Commando!!

I rather liked it-I do like the fact that Commando now quite frequently allows characters to reappear once in awhile. The other new offering, 'Blood Money' (#4387) isn't half bad, either...

Keith Page was working on another story where a young Ferret meets characters from Oliver Twist! But I don't know what became of it. I doubt it was going to appear in Commando though.

Congratulations are due to Calum and his team-on Friday 27th May, the votes were counted for the Eagle Awards, and Commando won Favourite British Black & White Comic! Well done, guys-here's to another fifty years!

Picked up issue #4404, the official "50th anniversary" issue.

Wonder how many other British comics on the market today will be able to celebrate a milestone like that !

Since Beano and Dandy have passed it already and I doubt any other title will reach even half that, I'm not holding my breath...

Interesting that the cover says "War Stories In Pictures" again.
I guess this is a one off for the anniversary.

tony ingram wrote:Since Beano and Dandy have passed it already and I doubt any other title will reach even half that, I'm not holding my breath...

2000ad is over thirty years. I think Viz can't be far off either.

I think digital distribution will ultimately kill off the "hardcopy" comic though and stop either reaching the 50th milestone, as a physical comic anyway.

MLP* wrote:Interesting that the cover says "War Stories In Pictures" again.
I guess this is a one off for the anniversary.

tony ingram wrote:Since Beano and Dandy have passed it already and I doubt any other title will reach even half that, I'm not holding my breath...

2000ad is over thirty years. I think Viz can't be far off either.

I think digital distribution will ultimately kill off the "hardcopy" comic though and stop either reaching the 50th milestone, as a physical comic anyway.

OK, OK, so is Doctor Who Magazine-I was exagerrating for dramatic effect. but can you see them reaching fifty?

tony ingram wrote:

MLP* wrote:Interesting that the cover says "War Stories In Pictures" again.
I guess this is a one off for the anniversary.

tony ingram wrote:Since Beano and Dandy have passed it already and I doubt any other title will reach even half that, I'm not holding my breath...

2000ad is over thirty years. I think Viz can't be far off either.

I think digital distribution will ultimately kill off the "hardcopy" comic though and stop either reaching the 50th milestone, as a physical comic anyway.

OK, OK, so is Doctor Who Magazine-I was exagerrating for dramatic effect. but can you see them reaching fifty?

Maybe they'll go down the American route of getting within spitting distance of a major milestone before deciding to start again from issue # 1.

Don't. Even.Joke. About it.

Damn you, Dan Didio...

tony ingram wrote:Don't. Even.Joke. About it.

Damn you, Dan Didio...

And Uncanny X-Men are at it too. Madness.

I'm stroking my 2000ad prog 1739 for reassurance.

I have no idea what goes through the heads of the marketing guys these days. Though at least with Uncanny, it's a safe bet Marvel will revert to the original numbering at the next big milestone issue...

Picked up # 4419.

The museum tie-in is a fun bit of cross promotion.

Issues #4435-4438 are now available. but perhaps rather more significantly, so is the much anticipated Commando 50 Years:a Home for Heroes book by George Low, definitely one for the Brit comics enthusiasts Christmas wish list at a more than reasonable £19.99...

tony ingram wrote:Issues #4435-4438 are now available. but perhaps rather more significantly, so is the much anticipated Commando 50 Years:a Home for Heroes book by George Low, definitely one for the Brit comics enthusiasts Christmas wish list at a more than reasonable £19.99...

Saw it in Waterstones the other day and yeah it does look very nice indeed.

And a second Victor "best off" out now as well.

It's about time some of that material was seen again, too!

Picked up # 4453 today.

A reprint of issue # 1 so I couldn't resist.

MLP* wrote:Picked up # 4453 today.

A reprint of issue # 1 so I couldn't resist.

I order mine through my newsagent, but the latest batch hasn't turned up yet...

Commando #4463-4468 are on sale from today. Editor Calum Laird notes that the cover to #4464 is actually by Janek Matysiak, not by Ian Kennedy as stated in the credits grenade!

Last one I picked up was # 4460 WARRIORS!
Haven't got round to reading it yet but was intrigued by the cover.

Picked up #4470.

Is it my imagination or have they published the Christmas issue a month late ?

Rebranded !

http://downthetubescomics.blogspot.com/2012/02/commando-re-branded-into-collections.html

That seems an unusual move. I wonder what prompted it? Commando doesn't usually go in for marketing exercises like this, and I understood their sales were quite strong...

tony ingram wrote:That seems an unusual move. I wonder what prompted it? Commando doesn't usually go in for marketing exercises like this, and I understood their sales were quite strong...

