As part of downthetubes’ celebration of DC Thomson’s Commando reaching issue 6000 as one of the batch of four titles released this week, Jeremy Briggs asked cover artist Keith Burns about his work on issue 6000 itself, “Sweet Revenge”…
At Tarrant Rushton Airfield, 8.30 pm, Monday, 5 June, 1944, airborne troops are waiting by their gliders for the order to move. They are going to be the first Allied troops to land in France as part of Operation Overlord: D-Day.
“We’ll be all right, Jr. Stick close to me. I’ll look after you.” That’s what Sergeant Davis said to a green Sapper Regan as orders came in to hurry to Dunkirk in May 1940. Regan would live by those words in the years he waited after vowing to return to France. Now, climbing into his glider, he is finally getting his chance for sweet revenge!
Story: James Holland & Al Murray | Internal Art: Esteve Polls | Cover Art: Keith Burns
downthetubes: You have worked with James Holland before on the dozen factual World War Two Ladybird books he wrote. How much contact did you have with him for the Commando 6000 cover, or did it all come through the editorial office?
Keith Burns: Initially it was through the editorial office with a cover description with reference in the usual way. I rang James up to chat through any thoughts he had on the cover, we re-jigged it and ran it past the editorial team for approval.
downthetubes: How much of the decision on what the artwork image on the cover would be was your input or did it come as a suggestion from the editorial office?
Keith: I tend to get a description of the scene with reference from the editorial office. Then, using models produce three or four pencil roughs trying to capture the most dramatic looking composition, send these in and then one is selected.
downthetubes: This cover features RAF aircraft, but your previous work for Commando has included tanks and naval combat. Do you have a favourite theme to illustrate?
Keith: I find aircraft the easiest as I’ve illustrated those the most, but I really love painting the sea. Saying that, I’ve painted a lot of tanks recently and am enjoying figuring out how to make them look dramatic. That hasn’t answered your question.
downthetubes: Given the cover limitations of a square wrap-around illustration with room for the logo and text which is then printed relatively small, are some themes easier to design than others?
Keith: Completely, it took a while to figure out how to make the image on the front cover work by itself and the whole image with the wraparound, it’s a unique set-up. Some busy descriptions of covers can only be illustrated one way as clarity is most important.
downthetubes: With DCT heritage characters from the weekly comics and story papers now being included in Commando, mainly from Victor and Warlord, do you have a particular favourite that you would like to see that has not been used yet, or have they already covered what would be your favourite?
Keith: I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy both of mine so far, Braddock and Harrier Squadron.
Commando 6000 Sweet Revenge is in newsagents and available as a digital edition now
• Your full downthetubes guide to the “Commando Issue 6000” set is here
• Commando Comics are online at commandocomics.com | Commando Collection Sets on the DC Thomson Webshop | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter | Follow Commando Comics on Facebook | X | YouTube |
Head downthetubes for…
• There are more details of Keith Burns’ work on his website at keithburns.co.uk
The Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War
• The Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War is a non-fiction book series for adults written by acclaimed historian James Holland, illustrated with retro-style artwork by aviation artist Keith Burns
• Blitzkrieg: Book 1 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War
• The Battle of Britain: Book 2 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War
• Battle of the Atlantic: Book 3 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War
• The Desert War: Book 4 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War
• The Eastern Front 1941-43: Book 5 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War
• The Pacific War 1941-1943: Book 6 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War
• The Bomber War: Book 7 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War
• The War in Italy: Book 8 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War
• The Battle for Normandy, 1944: Book 9 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War
• The War in Burma 1943-1944: Book 10 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War
• Victory in Europe 1944-1945: Book 11 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War
• Victory Against Japan 1944-1945: Book 12 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War
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News, reviews, interviews and features for print and on-line: Spaceship Away (since October 2005), Bear Alley (since February 2007), downthetubes (since June 2007), and Eagle Times (since October 2008). Plus DC Thomson’s The Art Of Ian Kennedy, Titan’s Dan Dare and Johnny Red reprints, Ilex’s War Comics: A Graphic History and 500 Essential Graphic Novels, and Print Media’s The Iron Moon and Strip magazine.
Categories: Books, British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds
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