The latest set of Commando comics, on sale today in TG Jones stores, select newsagents, and available on subscription, are a special selection from the DC Thomson archives, celebrating Cam Kennedy’s iconic art for the title, which he began working for in 1968.
Best known for his work on 2000AD, Star Wars comics, and the brilliant Light and Darkness War, some of Cam’s earliest work were the Commando comics that he drew over fifty years ago.
Although his first widely credited issue of Commando is considered to be Number 448 “Come Out Fighting”, originally published in December 1969, almost ten years before his art first appeared in 2000AD, diligent research by the late Colin Noble resulted in discovering he first worked on the title a year earlier, contributing art to Number 392, “Jungle Phantom”, published in October 1968.
Colin presented Cam with a copy of the issue at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in 2018.
“In case anyone struggles to understand how significant Commando 363 is, if his work had been rejected, Cam might have continued as a commercial illustrator and would not have drawn 29 other issues,” Colin wrote at the time. “He might not have continued in comics and later worked on ‘Judge Dredd’, ‘The VCs’, ‘Fighting Mann’, ‘Rogue Trooper’, Starblazer, Star Wars, co-created The Light and Darkness War, drawn Batman or Nick Fury – to name but a few.”
Commando Issues 5923 – 5926 are on sale today, Thursday, 15th January 2026.
Commando 5923 (Home of Heroes): Where The Action Is!
Story: Eric Hebden
Art: A. C. Kennedy
Cover: Penalva
First published 1972 as No. 666
His medal ribbons showed the campaigns he had been in. The bronze oak leaves proved his bravery. He was Captain Dave Fletcher, and he was a man who thirsted for battle.
Then came the moment when he had to decide which was more important – grabbing more glory for himself or saving the life of a friend.
Commando 5924 (Gold): Chariot of War
Story: N. Allen
Art: A. C. Kennedy
Cover: Penalva
First published 1972 as No. 652
Private Dave Charlton’s mates reckoned he was off his rocker. When he didn’t have his nose stuck in a book, he was grubbing about after clay tablets covered in weird inscriptions.
But then they changed their minds, for Dave began getting ideas from these ancient writings – ideas about how to fight a modern war – ideas that made the enemy run for their lives!
Commando 5925 (For Action and Adventure): Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor.
Story: Staff
Art: A. C. Kennedy
Cover: Penalva
First published 1973 as No. 765
Singapore, February 1942. For days, the Japanese had thrown in everything they had to try to take the great port.
Finally, the city’s defenders were bombed, burned and blasted into submission. But out of the rubble walked four unbeaten men – a tinker, a tailor, a soldier and a sailor – with absolutely nothing in common except a fierce, burning hatred for the enemy.
Commando 5926 (Silver): Let Battle Commence!
Story: Brunt
Art: A. C. Kennedy
Cover: Penalva
First published 1973 as No. 785
How do you win a battle? It’s easy. You start with an ancient, paddle-driven tugboat and you steam out into the open sea. You have only some rifles on board, but a few days later you capture a Japanese torpedo boat. Then you join an enemy convoy and sink a troopship!
Yes, it’s that easy… as long as you’ve a will of iron, nerves of steel, and the sort of courage that heroes are made of.
Cam Kennedy’s Commando Comics: A Checklist
Compiled by Jeremy Briggs, Colin Noble, with help from Calum Laird
363 – JUNGLE PHANTOM (October 1968)
392 – THE HUNTED (January 1969)
417 – DESERT SQUADRON (July 1969)
431 – THE FUGITIVES (October 1969)
reprinted as 1279)
448 – COME OUT FIGHTING (December 1969)
469 – DEATH OF A WIMPEY (April 1970, reprinted as 1335)
471 – MIGHTY MIKE (April 1970, reprinted as 1355 and 4368)
491 – LAST LAUGH (August 1970, reprinted as 1427)
504 – STORM OF STEEL (October 1970)
522 – BIG MIKE (January 1971, reprinted as 1507 and 4439)
545 – DIARY OF A HERO (April 1971, reprinted as 1555 and 4375)
556 – TWO MEN WENT TO WAR … (June 1971)
568 – BOSS OF THE BARBARY APES (July 1971, reprinted as 4433)
590 – REVENGE OF THE VIPER (October 1971)
604 – DESERT DOUBLE-CROSS (December 1971, reprinted as 1780)
613 – HERO ON HORSEBACK (January 1972, reprinted as 1739)
629 – THE BLACK EAGLE (March 1972, reprinted as 1732)
642 – THE WAR-DEVIL (April 1972, reprinted as 1748)
652 – CHARIOT OF WAR (June 1972, reprinted as 1788)
666 – WHERE THE ACTION IS (July 1972, reprinted as 1827)
676 – ACTION STATIONS (September 1972, reprinted as 1811)
702 – VALLEY OF THE LOST (December 1972, reprinted as 1876)
729 – BRING ON THE TANKS! (March 1973, reprinted as 1924)
750 – HURRI TO THE RESCUE (June 1973, reprinted as 1940)
765 – TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SAILOR (August 1973, reprinted as 1987)
785 – LET BATTLE COMMENCE! (October 1973, reprinted as 1996)
804 – GAS-BAG GUNMEN (January 1974, reprinted as 2036)
825 – FROM OUT OF THE SEA … (March 1974, reprinted as 2099)
860 – MASSACRE AT MENDHI PASS (August 1974, reprinted as 2155)
878 – PIRATES WITH WINGS (October 1974, reprinted as 2172 and 4626)
(Some early issues of Commando also feature art by “Kennedy”, but Colin ascertained these are clearly by a different artist)
• 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 Comics 5923 – 5926 Cover Gallery
• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter
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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 - Current British Publishers, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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