Seems needlessly confusing to me. Maybe they think it will make people buy more issues ?

I think most people bought all eight regardless, to be honest. All this does is draw attention to the reprints, which I would think might have the opposite effect!

Issues #4491-4495 went on sale on the 26th, and Commando has had something of an upgrade with thicker, whiter paper on the story pages and a more rigid cover. Editor Calum Laird says he feels the increased weight and durability better suits a product of Commando's quality, and I have to say, I agree.

tony ingram wrote:Issues #4491-4495 went on sale on the 26th, and Commando has had something of an upgrade with thicker, whiter paper on the story pages and a more rigid cover. Editor Calum Laird says he feels the increased weight and durability better suits a product of Commando's quality, and I have to say, I agree.

I will have to pop to Smiths at lunchtime and have a look.

Anyone have any favorite Commando stories they'd like to let us know about?

I myself can't think of a favourite, but always enjoy the WWI stories best, followed by the American Civil War entries.

They do tend to rather blur into one, after awhile, though there are a few I keep set aside to reread-mostly the ones featuring recurring characters, which is something they seem to be doing more often these days.

Incidentally, four new issues (4615-4618) are out on Thursday.

This week I bought the latest batch of Commandos (#4623-4626) and I noticed two things. One, the price has gone up to 2 pounds. And two, the new feature of a gatefold back cover that reprints the "virgin" front cover art (so without the title, trade dress et al).

Anyone notice when this started?

It's a nrew innovation, only started a month or two ago, I believe. I think it makes it quite a nice package.

Any chance you (or someone else) could pinpoint the exact transition, Tony?

Inquisitive minds want to know!

I myself am not convinced. Although some art is nice to see "naked" (without the title, price and such), it also points out that not all of the art is as good as it used to be...

Besides, I really liked the one-page fact files they often ran.

And I liked the 1.50 price better! Hey, don't blame me, I'm Dutch!

It seems the changes took effect on the 6th June. As for the price increase, something tells me it would have risen anyway and the cosmetic changes are by way of compensation...

That seems likely, yes. Thanks for the date, Tony!

Issues 4779-4782 are on sale from 29th January.

tony ingram wrote:Issues 4779-4782 are on sale from 29th January.

Reliable as ever!

ramonschenk wrote:

tony ingram wrote:Issues 4779-4782 are on sale from 29th January.

Reliable as ever!

Good grief, it's Ramonschenk! How the devil are you?

Still collecting, researching and indexing, Tony! I even manage to read some comics every once in a while!

ramonschenk wrote:Still collecting, researching and indexing, Tony! I even manage to read some comics every once in a while!

What are you trying to track down these days?

Loads! Dutch comics, Charlton, all sorts of British publishers and their publications, UK publishers active in the Commonwealth countries, etc.etc.etc.

ramonschenk wrote:Loads! Dutch comics, Charlton, all sorts of British publishers and their publications, UK publishers active in the Commonwealth countries, etc.etc.etc.

Charlton? What era? I've been getting into the 70s horror titles, lately!

Yeah, got all those. Looking into the fifties at the moment. Especially the stories that were bought from defunct other companies, such as Toby, Fawcett and so on.

ramonschenk wrote:Yeah, got all those. Looking into the fifties at the moment. Especially the stories that were bought from defunct other companies, such as Toby, Fawcett and so on.

Interesting. You must have quite a collection...

Yeah, can't complain!

Found out this weekend that the WH Smith on Newcastle's high street is now no longer stocking Commando. Now how am I going to get my six-weekly fix? All the other newsagents in Newcastle I spoke about it don't have the title either....

Hope this is not the beginning of the end.

Can you take out a subscription — maybe over the internet?

I could, but that is very expensive. The cost per issue would rise above 3 quid, I think.

And besides, I kind of liked the four issues every 6 six I was in Britain. Don't really want four every fortnight...

And I certainly don't want to subscribe to the digital edition. That always feels like paying for air!

I agree with that last part. I take it Smith's won't order it for you?

There is now nowhere in Falkirk to buy Commando. WHS closed and none of the newsagents stock the title. So from the outskirts of Stirling to Edinburgh, you can't find Commando. Although today I found the current issues in McColls in the St. James Centre. The WHS in Waverley station doesn't stock them, or Tales From The Tardis for that matter.
However, I enjoy and collect digital editions and I think Commando is available via Comixology. Digital doesn't change what's in the comic, the reader just loses the tactile bit- and smell bit if it's an oldie.
As a convert to digital comics, I am a bit evangelical so you might want to read my opinions with care.