2009-09-30
On this page we will mention news and things of interest to the old boys club. Contact us if you have something to share with us.
New Commando interview
2009-09-30 / With hours only to spare we managed to squeeze in this interview in september, and this is kind of significant since editor Calum Laird has spent two years running things now over at Commando headquarters.
Battlefields 1 - Nightwitches
2009-09-25 / US publisher Dynamite has launched a new series of war comics titled Battlefields. The first book is titled "Nightwitches" and is written by Garth Ennis (Battler Britton) and drawn by Russ Braun. Itīs about the WW2 russian female aircrews that earned themselves the nickname nacht hexen (night witches) by the germans. This book is very good and if you want to read up on the subject I can suggest the novel "Last Citadel" by David L. Robbins.
The Complete Terry And The Pirates
2009-09-13 / Friends of classic comics may be glad to hear that "The Complete Terry And The Pirates" are out, the sixth volume (january 2009) being the final book in the series. These reprints date back to the second world war so there is plenty of WW2 action here. The books are published by IDW Publishing and each volume has about 350 pages, so plenty of good nostalgia on offer here.
New Commando interview at Down The Tubes
2009-08-24 / Commando writer Ferg Handley is interviewed by Jeremy Briggs over at Down The Tubes about the recent issue "Storm Over Spain" here. Great stuff. I absolutely love that cover.
More nostalgia uncovered
2009-08-18 / Well, this beauty (SHOWCASE PRESENTS: The War That Time Forgot Vol 1) has been out since June 6 2007 in the States, but I only discovered it now. The SHOWCASE series is published by DC Comics and the books sports 500+ pages so itīs money well spent. I donīt think I ever read this comic so itīs going to be fun to discover it now.
Check out some of my work for magazines
2009-08-11 / This page was really made for other purposes than this site, but if you want to check out some of my work for magazines you are welcome. So this is what happens if you read war comics growing up, eh...
Old boys stats
2009-08-04 / Today Iīve added the number of hits for the previous month (24.876) here at Where Eagle Dare on the startpage and Iīll keep doing that from now on. The bulk of the interest comes from outside of the UK. The interest from America has always been pretty evident (about 20%), I suppose the comics scene is pretty strong over there.
Mike Conroy book(s) & Biggles - feedback from Jeremy Briggs
2009-07-28 / Jeremy Briggs over att Down The Tubes confirms that the books seen here are in fact the same (as reported here 11 days ago), but for the US and the UK markets. "Just reading your Where Eagles Dare news section and as you suspected the War Comics/War Stories book is the same book inside. We have more details on it Down The Tubes". Jeremy also adds some interesting information about the current situation regarding Biggles (see our news below), "As for Biggles Spitfire Parade, my review of it is here and it is rather older than you think as it was originally published in 1992 in French and 1993 in English. "Unfortunately there has been an issue over publishing more of the Biggles graphic novels and they are currently on hold which means that the Cinebook versions of 666 Squadron and Biggles Recounts The Wright Brothers may never appear although they have been advertised". However Eurobooks in India have published many more of the Biggles graphic novels in English than Red Fox or Cinebook did and there are more details of the non-UK Biggles graphic novels that have been translated into English here. Keep up the good work on your website". Good feedback, thank you Jeremy. I guess I could add that Biggles is a thing of the past here in Sweden, it didnīt survive the "politically correct" purges of the 80īs although I do own a few books from way back when with fantastic covers. Those were the days.
Mike Conroy book(s) on war comics
2009-07-17 / The books keep on coming. Seen here is two versions of what we suspect is the same book but with alternative titles/covers - the US version is called "War Stories - A Graphic History" and the UK version "War Comics - A Graphic History". The author is Mike Conroy and Garth Ennis introduces the book with a short foreword, admitting that Battle was his favourite comic when he was a kid. A good chunk of this book looks at the american scene although there is some information about the UK/European scene as well. The pocket picture libraries, our favourite scene, barely makes it into the book, with only a few covers (Commando gets one, you get the drift). Still, thumbs up for the effort.
Biggles forever
2009-07-14 / Cinebook Ltd published "Spitfire Parade" last year, a Biggles graphic novel created by Dargaud-Lombard in 2003. More WW2 titles are on the way so check that out. Meanwhile, new editions of the classic W.E Johns books set in WW1 and WW2 has seen the light of day from Red Fox the last few years. Seen here is the latest edition of "Biggles Delivers The Goods", first published in 1946 in the UK.
