The four latest Commandos for this fortnight have already hit the stores – and they have some interesting issues up for sale - check out these great little "light reading" and should be in stores in your news agents now..
June 2012 Commando releases
…was British
Intelligence’s top secret programme for the breaking of messages sent by
Germany’s Enigma machine. It was imperative that the enemy did not discover
that the Allies had succeeded, or the cyphers would be changed and the war perhaps
lost.
In 1943 Captain Bob Draper and Lieutenant
Andy Coates of the LRDG unexpectedly found themselves caught up in their own
Operation Ultra. It was a deadly game of espionage and counter-espionage with
all manner of double-crosses and treachery. This wasn’t just danger…it was
ultra danger.
Story: Alan
Hebden
Art:
Rezzonico
Cover: Janek
Matysiak
Paul Daly was a Spitfire pilot — a pretty
good one as the DFC ribbon he wore attested. But being a fighter pilot isn’t
like being, say, an accountant. No, it’s a risky business and all too soon a
Luftwaffe shell put paid to his flying when it smashed into his knee
Though part of him was glad to be out of
danger, another part longed to get back in a cockpit once more, though he
didn’t think he’d have to travel to Russia to do it.
Story: Mac
Macdonald
Art: Carlos
Pino
Cover:
Carlos Pino
Johnny
Grogan could do anything with that bulldozer of his. Build roads, clear
forests, dig canals…he’d even make it sit up and beg if you asked him to. Then came the day when he had to do
something new with it, the day he had to turn it into a tank!
It was the Italian Army’s fault — they
should never have tried to get tough with a guy like Johnny Grogan. For they
found they had a new war on their hands — Grogan’s war!
Introduction
by Calum Laird, Commando Editor
Here we have
three members of the first Commando team to take to the field, playing their
‘A’ game, despite the hideous pun in the title willed on it by some editor or
other. Eric Hebden’s tale takes you to the outer fringes of the Second World
War to find a nicely-off-the-wall situation. This is something Commando has
often done over the tears, avoiding the obvious, seeking the novel.
With Gordon Livingstone settled into his
stride as a Commando illustrator par excellence and Ken Barr’s stonking cover
setting the right note this one is solid gold from start to finish. I think I
might read it again.
Diggers Die
Hard originally Commando No39 (October 1962)
Story: Eric
Hebden
Art: Gordon
Livingstone
Cover: Ken
Barr
For fighter
pilot David Morgan it was the proudest moment of his life when he was posted to
the unit known as “Brigand Squadron”. They were famous for their brave deeds,
and their motto was “Never run, never yield.”
But he was in for a nasty shock when he
arrived. These men weren’t fierce brigands, they were frightened sheep!
Introduction
by Scott Montgomery, Commando Deputy Editor
That
wonderful Spitfire cover is by Commando legend Ian Kennedy, of course. Many
people wonder how he goes about his craft, and I hope he won’t mind me sharing
a little insight here. Just how does the artist manage to make each aircraft
look so dynamic? Well, it’s simple really. Every time Ian sits down at his
drawing board he imagines that he’s actually in the cockpit himself — ensuring
that every picture is unique. You see, Ian had always wanted to be a pilot…but
selfishly, we’re glad that Mr Kennedy ended up drawing planes instead of flying
them!
Brigand
Squadron, originally Commando No 2073 (March 1987)
Story: Ian
Clark
Art: Terry
Patrick
Cover: Ian
Kennedy
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May 28th 2012 Commando releases
The Convict Commandos
— Jelly Jakes, Titch Mooney, Smiler Dawson — and their commander Guy Tenby had
been given another job. This time they were to hunt down Mussolini in his
hide-out. Easier said than done when they weren’t the only ones doing the same.
Guy, as usual, had a plan…but it wasn’t
supposed to include Jelly hanging from the undercarriage of an airborne
Fieseler Storch!
