Well, here we are then, six months into operations. I thought it could be a good idea to write a general overview about the site in general so here we go.
First, lets take a look at the general visits rate. It looks like the site has attracted 2841 visitors so far (since april) and these people have generated 97222 hits all in all, which probably means that we have an audience that go back to the site on a weekly basis to check it out for updates. I think this is fairly OK since it takes months for a homepage to establish itself and the summer period is hardly the best as far as internet surfing goes here in Europe. My guess is that the visits rate will double in the upcoming winter months, meaning that by next summer weŽll be just a little bit bigger.
Google is a good means to find out if a site is going places and so far weŽre not doing too well. This means that fans of war comics worldwide, and even in the classic european market (UK, Scandinavia, mid and southern Europe) the majority of people that may have an interest will not yet have come accross Where Eagles Dare at all. But I knew it would take time to generate a platform, and this ofcourse can only happen if we deliver. But I have to believe that a site with almost 2000 covers as we speak (if you count the swedish gallery page that is linked from ours) will come as a rather nice surprise to any new visitor with an interest in the subject.
This site is updated when I have the time and when I feel like doing it. It has to be fun, so it should not be forced. I do have other interests, but once I go back to this stuff I have to say that I quite enjoy adding stuff. There will be many more galleries on this site in good time, and I do have other ideas. So this will grow over the coming months (and hopefully, years).
Your interaction is also very important. With the help of a few enthusiasts we have already been able to shed a lot of light on the scene in Europe, with plenty of information about titles and number of issues printed in different countries. Generally speaking, the information gathered on this site in the last few months alone is quite impressive. We are starting to get a general idea of the great big puzzle and we can only learn more as we battle on.
My interest in publishing magazines for collectors go back a long way and IŽve done many over the years. In 2004 and 2005 I did two limited edition issues of a publication in classic format titled "Truppserien". They went out as No 1 and No 5 (the second had imaginary covers on display of issues 2, 3 and 4 on the back in an ad that was meant to duplicate a style that used to exist in these comics in the late sixties) in 120 copies. I had original comics created and information about war comics and complete lists of two classic titles were included. The printing cost was expensive so I knew going in that I would never get even, but when something is created for the pure fun of it you donŽt think in terms of money. I donŽt know if I will ever have the interest to do something like that again, but if it comes up it will certainly be in english this time and for you people.
Meanwhile, if anybody else would like to have a go at a fan-type publication about war comics, I would be glad to support you in this on this site. I have heard whispers and I know that we have true fans out there that would enjoy doing it if the circumstances were right. It might be a good idea if somebody in the UK did this and set up operations there. I know people in the UK that publish fanmagazines (Deep Purple, Rainbow) and these look great. But you have to be a real trooper to do it and you have to expect an uphill struggle. Still, eBay is another place were copies can be sold and war comics seem to attract a pretty good crowd there.
All in all, 2006 has been a pretty good year for us. Battler Britton returned in style and from Commando headquarters weŽve just had a second book called "True Brit" and a 2007 calendar to add to our christmas shopping. Things are looking up, and soon weŽll have issue 4000 of Commando in our hands. Now, thereŽs a good reason to celebrate!
(October 2006)
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