This week’s issues of Commando, issues 5819 – 5822, on sale from Thursday 16th January 2025, celebrate the cover art of Jeff Bevan. On offer are classic issues, each with a magnificent cover from one of Commando’s most popular artists.
This isn’t the first time Jeff Bevan, who died unexpectedly in 1992, has been honoured in this way by the publisher, the artist a prolific creator of covers for Commando, delivering 240 over a 19-year period from 1973 until 1992, which Commando fan Vic Whittle has listed on his terrific “British Comics” site. Six of these were used after his unexpected death in 1992.
As Colin Noble noted for us back in 2016, he also provided covers and art for DC Thomson’s weekly comics, too, such as Bullet, Wizard and The Rover.
You could also argue writer RA Montague is celebrated here, a longtime contributor to Commando, with three stories offered in this represented set
The represented stories from DC Thomson start with “Born to be Brave” – Jeff’s first-ever Commando cover. All the way back in 1973, the already accomplished artist created this brilliantly evocative desert scene to illustrate RA Montague’s scorching story.
“India or Bust” delivers yet another explosive cover by Bevan which brings to life a top-hole tale of derring-do from RA Montague! Jeff Bevan might have been known for his ships and boats but he could really put pen to paper when it came to aircraft too!
Bevan was renowned for his nautical scenes, and his work was often used as a reference for other artists. One look at the cover of “Man Overboard!“, a particularly stunning example, and you can see why!
Finally, “Strike Fast – Strike Hard!” is a very special Commando cover from Jeff Bevan. Never before reprinted, this issue from 1993 was the last of Bevan’s covers to be published – and you can see why he remains a fan favourite to this day.
• Comic Creator Spotlight: The Art of Jeff Bevan – feature and checklist by Colin Noble
Commando 5819: Born to be Brave
Story: RA Montague | Art: Arias | Cover: Jeff Bevan
First published as Commando No. 734 in 1973


They called him a “headline hero” – a guy always out for glory, a guy who was always getting his photograph in the papers.
Then, on one routine mission, his luck ran out. With his Spitfire riddled with German bullets, he parachuted from a flaming cockpit to the desert sands below. Nothing would ever be quite so glorious for him again…
Commando 5820: India or Bust!
Story: RA Montague | Art: Marzal | Cover: Jeff Bevan
First published as Commando No. 746 in 1973


To young Joe Pike and the crew of the Sunderland flying boat, the mission to rescue a British diplomat cut off by the Japanese seemed a routine job.
But then things began to go wrong, badly wrong. And Joe, ambitious and eager to prove his ability to command, grabbed his chance with both hands. Their only hope lay in his courage and determination. It was a matter of… INDIA OR BUST
Commando 5821: Man Overboard!
Story: RA Montague | Art: Jose Maria Jorge | Cover: Jeff Bevan
First published as Commando No. 1577 in 1982


Enemy-infested jungles are unnerving places at the best of times, but when you’ve been washed from the bridge of a submarine, swam several miles to the nearest beach, have no weapons and no food – the situation is ten times more frightening.
That’s precisely what happened to Lieutenant Stan Baker and Able Seaman “Scruffy” Waterman. But even after all that, they were still a bundle of trouble for the Japanese!
Commando 5822: Strike Fast – Strike Hard!
Story: CG Walker | Art: Gordon C Livingstone | Cover: Jeff Bevan
First published as Commando No. 2938 in 1996


Night after night, fierce, no-quarter battles were fought in the narrow waters of the English Channel and the North Sea by small craft of the British and German navies. As Lieutenant Hugh Humbert was to find out, the smallest mistake could have a high toll on ships and men’s lives. The only way to be sure of winning was to strike fast and strike hard!
• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter
• This Was The Wizard by Derek Marsden and Ray Moore (ISBN 978-0955197819) is available through secondhand bookshops | AmazonUK Affiliate Link | AbeBooks – be warned, it is not cheap! Read our review here
Commando Issues 5819 – 5822 – 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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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.
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