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

30 overseas allowance, and sergeant’s pay alone came to more money, without including clothing and accommodation.). The next night I took a bus to London and immediately landed a job with the J. Arthur Rank Studio—my decision was vindicated. The work involved lettering on acetate, cartooning, and design for theatre advertising all at a much more encouraging salary. London is a fascinating place. The years I spent there acquiring wider studio skills enabled me to improve my earnings, buy good art materials, books on perspective and anatomy (mostly by Andrew Loomis), copies of the Saturday Evening Post , Colliers , etc, and to practice illustrating. About this time I took up Judo. I had come out of the Army in good shape, and wanted to keep active, since my occupation was otherwise lacking in exercise. This turned out to be a wise choice, since (a) I had a markedly aggressive disposition, (b) the study of figures in conflict improved my drawing of action and anatomy, and (c) there was always the means, should the need arise, to grapple with a reluctant client for my fee. I also had, since the war years, a consuming interest in aircraft. In addition to building and flying radio-controlled aeroplanes, this specialised More examples of Barr's superb cover art from Commando 's first year. As the months went by it became increasingly apparent that editor Chic Checkley had created a truly distinctive look to the title and Ken Barr's punchy artwork was a vital first point of contact in what was a very overcrowded marketplace. The success of the series enabled DC Thomson to up their publishing schedule from two to four copies per month within the first year of the title's run.