young heir to the throne, embarks on a great quest to take his rightful place as king. The unlikely champion must work with his faithful comrades Tygra, Cheetara, Panthro, WilyKit, WilyKat, and his loyal pet, Snarf to save their world from darkness. As the forces of good and evil battle each other in the quest for the fabled Stones of Power, Lion-O and his champions learn valuable lessons of loyalty, honour and mortality.

Cartoon Network says ThunderCats will appeal to viewers who have loved the characters all their lives as well as young newcomers to the franchise.

Panini UK announced they had secured the rights to publish a licensed Thundercats in May, shortly after news broke that they would no longer originate Marvel superhero comic strip.

Thundercats has a proud history as a comic in the UK - Marvel UK published 129 issues of a regular title based on the original 1980s animated show. To date, it is the longest-running comic associated with the franchise and included work by artists such as Tim Perkins and Martin Griffiths.

Other tie-in merchandise includes an action figure range from Bandai, kids' apparel, watches and bags (see news story).

STRIP Magazine on course for October launch in the UK

Print Media Productions STRIP Magazine is on course for an October launch, with the strip line up now firmed up for the first issues.

The company has also selected the first winners of its Strip Challenge - but the winners will be revealed in the Magazine (they've been sworn to secrecy for now). 

One change to the plans for the title is that it won't launch immediately on the UK news stand - the result of discussions with their news stand distributor - so you'll only find the first issues in comic shops or by subscribing.

But the company still plans to widen their sales to the UK high street in 2012, effectively 're-launching' the title after its initial tranche of content draws to a close in early 2012.

There's more information about these changes on the STRIP Magazine blog.

STRIP Magazine Issue One includes Black Ops Xtreme by John Freeman and PJ Holden; Warpaint by Phil Hester and John McCrea - the first episode will feature in an upcoming issue of Tripwire; Age of Heroes by James Hudnall and John Ridgway; Hookjaw, re-mastered by Jim Campbell and Gary Caldwell; 'Hush Hush' a prequel story to Stephen Walsh and Keith Page's Iron Moon graphic album; Recovery Inc. by Michael Penick and Dean Deckard; and the first winners of the Strip Challenge.

The first issue will also have features on the 1970s comic Action that originally published Hookjaw, written by Moose Harris; and an exclusive interview with PJ Holden by Matt Badham.

The bumper 68-page STRIP Magazine Issue One will cost £2.99 and will come with a free poster, and will be on sale in October.

• More info at: www.printmediaproductions.com