On Sale Today: Ramsey’s Raiders Return to Commando!

Commando 4833

Here’s our regular rundown of the latest issues of DC Thomson’s war digest, Commando, on sale now in all good newsagents (and some evil ones), and available on a wide variety of digital platforms. Don’t miss out on our exclusive subscriber offer! Details below.

This week sees the release of an all-new “Ramsey’s Raiders” story, one of the few sets of Commando characters to make return appearances. This time out they’re romping through the Sahara and getting themselves into all sorts of trouble.

The first “Ramsey’s Raiders” story was published back in October 2005, an unconventional group of heroes first thought up by former editor George Low, who have fought their way through some 20 adventures in the title, each scripted by Ferg Handley, with the art duties split between Keith Page, artist on the first Raiders instalment, and who’s drawn this new story; and Mike White, with covers  by legendary comics’ artist and Commando cover maestro, Ian Kennedy.

Commando No. 4831 – Flight Of The FuriesCommando No. 4831 – Flight Of The Furies
Story: Steve Coombs Art: Jaume Forns Cover: Ian Kennedy
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/30th-july-2015-collection?issue=4831

In 1939, confident young Pilot Officer Duncan Marlow fell foul of an obnoxious C.O. and was posted out of the way to Griffin Island — a small garrison off Africa’s West Coast.

Discipline was lax and the Governor was untrustworthy. He was on friendly terms with the Germans who were stationed nearby, even though War between both countries was all but inevitable. What was going on…?

Soon Duncan, aided by a down-at-heel fellow pilot, found himself fighting the enemy in old Fury bi-planes. He was determined to strike back!

Commando No. 4832 – Terror Train

Commando No. 4832 – Terror Train
Originally Commando No 209 (April 1966), re-issued as no 851 (July 1974)
Story: Redbridge Art: Martin Cover: Lopez Espi
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/30th-july-2015-collection?issue=4832

Not one of the men waiting in the darkness of that tunnel was unafraid. Each felt the fluttering in the stomach, the trembling of the hands that meant stark fear had taken over.

Were these a pack of cowards, then?

No. Every man present was a hero, brave and full of fight. Picked men — British Commandos and the cream of the French Resistance, the Maquis.

But they were waiting for a train with a deadly cargo, and each man knew that in a few seconds he might have an appointment with death!

“It’s hard to believe that this classic Commando book hails from nearly half a century ago,” notes Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor of this re-presneted story. “Somehow it almost seems timeless – practically like a blueprint for everything that these ‘War Stories In Pictures’ were, and still are, all about.

“It’s beautifully illustrated, with a fantastically pulpy cover, and features great characters, thrills and action that never lets up. ‘Terror Train’ keeps on track, never going off the rails, right until the final word –”

That’s enough train puns – Ed

Commando No. 4833 – The Desert Duel
Story: Ferg Handley Art: Keith Page Cover: Ian Kennedy
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/30th-july-2015-collection?issue=4833

Captain Jimmy Ramsey and his maverick Special Raiding Force were used to doing their own thing — dangerous hit-and-run raids deep behind enemy lines.

So, during the battle of El Alamein in autumn 1942, when the Raiders were teamed with a Long Range Desert Group unit to capture an isolated German airfield, tensions mounted between the tough, hard-headed factions. Both the SRF and LRDG felt they could do the job better on their own.

They would have to stop clashing long enough to fight the real enemy!

Commando No. 4834 – The Man Who Was Afraid

Commando No. 4834 – The Man Who Was Afraid
Originally Commando No 1152 (August 1977), re-issued as No 2476 (June 1991)
Story: Mclean Art: Gordon Livingstone Cover: Ian Kennedy
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/30th-july-2015-collection?issue=4834

What makes a good fighter pilot? It’s mostly skill, and Charles Crombie had plenty of that. But it isn’t only skill — you also need to be able to fly through a hail of bullets and flak threatening to hack you out of the sky at any minute. And that was what Charles was afraid of.

Then he took to wearing an old coin around his neck. It was his lucky charm. As long as he had it with him, he knew no fear.

As long as he had it with him…

“You might be interested to know that the original working title for this story was ‘The Courage Is Inside’,” says Scott of this tale. “Obviously, I wasn’t in the Commando office in 1977 when the script came in (I was aged five at the time). But I’m guessing that one of the reasons it wasn’t used is that although appropriate to the subject matter, it somehow just doesn’t seem ‘Commando-ish’ enough to go in front of Ian Kennedy’s dynamic cover montage.

“The story’s a good one – even though it features the fairly well-used plot device of a lucky charm – and there’s a main character that we’re genuinely rooting for. And it is all brilliantly illustrated, as usual, by Gordon Livingstone.”

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

• Commando Collections: Our Checklist

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