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

66 ABOVE: The original cover art for Commando 378, 'Trouble Hunter'. FACING PAGE: A gallery of early covers reveals that Gordon's paintings were infused with as much energy and panache as his pen and ink work. PR: This is the thing that comes across when one looks at your work, it evolves and becomes more confident to the extent that you’re looking at somebody who finds drawing as natural as handwriting. GL: Well I didn’t find it a chore. I enjoyed my work you know. It wouldn’t be the sort of thing you could do without enjoying it. I know guys in everyday walks of life who say, “Oh my God work!” You know. Sadly until I stopped going into the office two and a half years ago, I would hear the editorial heads talking about early retirement, DC Thomson had this scheme going and a lot of the editorial guys retired and lots of the artists retired at the same