Posts
For Me the War is Over
Pádraig Ó Méalóid was kind enough to send me, along with his excellent new fanzine, Puny Earthling, a copy of issue 3686 of Commando comic, published in 2004, which, as it turns out, held a very personal interest for me. Commando, for those of you not familiar with the medium, is a comic digest, in 65 page booklet format, still available in newsagents in Britain, with two issues being released every week! (Proof again that comics are only 'dying' if you don't count all those comics that are doing really well.) There's one story per issue in these little graphic novels, this form being where Battler Britton, now ressurected so gorgeously by Garth Ennis -
http://dccomics.com/comics/?cm=6097
comes from. (Although I'm still waiting for him to take a 'calculated risk', as he always did when I read him as a kid.) This particular issue is called 'Return to Action!' And, well, here's the first panel that caught Pádraig's eye...
Now, that could just be a coincidence, but added to that, three panels later...
My old writing partner Martin Day pops up, 'young and inexperienced'! But what really makes one certain all this is no accident is the name of the little French village Cornell and Day end up defending...
'Yarvelling' being the name of the creator of the Daleks in the 1960s TV Century 21 comic strip devoted to them.
This makes me wonder if the port of Darville, also mentioned, is a reference to former Doctor Who New Adventures books editor Peter Darvill-Evans, and if 'Penshire' is a reference to my ex of those days, Penny List.
Commando booklets are published without credits, so I don't know who wrote this, and I'd love to find out. The art reminds me at some moments of the great John Ridgway, a former collaborator of mine, but I don't think it's all him, or that he'd remember me in such detail. If anyone out there knows any more about this, please let me know.
And yes, the Germans do still call the British 'accursed Englanders', and yell 'himmel!' when they're being shot at. By, erm... me.
http://dccomics.com/comics/?cm=6097
comes from. (Although I'm still waiting for him to take a 'calculated risk', as he always did when I read him as a kid.) This particular issue is called 'Return to Action!' And, well, here's the first panel that caught Pádraig's eye...
Now, that could just be a coincidence, but added to that, three panels later...
My old writing partner Martin Day pops up, 'young and inexperienced'! But what really makes one certain all this is no accident is the name of the little French village Cornell and Day end up defending...
'Yarvelling' being the name of the creator of the Daleks in the 1960s TV Century 21 comic strip devoted to them.
This makes me wonder if the port of Darville, also mentioned, is a reference to former Doctor Who New Adventures books editor Peter Darvill-Evans, and if 'Penshire' is a reference to my ex of those days, Penny List.
Commando booklets are published without credits, so I don't know who wrote this, and I'd love to find out. The art reminds me at some moments of the great John Ridgway, a former collaborator of mine, but I don't think it's all him, or that he'd remember me in such detail. If anyone out there knows any more about this, please let me know.
And yes, the Germans do still call the British 'accursed Englanders', and yell 'himmel!' when they're being shot at. By, erm... me.
|
Can't be 100% sure but I'd say that art's by Steve Parkhouse (drawing in a more serious and restrained style than normal) either that or someone influenced by him.
- pj
Glad it arrived safely.
Now at last the truth can be told, eh Tommy Cornell? I for one welcome that.
Have seen proper trailers for 'Robin Hood' tonight! Wooooo!
I don't know if this helps, but the writer of this blog entry writes of a Q&A in which Grant Morrison reveals he used to write for them:
http://cleanskies.livejournal.com/84311.html
What about Steve Cole? Or Gareth Roberts? They've both worked in the Virgin and BBC Novels and have comic book experience too...
It's Judge Dredd artist P.J.Holden everybody! (I shall link to your blog.) It does look very Parkhouse, doesn't it? I hadn't thought of him. Proper Hoodie trailers are now around, and adverts on the sides of buses too! I doubt it's Grant (I'd love to see some of his, though!) and I can't imagine Gareth writing something like this without his tongue venturing near his cheek.
Quite Topping!
Ah, no, he was the missing piece of the trio in this story clearly!
I'm always amazed to see these commando comics still on sale after all these years.
Ian
I didn't realise Commando was still on sale!
I'll have to do a tour of the local newsagents...
Never been tempted to write one, Paul? DCT's used to pay surprisingly good rates for them last time I checked (albeit a few years ago)...
I must say, I think it takes a good deal of skill to write a straightforward, iconic war story across that many pages.
Gary Russell?
I've now got someone on the inside at D.C.Thomson investigating this for me.
This may not be the appropriate place to mention it, Sgt Cornell, but I've set up a blog now. I hope you don't mind me putting a link to yours on it.
Well, I for one welcome that, and will link to you also.
I for one welcome that link. And the start of 'Robin Hood' tomorrow. Hurrah!