Four new issues of Commando (Issues 4775-4778) are on sale today from DC Thomson, on sale in all good newsagents and various digital platforms, including Comixology, Readly and for iPad, iPhone and Kindle.

The releases include an issue drawn by Charlotte Corday creator Keith Page written by Ferg Handley and another sports a fine cover from the late Phil Gascoine, well known for his work at Marvel UK in the 1990s.

Commando No 4775 – “Eagles, Arise!”
Story: Ferg Handley Art: Keith Page Cover: Keith Page
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/15th-january-2015-collection?issue=4775

England, after 1066, was a violent place. As William of Normandy tightened his grip on the English throne, it was a time of war and great unrest.

The incoming Norman forces ruled with an iron fist. One especially cruel member of the new ruling class was Roland of Alain — who aimed to crush any resistance from those he regarded as peasant upstarts.

One such “upstart” was Carrick. He and his band of rebels were determined to put up a fight against their oppressors. A fight to the death, if necessary…

Commando No 4776 – Sea Fury
Originally Commando No 168 (June 1965), re-issued as No 805 (January 1974)
Story: Roger Clegg Art: Gordon Livingstone Cover: Ken Barr
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/15th-january-2015-collection?issue=4776

Spray lashed the cockpit screen, blinding the big pilot as he fought the bucking controls to belly-land the crippled Albacore in the choppy sea. Once, twice, she bounced before she hit the icy water at terrifying speed.

This was the second time young “Gusty” Bellows of the Fleet Air Arm had come off second-best to Kapitan Kreuzmann of the German Navy — the ruthless Kreuzmann, with his submarine mother-ship, “Seewolf”, bristling with guns, and his pack of U-boats. But Gusty was determined that next time it would be different — if there was a next time…

“It’s a difficult thing to do, to write a successful war comic based on ships,” notes Calum Laird, Commando Editor. “Ask Pat Mills — creator of ‘Charley’s War’ — he’ll tell you. What Roger Clegg did here was to throw in some aircraft, add a man wracked with guilt and paint a very effective villain. All these lift it above the waves trying to suck it under.

“With a menace-laden Ken Barr cover and some very atmospheric art by the King Of Zip-A-Tone, Gordon Livingstone, who almost has you feeling the icy water round your ankles, it the classic Commando formula — believable characters struggling against the odds… and themselves.

Commando No 4777 – Sky Warriors
Story: Alan Hebden Art: Jaume Forns Cover: Ian Kennedy
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/15th-january-2015-collection?issue=4777

Towards the end of the Second World War, the Balkan Air Force operated over Greece and Yugoslavia, supplying the Partisans and fighting Axis air power. Made up of men and aircraft of many different nationalities, it was an uneasy alliance at the best of times. Former enemies were expected to put aside their differences and work together.

The tensions looked to have come to a head when Polish fliers clashed with a new-arrived Russian unit but that was just the start.

Commando No 4778 – Death On The Wind
Originally Commando No 2433 (December 1990)
Story: Alan Hemus Art: Denis McLoughlin Cover: Phil Gascoine
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/15th-january-2015-collection?issue=4778

Staff-Sergeant Harry Sale of the Special Air Service had fought his way out of more tight corners than he cared to remember. Now he was across in the USA, away from the bullets and the bombs, passing on his specialised knowledge to squads of hand-picked Yanks.

It was supposed to be a hard-earned break from the savage war in Europe but, before Harry could begin to relax even a little, a silent and deadly new weapon was drifting ever closer to his training area…

“Okay, a story about a tough SAS Sergeant — I like it already,” enthuses Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor of Commando. “Except he’s swapped the savage war in Europe for a training exercise in Oregon, USA? Oh, righto…

“Does this premise sound slightly underwhelming? It briefly crossed my mind but I’m glad to admit I was completely wrong. In fact, Death On The Wind is Commando at its most inventive — turning a plausible idea on its head and heading off on a taut, gripping adventure where hunter becomes hunted (and hunter once again!).

“We’re lucky, then, that we might actually judge the book by its wonderful, moody cover — painted by the late, great Phil Gascoine.”

• There are more details of Commando on the official Commando website, the Commando Facebook page

• Commando Collections: Our Checklist

Don’t Miss Out on our Exclusive Commando Subscription Offer!

If you’re looking for a gift for a British comics fan, downthetubes has an EXCLUSIVE discount on a subscription to DC Thomson’s Commando comic, simply by ordering through the DC Thomson Online Shop using our special discount code.

• Follow this dedicated link to DC Thomson’s Commando subscription page

If you follow the link above, the discount is automatically applied – you do NOT need to enter the old DTT “COMDT” promotional code. Ignore the discount field on the check out page, too.

• More information on our dedicated Commando Subscription Offer Page

Commando Digital Editions

• Available on the App Store for Apple devices
• Available on Comixology
• Available on Readly
• Android App on Google Play
• Available on Kindle
• Available as browser edition

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, downthetubes Comics News

Tags: Alan Hebden, Alan Hemus, Commando, DC Thomson, Denis McLoughlin, Ferg Handley, Gordon Livingstone, Ian Kennedy, Jaume Forns, Keith Page, Ken Barr, Phil Gascoine, Roger Clegg, War Comics