Story: Alan Hebden
Art: Manuel Benet
Cover: Manuel Benet
The war in the Far
East was almost over. Japan’s armed forces had been ground down and the country
was on its knees. The Japanese hadn’t given in though, they hoped
super-fighters like the Kyushu Shinden — Magnificent Lightning — could stem the
flow of US bombers ravaging their country.
They could never have guessed that the
Shinden’s finest moment would come protecting the very enemies it had been
designed to destroy.
Story: Alan Hebden
Art: John Ridgway
Cover: John Ridgway
Out of the night sky
he came – a man with no mercy in his heart and a blazing tommy-gun in his
hands, whose one ambition was to wreak destruction on all things Nazi. He
became the Scarlet Pimpernel of German-occupied Europe.
Introduction by Calum
Laird, Commando Editor
Women in Commando are
a rare sighting but, like buses, when they do turn up there’s more than one. I
counted at least three in here, and a bit of romance.
Don’t think that it means that Stainton’s
story isn’t an all guns blazing story as it is, running from the beaches of
Dunkirk to a full-on Commando raid in France, and with barely time to reload
along the way. His touch means that the espionage, beautifully pointed up by
Ken Barr’s dramatic night drop cover, manages to be action-packed, not
tension-filled.
Add to that Alonso’s 100mph inside art and
you have a solid gold winner. Makes you proud to be part of the Commando Team…
Night Raider
originally Commando No35 (April 1962)
Story: Stainton
Art: Alonso
Cover: Ken Barr
The Second Battalion,
Daleshire Light Infantry, had something to be proud of — their very own “battle
flag”, a standard given to them after their heroic triumph over Napoleon’s
finest troops. Carried into action, it would inspire the men to further brave
deeds.
So when one young officer’s courage failed
him and the flag was captured, the thought of it in enemy hands made him vow to
keep it safe — even after his death!
Introduction by Scott
Montgomery, Commando Deputy Editor
Gritty action is
undoubtedly what Commando does best. However, over the decades there have also
been comedies, capers, historical epics, science-fiction and…ghost stories.
Battle Flag is a good example of the latter. After a detailed framing sequence,
veteran writer Cyril Walker cleverly weaves a tale with an eerie thread that
runs throughout but does not overwhelm the action and adventure. Interestingly,
the working title for this story was “The Flintshire Phantom”. That’s a good
one and, had it been pitched today, I’m sure that it would have been used!
Enjoy.
Battle Flag,
originally Commando No 2063 (February 1987) Commando 4502
Story: Cyril G. Walker
Art: Cecil Rigby
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May 2012 Commando releases
Here
is the low-down on the Commandos for early may, on sale . Alan Hebden’s
Convict Commandos make a return for the first of two adventures — the second is
out in a fortnight — while a Soviet tank does its best to burst out of one of
our covers courtesy of Janek Matysiak’s pen. Meanwhile, we’ve been scurrying
around in the archives for another pair of dusty but classic…well, classics. We’ll
think you’ll like ‘em.
In action once again,
the Convict Commandos — “Jelly” Jakes, “Titch” Mooney, “Smiler” Dawson and Guy
Tenby — undertake their most dangerous mission yet.
As if ruthless Nazis and silent stranglers
weren’t hazardous enough, even the skies are loaded with death…and it’s raining
down on them!
Story Alan Hebden
Art Manuel Benet
Cover Manuel Benet
In 1956 the Russians
invaded neighbouring Hungary to quell a popular uprising. The newly-operational
T54 tank — successor to the wartime T34 — was used by them to devastating
effect in the campaign.
When British Intelligence learned that
Hungarian rebels had captured a fully operational T54, a team were sent to
recover the mighty machine’s design secrets.
But with Hungarian government troops and the
Russian Army on their trail, this mission was going to be no walk in the park!
Story Alan Hebden
Art Morahin
Cover Janek Matysiak
Night after night the
tunnel leading from the German prison camp grew longer. Day by day the hope of
escape increased.