Commando fansite gone
2009-07-14 / It looks like the Barelyhanginon Commando fansite has quit. It will be sadly missed. I loved the way they put up all the new issues so that we could marvel at the art.
Commando - Air battles in october
2009-05-28 / Things are moving along nicely as Carlton Books plans to issue another Commando book on october 1. This one sports 10 adventures, not 12, which means 656 pages of air battles in this "Battle of Britain - Scramble!" title. Again, forewords by George Low and Calum Laird. Can a ninth title be far off?
New Commando book out now
2009-05-20 / Carlton Books have just issued the seventh Commando book, "D-Day - Fight Or Die!". 784 pages with forewords by George Low and Calum Laird. This book ties in nicely with the news below.
Commando highlights D-Day
2009-05-20 / The following press release was sent out by Commando headquarters yesterday (the covers seen here are the ones that they refer to in the text)...
THIS MEANS WAR!
Thinking of hitting the beach this summer? Why not go Commando?
Nearly 50 years after it first invaded British news-stands, Commando celebrates the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in June 2009 with the publication of 8 action-packed stories that take readers straight into the heart of the battle. These thrilling stories of heroism on land, sea and air, including Fight Fire With Fire, Terror On The Battlefield and D-Day Plus, follow the fortunes of ordinary Allied soldiers as they bravely take to the Normandy beaches and fight to defeat their German foes.
“D-Day was without doubt the most important 24 hours in the history of the Western World,” explains Commando editor, Calum Laird.
“Had we not had the benefit of the selfless efforts of the huge number of soldiers, sailors and airmen involved on that day, history would have been much blacker. Our eight stories, though fictional, are our way of saluting that generation while spreading the story of what they did. And what we owe them."
Launched by Dundee-based publisher DC Thomson & Co Ltd in June 1961, Commando's very first issue was Walk – Or Die!, illustrated by Amador Garcia. It sported the first of many garish, exciting covers by artist Ken Barr. He was but one amongst many early artists who set the visual tone for the ensuing five decades of comic strips, many with hard-hitting titles like Blood River and Cold Steel. These pocket-sized books - their dynamic covers adorned with an iconic dagger logo – were filled with tales of wartime valour, honour, treachery and revenge. In their heyday, Commando was a publishing phenomenon. Circulation figures were huge: peaking at an amazing 750,000 copies one month during the 1970s.
To begin with, Commando almost always carried stories about the Second World War. Now, though, the reader can expect tales from almost any conflict, from Roman times to the first Gulf War. As long as there is an exciting action yarn with a morally-minded hero at its core, any time period will be considered.
In the age of Blu-Ray, Playstation and i-Pod, Commando survives, stubbornly refusing to surrender in the dwindling comics market place. This much-loved, comic institution has avid readers amongst members of the Armed Forces. Apparently they are the ideal size for combat trouser pockets.
“I'm pleased to say that we send our regular bundles of Commandos to the men of Operation Herrick in Afghanistan,” says Laird. “If the professionals like to read our tales, it's good enough for me.”
In 2005, Carlton Books released The Dirty Dozen: The 12 Best Commando Books Ever!. This large format compilation book was a big hit, and more followed. The seventh volume, Fight Or Die!, a hand-picked collection of classic D-Day tales is due out very soon.
“Commando may have been at the heart of many a battle for 48 years, a veteran by anyone's standards, but it's not ready to throw in the towel just yet,” concludes Laird. “Readers can expect more action and adventure every month for a long time to come.”
Commando’s D-Day stories are Issues 4203-4206, published on June 11 - followed by Issues 4207-4210, out on June 25.
Visit www.commandomag.com for features, cover galleries, wallpapers, exclusive merchandise and subscription information.
Scott Montgomery
New Commando interview
2009-04-21 / Jeremy Briggs over at Down The Tubes has interviewed regular Commando interior and cover artist Keith Page. Read it here.
Huge cover site located
2009-03-30 / We have located a site called Cover Browser that sports a quarter of a million images of magazines, books, records and so on. Thereīs loads of great stuff to behold on this site, so you might want to have some spare time available when you take a look.
