Commando Presents: Braddock

In 1952, The Rover story papers introduced a new hero ― Matt Braddock, bomber pilot VC! For years he entertained readers with prose and comic stories alike. Then, in 2019, Braddock dive-bombed into the pages of Commando, the world’s longest-running war comic. That issue, as well as selected original stories and art from DC Thomson’s Rover, Red Dagger and The Victor, have been collected here in DC Thomson’s Heritage Comics and Commando Presents… Braddock Volume 1.

Delight at over 180 pages of classic Braddock comic artwork, part 1 of the incredible ‘I Flew With Braddock’ prose story, behind-the-scenes looks at the original stories, iconic covers and spreads that featured in some of DC Thomson’s most legendary titles!

Born in Chichester, Sussex, Ferg Handley attended the Cartoon Art Trust in London, where he studied comics and after graduating began producing scripts for Commando, soon becoming one of their most prolific scripters. Handley also wrote for other DC Thomson publications, including Wendy, The Dandy, WWE Kids and Football Picture Library. Outside of DC Thomson, Handley also scripted runs on GI Joe and ThunderCats for Panini.

Handley, now based in Edinburgh, has written scripts for Panini’s Marvel UK line, including the titles Marvel Heroes and Spectacular Spider-Man, as well as articles for Eaglemoss’ Marvel Fact Files, comic strip‑style animations for the Imperial War Museum and the BBC (Bitesize). He also created the series ‘Legion Zero’ which debuted in Aces Weekly.

Mario Adalberto Morhain was born on the 31st March 1945. He studied at the prestigious "Escuela Panamericana de Arte" in the 1960s, which kickstarted his career in late 1960s and early 1970s. He began collaborating on various publications, including MO-PA – SA, based on popular TV series, such as Kung Fu, Captain Escarlata, The Streets of San Francisco, Wonder Woman Fox, Serpico, the Nuclear Man, Starsky & Hutch and the Planet of the Apes, as well as in the magazine Más Allá del Terror and Supervolador, from the same publisher.

The 1980s were a busy time for Morhain, where among other work, he drew “Martín Galac” for Diario Popular (1980), Nico Cruz, and the series “Raul Dantés Investigador Privado” for Operación Ja-Ja (1981). He also worked with Oswal and Carlos Meglia on “El Eternauta”, by Record Editorial, whose comics were also published in Italy. Most notably during this time however, was his work on "April 2", published by El Litoral of Santa Fe Santafecino, and scripted by his own brother, George. 

Morhain began drawing interior artwork for Commando in 2000, and worked on the title until his sad passing in 2022.

Keith Burns is an award‑winning aviation artist and commercial illustrator. He has illustrated comics for almost two decades, mostly with Garth Ennis, specialising in World War Two aviation. In 2015, he won the Messier Dowty award for best acrylic painting in show and in 2016, he was made a full member of the Guild, had his first solo exhibition at the RAF Club in London and won Aviation Painting of the Year. Burns recently finished illustrating The Second World: War Illustrated written by James Holland, which took five years to produce 288 illustrations.

Burns’ career at Commando began in 2019 with the cover to his first issue, No. 5209 Avenger. Since then, Burns has become a regular contributor of Commando covers and a fan‑favourite artist.