Spooky season continues as creepy Commando Issues 5899-5902 go on sale from DC Thomson in never scary newsagents, including most TG Jones, from Thursday 23rd October 2025.
“Frostbite”, Issue 5899, offers a devilish new story from writer Julian Michael Carver, who’s best known for specialising in science-fiction and media tie-ins, including Primeval: New World, who made his Commando debut back in July. Much as I enjoyed “Feeding Frenzy”, pitting American shipwreck survivors against a vicious Japanese submarine captain and a giant shark, “Frostbite” is even better, a slow burn horror tale set in the Ardenne during World War Two; a haunting first-person narrative tale perfectly complemented by Paolo Ongaro’s simply brilliant art. If you’re a fan of classic US comics, you’ll definitely get a buzz out of this, and it’s one of my favourite Commando stories of 2025 so far.
Also new in this set: “The Curse of the Zelda” written by Rossa McPhilips with art by Juan Fernandez, a story grounded in a real top secret project that began in World War One, that takes a terrifying turn into creeping horror. Rossa deftly weaves a tale of a shipwrecked crew who think they’ve found safety aboard an abandoned schooner: but what awaits the is far from solace. While, for me, Fernandez storytelling on this adventure doesn’t quite do the script the justice it deserves, it’s still a spine-tingling story.
Represented stories lead with “Time of Terror”, in which David Motton’s story strikes at a squaddie’s worst nightmare – being abandoned in France, again. Alongside plenty of action, we’re treated to plenty of light comedy and charm in the banter from the main characters, a trio of Commandos sent on a dangerous mission. With Gordon C Livingstone’s providing superb art, this makes for a fun issue.
David Motton was one of the first writers on Commando, his credits also encompassing many DC Thomson titles, across adventure and girls comics, and The Dandy, too. He also wrote several “Dan Dare” and “Jet Ace Logan” stories for Fleetway. Some of his carbon copy scripts have recently been sold through Phil-Comics on eBay.
This set wraps with “Flames of Fear”, set in World War Two Burma, the story centring on a thieving soldier, cursed for his actions – which in turn threaten the lives of the soldiers alongside him. Another gem from writer CG Walker, with easy in the eye art from Ruiz.
Also out this week is a new Commando collection, which should make for some suitable Halloween reading. The dead just won’t stay dead as zombies rise again in Commando Presents: Commandos Vs Zombies Volume 2! Order your copy now (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)… if you dare…
Commando 5899 (Home of Heroes): Frostbite
Story: Julian Michael Carver
Art: Paolo Ongaro
Cover: Marco Bianchini
Caught in the chaos of the Battle of the Bulge, the 28th Infantry Division thought they had enough problems. But then, their comrades began mysteriously disappearing in the depths of the frozen forests.
Tasked with finding the missing soldiers, Private Howard Kennedy and nine of his fellow troops were sent off into the snow in search of answers. What they found hidden among the frozen trees would haunt him for the rest of his days!
Commando 5900 (Gold): Time of Terror
Story: David Motton
Art and Cover: Gordon C Livingstone
First published 1971 as No. 544
The sea mist clung to the three British Commandos as they paddled a rubber dinghy towards the dark French coast. Behind them, their submarine slowly vanished beneath the waves, leaving them to face any dangers that lay ahead. And of danger there would be plenty, for no plans had been made for bringing them back again!
Commando 5901 (For Action and Adventure): The Curse of the Zelda
Story: Rossa McPhilips
Art: Juan Fernandez
Cover: Marco Bianchini
Stranded in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the surviving crew of the wrecked HMS Avon was starting to wonder whether they would ever see land again. But the sight of a ship on the horizon soon raised their hopes.
Once on board the strange frigate, though, it seemed their troubles weren’t over. Not a soul was aboard the ghost ship, and some of the men were hearing things. Who was the mysterious figure glimpsed out of the corner of the eye? What had happened aboard the Zelda?
Commando 5902 (Silver): Flames of Fear
Story: CG Walker
Art: Ruiz
Cover: Jeff Bevan
First published 1984 as No. 1792
No man is completely fearless – everyone has something he’s afraid of. Take three soldiers caught up in the fighting in the jungle, each with a fear to overcome. For one it was fire. For another, tanks. And for the third, it was a dragon!
• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter
• If there’s a past Commando comic you would like to see reprinted, contact the team via generalenquiries@commandomag.com
Commando Issues 5899 – 5902 Cover Gallery
• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter
Commando Presents: Commandos Vs Zombies Volume 2
By Georgia Standen Battle (Writer), Vicente Alcazar (Artist), Neil Roberts (Cover Artist)
• Available to here (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
Deep in German-occupied Norway lies a dark forest and a shadowy factory hidden within. Inside its fetid walls, two Nazi doctors work feverishly, tampering with nature itself to create a German soldier like no other – stronger, faster… with an unyielding loyalty to the Third Reich. But what they unwittingly created was something far worse!
The dead just won’t stay dead as zombies rise again in Commando Presents: Commandos Vs Zombies Volume 2!
Included in this latest deadly volume is the prequel to the best selling Commando vs Zombies trilogy, alongside two brand-new spinoff comics expanding the Commando vs Zombies universe!
This collection also features creator biographies and an interview with comic legend Vicente Alcazar.
• Available to here (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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.
Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Collections, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comic Previews, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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