Rock star Ronnie James Dioīs UFO sighting
2009-03-30 / We have added this clip of Ronnie James Dio (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven & Hell) to the growing archives of YouTube. He talks about a UFO sighting he had in Connecticut back in his Rainbow days, and the reason we put this up is a new magazine called TOP SECRET. We thought that it might interest some of you guys, so here it is.
Another good year comes along
2009-01-02 / Prion has another two compilations coming up this summer, "Up And At īem!" (the third War Picture Library collection) due out april 6, and "Aces High" (first Air Ace Picture Library collection) on june 1. Steve Holland has been involved in these and itīs a good sign that these books keeps on coming. Both sports 10 adventures which means 656 pages each.
New top image on Where Eagles Dare
2008-12-29 / Well, this year is coming to a close and since I bought myself a digital camera as a christmas gift I thought that I might as well have some fun with it while learning how the darn thing works. So I created a new Top image for Where Eagles Dare, and also for my swedish cousin site Victory (check this out here, different angle but exactly the same layout). Boys will be boys, I admit it...
All Out American Blitz
2008-12-09 / We have just discovered that fans of classic american war comics are well catered for over in the US, with DC publishing many beloved stories from the past as part of their SHOWCASE series. These are compilations with over 500 pages of action for a reasonable price, so this is interesting stuff for any collectors out there. Pictured above is "The Haunted Tank Volume 1" (may 2006), "The Unknown Soldier" (november 2006), "Sgt. Rock Volume 1" (november 2007), "The Haunted Tank Volume 2" (june 2008) and "Sgt. Rock Volume 2" (december 2008). Also available is WW1 "Enemy Ace" (february 2008) and "Blackhawk" (october 2008).
New Commando interview
2008-11-21 / Jeremy Briggs over at Down The Tubes has interviewed Commando sub-editor Scott Montgomery. Read it here.
Armistice 90 - eight Commando stories coming
2008-11-01 / The following pressrelease is from Commando headquarters, as issues 4147 to 4154 will highlight the fact that the Great War ended 90 years ago.
November is a particularly important month for all war veterans. This year will be even more significant as it marks 90 years since the guns fell silent over the many battlefields of the First World War. To mark this moment in history, one particular war veteran - Commando comic - has produced a series of eight stories based on the events of the Great War. From the trenches of the Western Front to the skies over Mesopotamia, Commandos heroes will struggle to overcome the odds and arise triumphant. The comic itself has been around since 1961, hence its claim to be a veteran, and continues to attract readers of all ages. Described variously as being the “ideal size for the pockets of combat trousers” and a “training manual for officers” by members of the armed forces, Commando soldiers on. Recent special editions of classic stories published in conjunction with Carlton Books and the limited edition Ammo Box containing three of these collections plus a recreation of the very first issue have brought the comic back into the public eye. Editor Calum Laird says, “We are hoping that our special stories to coincide with Armistice 90 will reawaken ex-readers’ interest is a title many of them will have thought no longer existed and awaken an interest in younger readers looking for action and adventure stories in a format less intimidating that a full-length novel. “If our stories give an authentic taste of kind of experiences the people who will be honoured this month went through, we’ll be very pleased”. Four of the special Armistice 90 books go on sale on November 13, the other four on November 27.
Commando Calendar 2009
2008-08-30 / Unique Comic Collectables has just released this nice looking Commando calendar for 2009.
Commando Ammo Box
2008-08-30 / The first three Commando books see a limited edition return packed in a Commando Ammo Box on october 6. 1000 copies.
More goodies
2008-08-30 / More books for the avid collector. Prion unleashed a second War Picture Library book on august 4 titled "Against All Odds". And "The Best Of Battle Volume 1" will come out on october 24 (Titan Books), and sport 320 pages of classic war comics. (As of july 2009 the second title here is not yet published).
Major attack - three books on the way
2008-06-11 / The compilations keep coming and here is another three that is planned for this fall. The new book from Commando is titled "Bandits at 12 oīclock" and it is due for release on september 1. George Low, former editor of Commando, welcomes the reader. On october 6 another two arrives, "The Art of War - more of the best war comic art from Air Ace Library, Battle Picture Library, War Picture Library and War At Sea" (edited by David Roach, foreword by James May), and "Letīem Have It", another Battle Picture Library best of with foreword by Steve Holland. Christmas comes early this year.
OLD NEWS HERE
