British War Comic Collections: Commando

Here’s a list of published Commando collections, which we’ll endeavour to update as new books are released. 

Last Updated: 14th December 2018

See also our British Comic Companion – Commando For Action and Adventure

For a great introduction to Commando comics, Commando 50 Years: A Home for Heroes, by former editor George Low, contains six of the best comic stories, 50 of the title’s most iconic covers, profiles of the best artists and writers; and the inside story of Commando HQ at the publishers DC Thomson. It includes a complete Commando comic book listing from Issue 1 to Issue 4404.

Achtung!
Edited by Calum Laird

Features a trio of explosive Brits-versus-Wehrmacht yarns that show the heroic British Tommy at his best. From mountain fighting in Italy and armoured-car battles with Tiger tanks in Normandy, to battles with Nazi art-looters in the final weeks of the Second World War, this action-packed but handily formatted collection of stories will thrill Commando fans of all ages.

Buy Commando Achtung! from amazon.co.uk

Action Stations!
Edited by Calum Laird

Features a trio of explosive war-at-sea yarns that show the Senior Service at its best, from fast-moving motor torpedo boat engagements in the English Channel to anti-submarine warfare in the Far East.

Buy Action Stations! from amazon.co.uk

All Guns Blazing
Edited by George Low

Handle this bumper book of the best of Commando war stories with care. Features stories such as “Desert Fox”, “They Flew by Night”, “Sea Strike”, “The Death or Glory Mob”, Zero Smasher”. Where else could you go into action alongside a British army sergeant hunting down a Jerry tank with only his Tommy gun and a couple of grenades… or the Lancaster pilot who knew no fear until he was put behind the controls of a bomber that was jinxed. You can read about all these ordinary men turned into heroes and their stories for yourself.

Buy All Guns Blazing from amazon.co.uk

Anzacs at War
Edited by George Low

No collection of Commando war stories, the very best in action and adventure, although born and bred in Britain, would be complete without plenty of issues resounding to phrases like ‘cobber’, ‘drongo’ or ‘pom’. Yes, the Aussies and Kiwis are here, and they’re about to put in a two-fisted, explosive performance. You’d expect no less from these larger-than-life characters that are guaranteed to bring out the best in any action-packed Commando yarn.

Buy Anzacs at War from amazon.co.uk

Bandits at 12 O’clock
Edited by George Low

Everybody who has ever turned a page of a Commando war library has a favourite air story. The first thing to catch the attention are the names… Spitfire, Hurricane, Typhoon, Tempest, Whirlwind, Mosquito. Who wouldn’t want to read a story with aircraft like that twisting and turning through the pages, machine guns or cannon flaming?And then there are the men who flew the fighters, bombers, seaplanes, flying boats and transport aircraft into combat.

These pilots of every nationality had one aim…to make sure that they won their deadly duels high in the sky. Commando: Bandits at 12 O’Clock is a collection of some of the finest and most exciting air adventures ever published, so strap in, buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Buy Bandits at 12 O’clock from amazon.co.uk

Banzai!
Edited by Calum Laird

Features a trio of explosive Brits-versus-Japanese yarns set in Burma that show the heroic British Tommy at his best: repelling waves of Japanese jungle attacks, cutting enemy supply lines and capturing inaccessible mountain strongholds.

Buy Banzai! from amazon.co.uk

Battle of Britain – Scramble!
Edited by George Low & Calum Laird

For everyone in Britain, these were the darkest days of the Second World War. Our army, or what was left of it, had been withdrawn from France via the beaches of Dunkirk, disabling and abandoning arms and equipment during the desperate evacuation. While they reorganised and re-equipped there was no effective fighting force to stand against Hitler’s Wehrmacht should they choose to invade. Crossing the channel with an invasion fleet was, however, not an operation to be contemplated without complete control of the sky, otherwise the transports and landing craft would be blown out of the water by the RAF.

The Nazis’ answer? Neutralise the RAF. Destroy its runways, destroy its aircraft on the ground, destroy its support networks and, most of all, kill its pilots.

The RAF, of course, had other ideas and during the summer of 1940 the Battle of Britain was fought in the skies over southern England. The courage and skill of the RAF pilots and ground crews during those few hectic weeks has formed the backdrop to some of the most outstanding Commando tales ever published. Stories like “Ace Without Honour”, “Island of Heroes” and “Brigand Squadron” as well as “Blind Courage”, “Fly Fast-Shoot Fast” or “Spitfire Spirit” bring the atmosphere of the battle spinning into the 21st century.

Presented 25 per cent larger than when originally published, this special edition drops you out of the sun into the midst of the dog fights, the howl of the Merlin engine on full boost almost drowning out the roar of the Brownings thundering away in the wings either side of your cockpit. Whether you are a novice ‘sprog’ comic book pilot or a seasoned veteran, the fantastic aero art created by the Commando artists and the compelling stories will leave you gasping for the next ‘Scramble’!

Buy Battle of Britain – Scramble! from amazon.co.uk

Behind the Enemy Lines
Edited by Calum Laird

Following the bestselling success of Carlton’s man-size “Commando” anthologies, here is a new pocket-format compilation of three classic comic-strip war stories printed the same size as the original Commando comics. “Behind Enemy Lines” features a trio of explosive Brits-versus-Wehrmacht yarns that show the heroic British Tommy at his best. This action-packed but handily formatted collection of stories will thrill “Commando” fans of all ages.