Then came THE NIGHT…and only one prisoner
knew that German fingers were ready to press machine gun triggers; that cold
Nazi eyes peered through the gun sights…WAITING.
Introduction by Calum
Laird, Commando Editor
This is well-crafted
tale and no mistake. Sort of “Ice Cold In Alex” meets “The Great Escape” to use
a film comparison. The author manages to make what could be a tedious trek across
the desert riveting by introducing a…well, let’s just say a wild card to stop
spoiling it. It’s skilfully done and works really well.
The cover is a magnificent piece of work —
you could almost see it as a film poster, too. There’s menace and fear in that
face rendered in blues and blacks.
The inside art holds up its end well, lots
of dark half-shadows matching the tension of the tale and plenty of movement
when the action gets going.
Well worth another airing 50 years on.
BreakOut!, originally
Commando No 41 (October 1962)
Story Henderson
Art Ortiz
Cover Ken Barr
With the Japanese war
machine making swift advances through Java every day, it was vital that the
country’s gold reserves were moved to safety. Captain Jan Ruiter was assigned
this task. All he had to do was escort a train carrying the gold to the coast.
An easy enough job, you might think. But not when the troops under your command
are a bunch of rookies and a group of battle-hardened Japanese veterans are hot
on your trail!
Introduction by Scott
Montgomery, Deputy Editor
Every Commando story
needs a good hero — so more than one must be even better. A mix of characters —
and the ensuing conflict as they clash — is essential. Writer Alan Hebden is a
master of making memorable characters. At first glance, the hero of Gold Train
is Captain Jan Ruiter, tasked with transporting gold reserves to safety.
However, for me, Aussie train driver Hogey Dubbs — and even his clanking, trusty
steam engine “Esmeralda” is like a character — steals the show. Now let’s find
out if they can stop the villains from stealing their gold!
Gold Train, originally
Commando No 2102 (July 1987)
Story Alan Hebden
Art Terry Patrick
Cover Jeff Bevan
The big
news for this four is that for the first time in Commando’s 51-year history, a
significant change has been made to its final appearance. We have changed from
thicker, whiter paper for our story pages and increased the weight and rigidity
of the cover for better quality and durability. This has resulted in a thicker
weightier Commando which we feel (and initial feedback reinforces) better suits
a product of Commando’s quality.
We hope
that our fans will like the change. They can let us know what they think
through our Facebook page.
You can still get your Commando
comics from your local newsagent and also on line at their Web-store -
either delivered to your door or electronically!
Click the banner below to see for yourself.
May 2012 Commando releases
It takes nerve
and skill to hold a bucking, weaving Sea King in position over a casualty while
one of your crew-mates is winched down to try to pluck him to safety. Lieutenant
Jamie Price had both these qualities which helped make his crew one of the best
in the business.
Yet his brother Owen, a Sea Harrier pilot,
ranked him only as a glorified bus driver, never missing a chance to sneer.
He never dreamt that he’d have to trust his
life to that bus driver in the hostile skies over the Falklands Islands.
Story: Steve
Taylor
Art: Keith Page
Cover: Keith Page
The second in our
mini-series of Falklands tales 30 years on.
So how did it
come to pass that Warrant Officer Greg Blake was about to take on a menacing
German Zeppelin during the First World War, armed with only a Martini-Henry
rifle?
It’s a thrilling tale — one which stretches
back to the Boer War, and tells of a bitter blood feud that spanned a
generation…
Story: Mac MacDonald
Art: Vila
Cover: Ian
Kennedy
Like great birds
of prey the gliders swoop into enemy territory, defying the might of the
Luftwaffe and the savage assault of the flak batteries.
Once on the ground their bellies open to
spill out bands of fighting men who strike terror into German hearts — the
famous airborne Commandos. They give no mercy — and ask none, these men who
have been taught to kill…
Introduction by
Calum Laird, Editor
Spoiler alert! In
1962, when this gold nugget was first unearthed, the plot device of the trainee
who couldn’t quite cut it was new to Commando. We’ve used it many times since,
because it’s still an excellent premise for a story. Eric Hebden makes fine use
of it here.
