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Arabs at War and a Royal kidnap? Commando adventures continue

By John Freeman on September 10, 2014

Here’s the details for DC Thomson’s Commando Issues 4739-4742, on sale from Thursday (11th September 2014) through newsagents, by subscription and for digital devices. Along with the usual full-length comic stories, Issue 4739 offers the chance to win a copy of the current Carlton Commando large format book, Over The Top!, featuring 10 classic World War One stories.

Commando No 4739 – Attack In Arabia
Story: George Low Art: Keith Page Cover: Ian Kennedy
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/11th-september-2014-collection?issue=4739

On the morning of the 28 June 1914, two pistol shots fired in a Sarajevo street had plunged the world into war and pitched men of all nations against one another. In the world’s first truly global conflict soldiers, sailors and airmen found themselves fighting in far-flung battlefields.

In the arid wastes of the Middle East, British troops faced Turks, Germans and Austrians in battles just as wasteful of lives as those on the Western front. This is the story of five British soldiers prepared to put their own lives at risk to save thousands of others.

Men determined to blunt an… Attack In Arabia!

“As a tribute to those who served during the years 1914-1918 — on land, sea or in the air; at home or abroad — Commando is producing stories of characters caught up in the tumult of the First World War,” editor Calum Lair reminds us. “None of author George Low’s inventions are real people but we’d like to think that the experiences he has imagined for you will not be far away from what actually happened to so many.

“Last month, the miners of Messines were deep below the earth digging their way towards enemy lines. Other British soldiers, though, fought under the blazing sun of the Middle East where the land was as much an enemy as the soldiers of the Ottoman Empire who they faced.

“I hope you enjoy this and the other stories in the series as much as we have.”

The series continues in four weeks with “In Flanders Skies”… Commando No 4747.

Commando No 4740 – Portrait Of Death
Originally Commando No 120 (Jun 1964), re-issued as No 655 (June 1972)
Story: Eric Hebden Art: Cortes Cover: Ken Barr
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/11th-september-2014-collection?issue=4740

These men had recklessly pursued the blood-cursed painting for itself, and for the military secrets hidden in it. But it hadn’t been called “The Portrait Of Death” for five centuries for nothing…

“So, what have we here? A cursed portrait whose evil has brought death throughout history?” notes Calum Laird. “That seems straightforward enough, but keep your eye on the plot, because there are a few extra threads woven into the canvas of this one.

“Eric Hebden’s stories usually give full value and this one’s no exception. The inside art by Cortes — one of some 29 he did for Commando — you’ll be pleased to hear is a lot clearer than the plot. Crisp, definite lines and shading only where it’s absolutely needed give a very clear read.

“Ken Barr’s cover couldn’t be clearer either. It tells you exactly what you’re going to get.

“Every picture tells a story… as they say.”

Commando No 4741 – Mistaken Identity
Story: Ferg Handley Art: Vila Cover: Janek Matysiak
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/11th-september-2014-collection?issue=4741

Second-Lieutenant Ashley Windsor was a good-natured type but a bit naive and impulsive. Serving with an infantry regiment in India, he was the butt of many a joke amongst his fellow officers — especially when he hinted that he was a (very) distant relative to Queen Victoria.

This silly remark set off an extraordinary chain of events, including a small war against a scheming local tribal leader — who thought he would end up rich if he could capture a member of the British Royal Family!

Commando No 4742 – Jet Pilot
Originally Commando No 2263 (March 1989), re-issued as No 3787 (February 2005)
Story: Alan Hebden Art: J.M. Jorge Cover: Ian Kennedy
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/11th-september-2014-collection?issue=4742

The photo-reconnaissance Spitfire flew so high and so fast, that it was considered safe from German fighters. Except, that is, when the enemy was an Me262 jet piloted by Max von Mellenburg.

Max had flown Luftwaffe planes over Britain and Russia with deadly success. Now he was preparing to defend the skies of his homeland as the Allies closed in for the final battle.

“Brought to you by a trio of top Commando contributors, this sterling air story features a premise which, when used sparingly, can be very effective, as Alan Hebden shows here,” says Scott Montgomery, the comic’s Deputy Editor. “For a change, we are firmly on the side of a German hero — a Luftwaffe pilot who has no allegiance to the arrogant and cowardly Nazis.

“There are stunning aircraft illustrations throughout from Jose Maria Jorge, and Ian Kennedy’s Me262 jet is so dynamically drawn that it looks set to practically soar off the front cover.”

<br /> Over The Top! is the latest Commando collection from Carlton Books. From the muddy trenches of Flanders to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea and the deserts of the Middle East, this special collection of stories from the First World War, edited by Calum Laird, will take you back to a time when tales of bravery and honour in the face of terrible conditions were commonplace, as soldiers, sailors, submariners and airmen faced the most fiendish of enemies with stout hearts and stiff upper lips.

Rip-roaring tales tell of bitter rivalries, regimental clashes, proven troublemakers coming good, the duel of heavy artillery and even the cunning use of a London omnibus on the battlefield. Embodying the courage for which the Great War is famous, Over the Top! is a rousing anthology of adventures in the best tradition of Commando comics.

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

• Commando Collections: Checklist

DOWNTHETUBES 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

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.