Buy Behind the Enemy Lines from amazon.co.uk

Bombs Away!
Edited by Calum Laird

Featuring “Bombs Away!” features “Ghost Pilot”, “Hoodoo Ace” and “Deck-Level Dawson”. Hair-rising tales of bombing missions in Lacasters and Stirlings make this action-packed but handily formatted collection of stories a thrill for Commando fans of all ages.

Buy Bombs Away! from amazon.co.uk

D-Day Fight or Die!
Edited by George Low

D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion in history and one of the world’s most famous military actions. It has become the stuff of legend through films such as Saving Private Ryan and TV series such as Band of Brothers. This hard-hitting anthology of war comic stories covers all the heroic action of “The Longest Day”, 6 June 1944. From “Ambush at Dawn”, “Normandy Drop” and “Blood of Heroes” to “Operation Bulldog”, Commando: D-Day Fight or Die! features ten action-packed stories of the Tommies who stormed Hitler’s formidable Atlantic Wall from air, land and sea – and won.

Buy D-Day Fight or Die! from amazon.co.uk

Deadly Seas: Six of the Best Commando Navy Books Ever
Edited by George Low

Featuring ‘Inland Navy’, ‘The Ship-Busters’, ‘March of the Monsters’, ‘Bright Blade of Courage’, ‘Mighty Midget’ and ‘Another Tight Spot’. Hair-raising tales of naval missions on the lethal wartime seas.

Buy Deadly Seas from amazon.co.uk

The Dirty Dozen: The Best 12 “Commando” Books of All Time
Edited by George Low

‘Achtung!’, ‘Gott in Himmel!’, ‘Donner und Blitzen!’ For the generations of men whose obsession with military history was triggered by reading war comics in their youth, here at last, is Commando’s ultimate collection of Second World War stories.

The Dirty Dozen showcases the best of the best – and 25 per cent bigger than the originals. Selected by former Commando Editor George Low, the brilliantly drawn stories in this classic collection range from backs-to-the-wall heroics at Dunkirk and Battle of Britain dogfights, through desert warfare in North Africa and daring commando raids behind enemy lines, to tough battles across Europe from D-Day to VE Day.

Buy The Dirty Dozen from amazon.co.uk

Dive! Dive! Dive!: Three of the Best Submarine-Warfare Commando Comic Book Adventures
Edited by Calum Laird

Features “Dive! Dive! Dive!” features “Java Sea Jinx”, “Dive! Dive! Dive!” and “The Silent Service”. Three tales of deep-water warfare in hostile seas.

Buy Dive! Dive! Dive! from amazon.co.uk

Rogue Raiders
Edited by Calum Laird

To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Commando comic, which was first launched in 1961, this anthology features the ten greatest-ever commando raids stories.

Raiding is what Second World War commandos were trained for, and these thrilling comic-strip yarns show true-Brit heroes assaulting all kinds of enemy targets from the land, sea and air. Stealthy, resourceful, daring and hard as nails, the commandos succeed against all odds in accomplishing their missions, whether against fanatical Nazi storm troopers or ruthless Japanese jungle-fighters. Commando: For Action and Adventure: This epic new collection of classic stories contains plenty of both.

Buy Rogue Raiders from amazon.co.uk

Rumble in the Jungle
Edited by George Low

Stories set in the jungles of Malay and Burma are, like all other Commando comics, packed with action and adventure. But there is something about these plots that really get the writers in top gear and they pull out all the stops. Who couldn’t get enthusiastic about ambushes, impenetrable undergrowth, mysterious caves, deep river gorges flooded by monsoons, samurai swords, slithering snakes, fiendish fevers, strange cries in the night, menacing idols, dangerous insects and animals added to the usual threats from bullets and bombs?

Featuring such stories as “Jungle Madness”, “Grudge Fight”, “The Black Pagoda”, “Halt – or Die!”, “Danger Everywhere!” and “Jungle Sniper”, this carefully selected anthology will transport you into a world of sweat, swamps and where our ever invincible allied heroes battle bravely and honourably to victory.

Buy Rumble in the Jungle from amazon.co.uk

Tally Ho!
Edited by Calum Laird

Features a trio of explosive air-war yarns that show the heroic RAF flyers at their best. From fighter sorties over occupied France and bombing raids on the Afrika Korps to Hurricane attacks on the Japanese.

Buy Tally Ho! from amazon.co.uk

True Brit: The Toughest 12 “Commando” Books Ever
Edited by George Low

The stories featured in this collection range from daring bomber raids over Germany, through close-combat jungle fighting against hard-as-nails Japanese, and depth-charge blasted submarine warfare, to hard-hitting battles across North Africa, Italy and northern Europe.

Buy True Brit from amazon.co.uk

Weapons of Vengeance
Edited by Calum Laird

Features a trio of explosive Brits-versus-Wehrmacht yarns that show the heroic British Tommy and the stoic British home front at their best.

Buy Weapons of Vengeance from amazon.co.uk

Who Dares Wins
Edited by Calum Laird

Features “Who Dares Wins” features “Sabotage”, “The Secret Heroes” and “Ramsey’s Raiders”. Tales of extraordinary courage behind enemy lines.

Buy Who Dares Wins from amazon.co.uk

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

Commando © DC Thomson

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