PART TWO OF TORNADO COVER GALLERY...

Copyright REBELLION

Here you are, peeps - part two of our superb TORNADO cover gallery, IPC's weekly comic from 1979 that only lasted for a mere 22 issues before being merged into 2000 A.D.  The only strips to carry over into the combined comic were The MIND Of WOLFIE SMITH, BLACKHAWK, and one-page humour strip CAPTAIN KLEP.  My favourite strip was VICTOR DRAGO, based very much on SEXTON BLAKE, but the artwork was nicely atmospheric.  Did you have a favourite character in this short-lived comic, readers?  Then tell all in the comments section.   

The ed slipped up here - it's 'baloney', not 'boloney'

'Special news inside for all our readers!' was Tornado's
version of the classic 'Great news inside, chums!' line

And below is an ad from another IPC comic, heralding the forthcoming release of the first issue of Tornado in 1979.

TORNADO COVER GALLERY - PART ONE...

Copyright REBELLION

On March 31st 1979, IPC Magazines launched a new (undated - for the first issue anyway) weekly comic upon the waiting world.  I doubt the world was actually waiting for yet another comic, but that's what it got, it the form of TORNADO.  The strange thing is, it only lasted 22 issues, making it a hat trick for IPC, as two previous periodicals at the start of the '70s - THUNDER and JET - had each likewise lasted only 22 issues.  What was it about the number 22 that seemingly sounded the 'death knell' for any IPC publication that wasn't doing too well?  Was it something to do with how long the sales figures took to come in before deciding on a comic's fate?  If you know the answer, then share it with the rest of us and don't be selfish.

Tornado had a real live superhero in the form of artist DAVE GIBBONS, but even his much-vaunted might couldn't save the paper from cancellation ('great news inside, chums'), and it was merged with 2000 A.D. #127 on August 18th 1979.  Apparently, the comic was created to use up strips originally commissioned for STARLORD and ACTION, but had the comic proven a success, no doubt it would've continued indefinitely (or at least until sales started to slip).  I'll not bother giving you a rundown of the strips contained within the comic, as you can see most of them in the magnificent cover gallery I've so generously laid on for your edification and entertainment below.

Alas, poor Tornado - you didn't even manage to whip up a small breeze, but here we are, 38 years later, paying tribute to your memory.  Don't forget to come back for part two, Criv-ite chums - coming soon.  (That's 'soon' as I can be bothered, to be precise.)  Feel free to share any memories you have of this mag with the rest of us, frantic ones.

  

Below, the free gifts given away with the first two issues.  Can't remember where the third gift is, or even what it was, and the ish is now tucked safely back in its box in a cupboard - so I ain't emptying it again to find out.  Anyone out there know?  Was it the Team Tornado Pass, or did that come with the wallet?