There’s high stakes action aplenty in four brand-new Commando from DC Thomson this week, Issues 5667-5670, on sale today in all good newsagents (Thursday 3rd August, 2023). Look out for adventures set across the globe, from the North African Desert to Norway, and Bastogne to Burma.
This set marks the debut of Phil Robinson as cover artist, who’s based in Kirkcudbright in south west Scotland.
Openly autistic and a campaigner for autistic rights, he works in different media including pencil, charcoal, pastels and oil paints, and started producing gallery artwork in 2018 and was a finalist in the Refresh Art Award in 2019, and a finalist in the Scottish Portrait Awards in 2021.
He pitched his work to Commando just three months ago, and they were clearly impressed.
“I always drew a lot as a child, art was very important to me and over 25 years ago I moved to Preston to attend Art School,” he’s previously outlined. “I ended up changing path and instead had a successful career in creative technology.
“I always had plans to return to drawing and painting, but like most people I just never really found the time. I have maintained an academic interest in art and humanities though and I recently completed a Masters degree in Museum and Art Gallery Studies.
“I started to draw again in 2018 and also took a short drawing course at the Ruskin School of Art. I’ve also completed courses with the Tucson Art Academy and London Fine Art Studios.”
You can find Phil Robinson online here find out more about his experiences as an autistic person here, and follow him on Facebook or Instagram.
Commando 5667: Home of Heroes: Helicopter Heist
Story: Colin Maxwell | Art: Paolo Ongaro | Cover: Neil Roberts
Before the war, Leonard Young was an enthusiastic aeronautical engineer who wanted nothing more than to build and design the next great air machine —the helicopter. But when he enlisted, the last thing Leonard expected was to be thrust into action, assisting in the theft of a German prototype aircraft in North Africa!
With the help of a group of LRDG men commanded by the indomitable Captain Michael Ross, Leonard was led on the dangerous mission behind enemy lines. But it’s going to take everything they’ve got to survive stealing the helicopter from right under Rommel’s nose!
Who doesn’t love a heist? Well, Colin Maxwell’s main character Leonard Young for one! But Leonard’s going to be pulled into action whether he likes it or not!
Commando 5668: Gold Collection: Last Laugh
Story: RA Montague | Art: AC Kennedy | Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally Commando No. 491 (1970)
Pilot Officer Andy Howard and his crew were really up against it. Forced to crash-land in the snowy wastes of occupied Norway, they had started out on foot to deliver their Lanc’s cargo of urgently-needed weapons to the resistance.
Now an enemy ski patrol had stumbled on them, and despite the fight Andy and his boys put up, one Jerry had got away to raise the alarm. The net was drawing tighter…
Three Commando legends come together in this classic 1970s issue. Heavyweight artists AC Kennedy and Ian Kennedy do an amazing job on interiors and cover, while RA Montague’s story has you gripped on every page.
Commando 5669: Action and Adventure: Hellcat vs Tiger
Story: Ferg Handley | Art: Alberto Saichann | Cover: Phil Robinson
The Siege of Bastogne, 1944. The M18 Tank Destroyer, also known as the Hellcat, was one of the most effective tank destroyers of the Second World War.
The Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B, also known as the King Tiger or Tiger II, was a beast feared on the battlefield, formidable and threatening.
You might think you know the outcome of this duel, but Sergeant Mike Delaney was the commander of this Hellcat — and he wasn’t going to go down without a fight! That was if he could put the death of his last crew behind him…
Veteran writer Ferg Handley is teamed up with newcomer artist Phil Robinson making his debut as a cover artist with this tank vs tank issue.
• You can find Phil Robinson online here find out more about his experiences as an autistic person here, and follow him on Facebook or Instagram
Commando 5670: Silver Collection: The Long Way Back
Story: Bill Fear | Art: Blasco | Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally Commando No. 1458 (1980)
The war in Burma was fierce and savage, and both sides had to make sacrifices. But Private Danny Porter could not believe his eyes when he saw that the bridge across the Bantang River had been blown up by the British — leaving scores of their own troops stranded on the opposite bank!
This was only the start of Danny’s long way back. Soon he was to find himself turning about and going deep into enemy territory, the last place on earth any sensible soldier would want to be.
This classic Commando is a fan-favourite for good reason. With an Ian Kennedy cover on Blasco’s interiors to Bill Fear’s intricate story — this isn’t one to miss…
• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Commando Comics on AmazonUK
• If there’s a past Commando comic you would like to see reprinted, contact the team via generalenquiries@commandomag.com
Please note, as of June 2023, the Heritage Comics and Commando Presents digital releases project is on hiatus, as DC Thomson examine new ways to publish classics from their archive – check out the Commando Presents Series Page on AmazonUK for all the digital titles released under these banners
Commando 5667 – 5660 Cover Gallery
• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Commando Comics on AmazonUK
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.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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