The inside art by Bonato has a clean, clear
line to help the story-telling. He’s sparing in his backgrounds, keeping the
emphasis where it should be, on the characters who are taking the fight to the
enemy on his own ground.
You can’t fault Ken Barr’s cover composition
or execution for drama and colour — no wonder the original title was so small,
no-one wanted to cover any of it up.
Glider Pilot
originally Commando No 32 (April 1962)
Story: Eric
Hebden
Art: Bonato
Cover: Ken Barr
Commando No 4494 — Don’t
Give Up!
As a Japanese
dive-bomber roared in to destroy their trucks, a group of British soldiers
scattered for cover. Every man knew they now faced a long trek through the
Burmese jungle, trying desperately to stay ahead of the enemy advance.
It wouldn’t be easy, buy they must never
give up.
Introduction by Scott
Montgomery, Deputy Editor
Commando stories
are fictional, of course. However, our tales do not shy away from the grimness
of war, while still providing solid action yarns.
As a young Commando reader — many years ago
— I always found jungle stories to be especially hard-hitting. I could just
imagine being immersed in that all-encompassing, claustrophobic atmosphere,
where the enemy could strike out of nowhere at any time…
This story reflects all of the above, as a
motley crew of heroes — including one man who, in reality, isn’t particularly
heroic — strive against the odds to blow up a bridge while all the time
ensuring that they “Don’t Give Up!”
Don’t Give Up!,
originally Commando No 2105 (April 1987)
Story: R.A.
Montague
Art: Cecil Rigby
Cover: Ian
Kennedy
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either delivered to your door or electronically!
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April 2012 Commando releases
Commando No 4487 - Mission to Patagonia
November
1982, a British Geological Survey team in the Antarctic make an extraordinary
find — a downed Vulcan bomber. News of this amazing discovery brings Lieutenant
Nick Tarrant of the SAS to the scene. There soon emerges the story of a
clandestine operation that took place during the height of the Falklands War.
The top secret tale of the…
Mission
To Patagonia
Story:
Alan Hebden
Art:
Benet
Cover:
Benet
The first of a pair of books with a Falklands theme to
mark 30 years since the Task Force sailed to liberate the islands in the South
Atlantic.
Commando No 4488 - Triple Whammy!
Remember the antics of Hitler and
Monty…? Or to give them their proper names, Fuhrer and Field-Marshal lookalikes
Max Singer and Sid O’Brien. Well, they’re back for another madcap
(mis)adventure– this time involving the SS, Soviets, Scotsmen and even Scousers
in South America. Don’t worry it’ll all make sense…probably.
Our death-defying doubles are in triple the danger and triple the trouble.
But will this be their finest hour, or their final fling…?
Story:
Mac MacDonald
Art:
Carlos Pino
Cover:
Carlos Pino
Commando 4489 — The Gold
Collection - Gun Fury
Red
is the colour of courage. Like the ribbon of the Victoria Cross; like the blood
that heroes spill; like the famous Red Beret of the Parachute Regiment, whose
amazing story this is.
Meet in these pages Cobber Kane, tough,
wise-cracking Australian; Sergeant. Jim Parker, steady as a rock; “Blood ‘n’
Guts” Sanders, the hard-bitten RSM, whose one aim in battle was a VC to pin
next to his MM…the kind of heroes who have made the Red Beret the badge of
courage it is.
Introduction
by Calum Laird, Commando Editor
Ken
Barr’s cover sets your expectations for this story. The single figure, gun in
hand, grenades at the ready and with a thick black outline to throw the image
out, lets you know this is going to be an all-action story. If you were in any
doubt, though, the first page, by Ortiz, with its dramatic title lettering
underlines the cover’s promise.
