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Commando Comic covers painted by Ken Barr
Ken Barr was kind enough to spend a little time with us recently and identify which of the early Commando comic covers featured his artwork.
There are a few issues on which more research is needed, but this is the list so far.
Please note that this page is for information purposes only.
Although most of the later issues will be for sale on the website on other pages, the early issues are not available for sale at the moment.
Ken Barr is famous for the cover artwork that he produced for the now classic "Commando Comic" published by D.C. Thomson publications in the U.K. For many people the heroic action figures, detailed equipment, and detailed aircraft covers painted by Ken Barr on many of the early, and now classic covers helped set the visual cover style for this long running comic.
The covers below (and on the other Commando comic pages) illustrate most of the covers painted by Ken Barr for Commanco comic.
Commando comic is by far the longest running comic of its genre in the UK. First published in 1961, Commando comic has now had over 4,000 published issues and will celebrate 50 years of continuous publication in a few more years.
After a period of nearly 40 years, Ken Barr recently returned to Commando comic to paint another of his classic covers in issue 4138
Unfortunately Ken Barr does not own any of these early original covers and we are unable to offer them for sale on this website. Ownership of the original covers is with the publishers (we assume that they still have them in store). The non return of original artwork was standard industry practice at the time these original covers were painted and submitted. This does of course mean that the chance to own that original piece of Commando comic painted cover history by Ken Barr is not at the moment a commerical option to collectors in the current marketplace.
Ken Barr is currently painting a new and original series of works for publication as high quality art prints. This series of prints will be based on the themes of great British regiments and great British battle encounters. This first of these prints limited to an edition of 275 signed and numbered copies is called "Para Sarg" and is available to purchase now from this website. Although these prints do feature classic combat images, none of the paintings for prints are from Commando comics.
Commissions for new and original works based on the military themes that Ken Barr is famous for can be submitted to this website for consideration.
| Commando 1 WALK - OR DIE! 1961 Reprinted in issue 2523 | |
| Commando 2 THEY CALLED HIM COWARD 1961 Reprinted in issue 2531 | |
| Commando 3 A GUY NEEDS GUTS 1961 Reprinted in issue 2539 | |
| Commando 4 MERCY FOR NONE 1961 Reprinted in issue 2547 | |
| Commando 5 HELLFIRE LANDING 1961 Reprinted in issue 2555 | |
| Commando 6 THEY CAME BY NIGHT 1961 Reprinted in issue 2563 | |
| Commando 7 THE SHIP THEY COULDN'T SINK 1961 Reprinted in issue 2571 | |
| Commando 8 RED RUNS THE RIVER 1961 Reprinted in issue 2579 | |
| Commando 9 JUNGLE FURY 1961 Reprinted in issue 2587 | |
| Commando 10 HUN BAIT 1961 Reprinted in issue 2595 | |
| Commando 11 CLOSER THAN BROTHERS 1961 | |
| Commando 12 THE DESPERATE DAYS 1961 | |
| Commando 14 FLY FAST SHOOT FAST 1961 | |
| Commando 16 KNIFE FOR A NAZI 1962 | |
| Commando 18 LONE HERO 1962 | |
| Commando 19 THE DEATH DEALERS 1962 | |
| Commando 20 DARE-DEVIL D.F.C. 1962 | |
| Commando 22 COLD STEEL 1962 | |
| Commando 23 HILL 13 1962 | |
| Commando 24 GUN FURY 1962 | |
| Commando 25 TAKE NO PRISONERS! 1962 | |
| Commando 28 MASSACRE IN THE SUN 1962 | |
| Commando 29 SKY ACE 1962 | |
| Commando 30 ISLAND OF GHOSTS 1962 | |
| Commando 32 GLIDER PILOT 1962 | |
| Commando 34 DEATH MISSION 1962 | |
| Commando 35 NIGHT RAIDER 1962 | |
| Commando 38 DUEL IN THE DESERT 1962 | |
| Commando 39 DIGGERS DIE HARD 1962 | |
| Commando 44 KILLER SHIP 1962 | |
| Commando 45 FOG OF DOOM 1962 | |
| Commando 46 PHANTOM FIGHTERS 1962 | |
| Commando 49 BLOOD VALLEY 1962 | |
| Commando 50 CLASH OF STEEL 1962 | |
| Commando 52 THE TIGER IS LOOSE 1963 | |
| Commando 54 BEACH-HEAD! 1963 | |
| Commando 57 TARGET FOR TONIGHT 1963 | |
| Commando 58 TATTOOED HERO 1963 | |
| Commando 63 AMBUSH 1963 | |
| Commando 65 MAD SCHULTZ 1963 | |
| Commando 67 HOUNDS OF WAR 1963 | |
| Commando 71 SKY DROP 1963 Reprinted in issue 555 | |
| Commando 72 SNIPER'S ISLAND 1963 Reprinted in issue 539 | |
| Commando 76 JINX PILOT 1963 Reprinted in issue 551 | |
| Commando 78 THE IRON MAN 1963 Reprinted in issue 547 | |
| Commando 79 SPITFIRE ACE 1963 | |
| Commando 82 ZERO FEET 1963 Reprinted in issue 543 | |
| Commando 83 SEND FOR SPITFIRES 1963 Reprinted in issue 595 | |
| Commando 85 FAST GUN 1963 Reprinted in issue 571 |
| Ken Barr Page 1 | Ken Barr Page 2 | Ken Barr Page 3 |
Artwork to covers by Ken Barr. Commando comic is copyright DC Thomson and images used are for information purposes only.
After a period of nearly 40 years Ken Barr recently returned to Commando comics to paint the cover of Commando Comic 4138 |
AVAILABLE NOW "PARA SARG." by KEN BARR (Ken Barr was the ORIGINAL cover artist on Commando comics) £19.99 plus £2.95 p & p (U.K.) A3 SIZE (including border) ART PRINT FORMAT ON HEAVY 350g PRINT STOCK To launch this print range Ken Barr has personally signed the first print run of "PARA SARG". THIS FIRST PRINT RUN IS STRICTLY LIMITED TO 275 INDIVIDUALLY Overseas delivery rates will cost more and vary in price. Plese note that this artwork is from a new painting by Ken Barr. This image has never been printed or used as a Commando comic cover. ORDER NOW TO ENSURE THE LOWEST NUMBERED EDITION AVAILABLE |
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COMMANDO COMICS
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