As part of downthetubes’ celebration of DC Thomson’s Commando reaching issue 6000 as one of the batch of four titles released this week, Jeremy Briggs asked cover artist Graeme Neil Reid about his work on issue 5999, Captain Starblaze…
At the height of World War Two, pulp hero Captain Starblaze led a super-team into battle against the darkest Axis powers. Now, as a new decade unfolds, he stands against the ever-present threat of the red menace, his trusty sidekick, Miss Miraculous, by his side. At least, that’s how fiction would have it. But the truth is stranger – and deadlier – than any supervillain could ever hope to match!
Issue 5999 offers features a terrific trifecta of Commando contributors! Enjoy a ripping yarn by Daniel McGachey reminiscent of classic Commandos like No. 84 “Hero from Hollywood” and No. 483, “Shooting Star”, alongside amazing artwork from star artists Paolo Ongaro and Graeme Neil Reid — and what a cover!
downthetubes: The title of “Captain Starblaze” is obviously a homage to DCT’s 1980s science fiction and fantasy digest comic Starblazer that came from the same office as Commando (and Star Love Stories!) back in the day. Did you read Starblazer at the time?
Graeme Neil Reid: Oh very much so, in fact my eye would seek out Starblazer before Commando on the newsagent shelf when I was a kid. It’s a title I remember very fondly and I think the editor should consider adding the Starblazer logo onto new fantasy or sci-fi Commando releases much like they do with Victor and Warlord. If owning a complete collection of Starblazer makes you a fan, then I guess I fit the bill.
downthetubes: While the character of Captain Starblaze is played by an actor, and so is not a true superhero, have you worked on superheroes before and given that most of you previous covers have been World War Two themed, how different was it to create a superhero themed cover?
Graeme: Apart from some superhero style commissions I’ve never drawn a hero strip before, but I’ve read plenty of classic American superhero comics in my time. I wasn’t concerned about the subject matter and in fact drawing flying muscular caped people in the cosmos is easier than researching the correct uniforms and equipment for war stories.
downthetubes: How much of the decision on what the artwork image on the cover would be was your input or did it come as a suggestion from the editorial office?
Graeme: Most of the time it is a joint discussion but in this instance the office knew what they wanted and it was just down to me to make that work as well as I could. In this case it was pretty much creating two covers, the superhero comic itself and then the Commando cover featuring that comic.
downthetubes: Do you have a favourite theme to illustrate and, given the limitations of a square wrap-around illustration with room for the logo and text which is then printed relatively small, are some themes easier to design than others?
Graeme: I do prefer more serious themed stories and don’t think I suit outright comedic themes, well not in my preferred painted style anyway. But I’m pretty adaptable and so far my range of Commando covers have been quite mixed. I’d like to do more tanks or even an airplane or two at some point. The format can be a little restrictive but it is fun working within those boundaries and I always like adding something different or unique on the back panel of the comic.
downthetubes: With DCT heritage characters from the weekly comics and story papers now being included in Commando, mainly from Victor and Warlord, do you have a particular favourite that you would like to see that has not been used yet, or have they already covered what would be your favourite?
Graeme: I did read both Victor and Warlord as a kid and I’ve already ticked off my favourite being Union Jack Jackson but I’d happily tackle a Lord Peter Flint ‘Codename Warlord’, Kampfgruppe Falken, or something like Harrier Squadron which could also just about be a Starblazer comic as it is set in the future (well it was back in 1982). Wolverine, about a World War Two allied tank destroyer, is another one with plenty of chances to paint tanks.
Commando 6001: Captain Starblaze is in newsagents and available as a digital edition on Thursday 8th October 2026
• Commando Comics are online at commandocomics.com | Commando Collection Sets on the DC Thomson Webshop | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter | Follow Commando Comics on Facebook | X | YouTube |
Head downthetubes for…
• Graeme Neil Reid’s website is at gnreid.co.uk
• Graeme has been documenting the creation of each of his Commando covers on his Patreon page and currently all these “Making of” articles are free to view here
• Richard Sheaf’s Boys Adventure Comics blog also lists Graeme’s Commando covers here
• Check out our guide to Starblazer, initiated by Jeremy Briggs, here
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News, reviews, interviews and features for print and on-line: Spaceship Away (since October 2005), Bear Alley (since February 2007), downthetubes (since June 2007), and Eagle Times (since October 2008). Plus DC Thomson’s The Art Of Ian Kennedy, Titan’s Dan Dare and Johnny Red reprints, Ilex’s War Comics: A Graphic History and 500 Essential Graphic Novels, and Print Media’s The Iron Moon and Strip magazine.
Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comic Creator Interviews, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features
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