In Review: Chronos Commandos

By John Freeman on March 13, 2014 • ( 1 )

by Stuart Jennett
Publisher: Titan Comics
Out: Now

The Book: When the Allies and Nazis develop time-diving technology that could see the course of the Second World War derailed by creatures from the Cretaceous, only the Sarge and his band of misfit soldiers can save the future – by saving history! Dinosaurs! Giant crocodiles! Time travel! Nazis! Albert Einstein with a machinegun! An astounding, fully-painted pulp spectacular! Buckle up, ladies!

The Review: Regular readers will recall I enthused about Stuart Jennett’s Chronos Commandos on its first release earlier this year, in part knowing that the book was the realization of a dream by an old friend who delivered everything expected of such an aptly-named title – action, adventure, time travel, dinosaurs and great art.

Stuart, who I first worked with back at Marvel UK (on Warheads) has had the Chronos Commandos kicking around in his head for simply ages. (I’ve got some early designs somewhere). It’s thanks to Titan Comics, though, that the book at last saw the light of day – marking a welcome commitment to the kind of all-action craziness that saturated many a British comic I grew up reading but which are sadly lacking on the news stand today.

The entire first series of Chronos Commandos has now been released in a nicely packaged collection, complete with all the ‘extras’ featured in the single issues. I have to say that reading this story in one go, rather like Si Spurrier and PJ Holden’s Numbercruncher, means you’re not as likely to be befuddled by all the twists in time and space that reading Chronos Commandos monthly might have done!

Story-wise, the tale is exactly the kind of gung-ho action (with dinosaurs) you’d expect from the title. Stuart delivers a terrific, leave your brain at the door romp through the Cretaceous and World War Two and also sets some storylines up for future series (fingers crossed). The Sarge is a glorious anti hero homage to those that have gone before – Valiant‘s Captain Hurricane and Sergeant Fury, to name but two, with plenty of echoes with some of Battle‘s characters for good measure.

With great dinosuars, giant spiders, time-travelling Nazis and hints of Cthullu-type mythos, plus great art (despite crushing deadlines) there’s plenty to enjoy here. And I’m not just saying that because Stuart has travelled up to Lancaster and is throwing a big gun to my head – honest!

Check it out in your local comic store or bookshop. I’m sitting here and waiting for the news that it’s been optioned as a movie… and for news on the next series…

• Signed copies of Chronos Commandos are available from Forbidden Planet

See Also:

• Our interview with Stuart Jennett

• Chronos Commando #1 Review

• Buy Chronos Commandos merchandise from Alien Apples Studios

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.