The story, penned by Elliot, doesn’t
disappoint — any story where members of the Parachute Regiment capture and take
over a Tiger tank has to be a winner.
And yet, it doesn’t shy away from war’s
darker side. In this story good men die, friends are lost, as conflict takes
its toll. And that’s maybe not what you would expect.
Gun
Fury, originally Commando No 24 (May 1962)
Story:
Elliot
Art:
Ortiz
Cover:
Ken Barr
Commando 4490 — The
Silver Collection - Full Speed Ahead!
The
Channel war against the German E-boats was a tough one and Andy Simpson
relished the task. From the chaos of Dunkirk to the Battle of Britain he was in
the thick of the action. But he had an even more difficult problem ahead of him
— to admit he could make mistakes.
Introduction
by Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor
This
is a traditional sea story, which Commando has always done well. In the
aftermath of Dunkirk, Lieutenant-Commander Andy Simpson, a motor torpedo boat
skipper who has to make a split-second decision — and may well have made the
wrong one — must face up to what he has done, however difficult this may be.
Artist Keith Shone’s thick black lines are
reminiscent of the style of our Spanish veterans, like Manuel Benet, for
example. While Jeff Bevan proves once again that he was king of the sea covers —
with those pale, watery colours offset by a striking explosion.
Full
Speed Ahead!, originally Commando No 2077 (April 1987)
Story:
Malcolm McDevitt
Art:
Keith Shone
Cover:
Jeff Bevan
"Commando: War Stories in Pictures" was
launched on 6 June 1961 and is still going strong today. Now - until
the end of April you can see the first issues and a lot of the history
of the comic at the National Army Museum of all places!
You can still get your Commando
comics from your local newsagent and also on line at their Web-store -
either delivered to your door or electronically! (wow it is the future)
Click the banner below to see for yourself.
March 2012 Commando releases
Commando No 4483 - The Fighting Penguins
The
RAF Regiment was formed during the Second World War. Its purpose…to defend
airfields in the event of attack from the air or from ground forces. Some
people scoffed at them — “Airmen who can’t fly?” they said, “They’re like
penguins!”
Well, these airmen might not fly, but by
jingo they could fight!
Introduction
by Calum Laird, Commando Editor
Twice
a year we throw open our vaults and allow our readers, to choose a pair of
stories they remember from times gone by which they reckon need another airing.
For some reason, we’ve had a lot of requests from our friends in the RAF
Regiment this year…sorry about the title, folks.
Monty was great script-writer. All the "T"s
would be crossed and the Is dotted, the very essence of a professional author.
He also worked for the Ambulance Service in Norfolk, no doubt just as
professionally. If you were going to have an accident there, during his shift
would be as good a time as any.
What can you say about the two artists who
realised Monty’s script? Without them Commando would not be what it is. Without
them boys would not have had art to copy on to the covers of school jotters.
Without them there would have been no hilarious visitations to the Commando
Office every week.
I bet you’re all glad Commando wasn’t
without them. I know I am.
If you’d like to see a story again, let us
know and we’ll put it into the queue for September.
The
Fighting Penguins, originally Commando No 1368 (November 1979), re-issued as No
2692 (September 1993)
Story R A “Monty” Montague
Art Gordon Livingstone
Cover Ian Kennedy
Commando
No 4484 - The
Cage
For
over five hundred years the iron cage had hung there, swinging grimly outside
the castle wall. No one knew how many wretches had suffered and died over the
centuries, imprisoned by those stark, rusting bars.
Now it held a strange assortment of
prisoners — a British sergeant, a German army officer and two German soldiers.
A strange assortment yes — but they all had one thing in common. They were all
to be shot at dawn…
Introduction
by Calum Laird, Commando Editor
As
I said, twice a year we throw open our archives to allow our readers another
chance to read a well-remembered story. This is the second one of the pair that
they asked for and as usual, it doesn’t disappoint.
