EXTRACTS: The Art of Commando (illustrators special) © 2019 The Book Palace (144 PAGES in Full edition)

16 by Gordon Livingstone—as happy with paint as he was with pen, brush and ink. Ian Kennedy, another DC Thomson stalwart also made his cover debut in 1970 and commenced the start of a long relationship which has continued to this day as one of Commando’s premier cover artists and its longest serving one. Checkley’s editorship continued until 1971, when the emphysema that had dogged him for much of his adult life finally overtook him and he died a scant two years before his retirement date. The editorial reins were taken over by Ian Forbes who, like his predecessor, had seen service in the Second World War. Under Forbes’ stewardship the series recruited new writers and artists, such as Patrick Wright, whose ‘Hellman of Hammer Force’ was a fan favourite amongst readers of Battle Action comic and Denis McLoughlin, whose Buffalo Bill annuals and crime novel covers had garnered a cult following. The series continued to adhere to the scripting template first devised by Checkley, as Forbes remarked to one of their new writers, “It has been a long held contention in this office that it would be perfectly possible to write a gripping war story without any actual fighting in it at all.” ABOVE: Jordi Penalva's covers more than helped fill the void after Ken Barr's departure from the series, and in addition home-grown talent such as Ian Kennedy and Gordon Livingstone added their own distinctive skills to the gallery of Commando cover artists. FACING PAGE LEFT: Alfredo de la María's cover for 'Adam's Army' Commando 2975 published 1996. FACING PAGE RIGHT: Gordon Livingstone's portraits of the three editors he worked with throughout his long career at Commando. TOP: Chic Checkley, 1963-1971 MIDDLE: Ian Forbes, 1971-1989 BOTTOM, George Low, 1989-2007 FOLLOWING PAGES: A new generation of cover artists are adding their own particular magic to the title. Here is a painting fresh off the easel by aviation artist extraordinaire Keith Burns. Text continued from page 13