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

28 a poster and sign company, since by then I had expressed a strong desire to draw and, while evacuated, had been introduced to American comics by friends with relatives in the US, and by US servicemen stationed in Britain. I used to draw feverishly from these comics which are interesting and informative, but less imaginative. My favourites here were Batman, Captain Marvel Junior, Doll Man, and a character called the Gay Ghost (they wouldn’t dare revive him—or would they?). For six years I labouredmightily in the basement of the sign shop, learning the subtleties of serif, sans serif, monogram, copperplate and freestyle script, on lettering half and inch to six feet high. This ‘Phantom of the Opera’ existence was relieved by sneaking in, between sign orders, oil enlargements of comic panels from the work of Burne Hogarth, Virgil Finlay, Hal Foster and endless portraits of movie stars. For entertainment the cellar became flooded during every downpour (Glaswegians believe their city was built Ken Barr's cover painting and back cover vignette for 'Mercy For None!', which appeared in August 1961 and featured the debut of Gordon Livingstone's interior art. The vignettes were a regular feature of Commando 's early years.