Monty’s characteristically structured story
revolves around hatred of an enemy and how, if it takes over, there can only be
one outcome.
Galindo, who drew 26 stories for Commando,
displays a secure hand — especially when tackling rain and darkness, two
notoriously difficult subjects for a comic artist.
Penalva’s cover is exactly what you would
expect from a master of his craft — you can hear the crack of thunder
accompanying the lightning and feel the rain on your face.
If you’d like to see a story again, let us
know and we’ll put it into the queue for September.
The
Cage originally Commando No 758 (July 1973), re-issued as No 1955 (January
1986)
Story R A “Monty” Montague
Art Galindo
Cover Jordi Penalva
Commando
No 4485 - The
Death Dealers
If
you’ve already met…TOM, DICK and HARRY, you’ll know that when they’re around
there’s plenty of action and trouble, plenty of grief — usually for Nazi
Germany,
If you haven’t, the pleasure’s all yours.
But hang on to your hat, don’t relax your
trigger finger for a second…for they’re a rough, tough trio. Fast-moving,
hard-hitting, they give no quarter and expect none – one of the reasons Germans
call them…
Introduction
by Calum Laird, Commando Editor
This
Gold Collection story hasn’t seen the light of day since 1962 so it’s a rare
treat.
Tom, Dick and Harry were Commando’s first
recurring characters, having first appeared in Closer Than Brothers , No 19
(November 1961). Then they were in the jungle, here they are on Crete and given
form by Cecil Rigby who would draw for Commando for nearly 40 years. Heavy and
dramatic use black ink is a trade mark of his pages.
Eric Hebden hands our heroes a special
mission, his fiction populated by fanatic enemies and double-dealing rogues.
The trio are no supermen, though, and come unstuck…but I’d better not give away
the story.
Ken Barr’s cover comes at you with a tidal
wave of action, and a Nazi dagger thrown in for good measure.
The
Death Dealers, originally Commando No 19 (March 1962)
Story Eric Hebden
Art Cecil Rigby
Cover Ken Barr
Commando
No 4486 - War
In The Snow
When
a Wellington bomber with a very special cargo on board crashed in Norway,
things were bad enough, but to make matters worse the Nazis had found out about
it. So the race was on to reach the plane, with both the Germans and British
speeding towards the crash site. On one side, a special snowmobile. On the
other, a team of huskies!
Introduction to the Silver Collection story by
Scott Montgomery, Commando Deputy Editor
In hindsight, the middle of summer — July
1987 — may have seemed like an odd time to publish this gripping, but decidedly
wintry-looking tale. But perhaps not, as Commando has often been ideal summer
holiday reading, whether on a sunny beach or stuck inside a caravan with rain
bouncing off the windows (yes, I am talking from experience).
Nevertheless, Denis McLoughlin’s icy art is spectacular here. Look at
the page opposite: those snowflakes almost come out of the page and make you
shiver.
Keith Walker’s dynamic representation of a German snowmobile is also
brilliant. Keith was a staff artist — now enjoying his retirement — who could find
himself working on the Bunty or the Beano…and everything in between.
Finally, a typically exciting script from Alan Hebden, which contains
the longest single word I’ve ever seen printed in Commando! (Hint: It’s on page
22)
War In the Snow, originally Commando No 2104
(July 1987)
STORY
ALAN HEBDEN
ART
DENIS MCLOUGHLIN
COVER
KEITH WALKER
"Commando: War Stories in Pictures" was launched on 6 June 1961 and is still going strong today. Now - until the end of April you can see the first issues and a lot of the history of the comic at the National Army Museum of all places!
You can still get your Commando comics from your local newsagent and also on line at their Web-store - either delivered to your door or electronically! (wow it is the future) Click the banner below to see for yourself.
You can still get your Commando comics from your local newsagent and also on line at their Web-store - either delivered to your door or electronically! (wow it is the future) Click the banner below to see for yourself.