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Cover for issue 2523, a reproduction of issue 1
Cover for issue 2523, a reproduction of issue 1

Commando For Action and Adventure, formerly known as Commando War Stories in Pictures, and colloquially known as Commando Comics, are a series of British comic books that primarily draw their themes and backdrops from the various incidents of the World Wars I and II. A comic book (often shortened to simply comic and sometimes called a comic paper or comic magazine) is a Magazine or Book of narrative World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The comic, still in print today, is noted for its distinctive 7 x 5 1/2 inch, 68 page format that became a standard for these kinds of stories. It has remained more popular than many other British war comics, and some would say British comics in general, despite its simplistic stories and simply sketched black and white artwork, with only the covers in colour.

The stories contain certain characteristic motifs; to mention a few - courage, cowardice, patriotism, dying for the sake of one's country, noble actions in the face of danger, enmity turning into friendship when the going gets tough, and so on. Apart from portraying these universal qualities, Commando Comics also show soldiers in somewhat dated national stereotypes, glorifying Allied soldiers, and showing others mostly as cruel, stupid or ignorant barbarians. There was usually no continuity between books; each book was a complete story with start and finish. Though recently series (2 or 3 stories) of books following the same character have been published.

Contents

History

The comic series, then going by the title Commando War Stories in Pictures, was launched by D.C. Thomson of Dundee, Scotland, in July, 1961. D C Thomson & Co Ltd, is a publishing company based in Dundee, Scotland, best known for producing Oor Wullie, The Broons Dundee (Dùn Dèagh is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and fully named as Dundee City, one of Scotland's 32 local government council Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. It was an addition to the company's already high profile comics, such as The Beano and The Dandy. The Beano comic is a long-running British children's comic, published by D The Dandy is a long running children's comic published in the United Kingdom. During its launch year two issues were published per month, but due to the comic's increasing popularity this rose to four a month. Since 1981 there have been eight issues published per month. As of issue 539, certain stories have been reprinted. In September 1993 the comic title changed to Commando For Action and Adventure. The last issue to feature the former title was issue 2690, Password to Freedom, published in August. The first comic to feature the new title was issue 2691, A Race Against Time, published the following month. [1]

As well as the comics, annuals were also produced in the years 1989 and 1990, each containing seven new stories. However, many feel that the production of these annuals was poor and that they were produced to capitalise on the popularity of the comic. The annuals were in full colour and illustrated in the style of the time, not in the original style of the comics.

Appearance and format

The Commando comic differs from more widely known US comics in that it is published in a 7 x 5 1/2 inch, 68 page format, with some 135 panels per story, which is roughly similar to a standard 22 page US comic. Most panels have both captions and dialogue to further the plot. Sound effects are rarely if ever used. The intention is to make a Commando story easy to read and follow.

The artwork is in black and white except for the covers, with the lettering done in typewriter font. Until recently writers and artists went uncredited as usual for D. C Thomson comics. Though now a small grenade icon appears on the first panel, crediting individuals with story, art and cover.

Collections

In 2005, Carlton Books Ltd released an anthology of twelve Commando stories selected by George Low, who has edited the series since 1963. Carlton Publishing Group is a London, England book publisher of illustrated reference biography leisure and entertainment books So far these collections are:

In other languages

Interestingly, the comics have somewhat of a cult following in Finland, where they are known by the name "Korkeajännitys" (slang term "korkkari"), a pun on the Finnish word for "High Voltage", with a tagline "Iskee kuin miljoona volttia", "hits like a million volts". Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. Finnish ( or suomen kieli) is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland (92% As of 2006) and by ethnic Finns outside The term high voltage characterizes electrical circuits in which the voltage used is the cause of particular safety concerns and insulation requirements

See also

Other similar series:

References

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