Beserker Viking stalks the in latest Commandos!

By John Freeman on April 23, 2014

Here’s the rundown for DC Thomson’s Commando Issues 4699-4702 on sale from 24th April 2014 in all good newsagents and for iPad and iPhone. It;s a another fine mix for the war comic title, featuring stories from Eric Hebden and former Commando editor George Low, and art from Sostres, Caros Pino and Keith Page, among others.

Commando No 4699 – Ground Attack!
Story: Peter Grehan Art: Carlos Pino Cover: Carlos Pino

The Hurricanes of the Desert Air Force were rightly feared by the men of the Afrika Korps. Screaming in from the searing blue skies, their guns wrought massive destruction. Pilot Officer Billy Hammond was one of the best of the ground attack boys, lightning fast, deadly accurate.

So they sent him to a new squadron with new kites and new weapons — PP-3s, fearsome three-inch air-to-ground rockets. The only problem was that they had sent him to a squadron where an old enemy waited. One on his own side!

Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/24th-april-2014-collection?issue=4699

Commando No 4700 – The Silver Bugle
Originally Commando No 137 (October 1964), re-issued as No 711 (January 1973)
Story: Eric Hebden Art: Sostres Cover: Alvaro

This is the story of Sam Curtis, light infantry commander, of the silver bugle that went with him to war, and of the fighting tradition that began nearly two centuries before, with the first raid of the light “Bobs” on the enemy-held island of Walcheren, and the day a dreadful curse fell on the Domburg windmill…

“Reading the title and looking at Alvaro’s thunderous cover, you might be expecting a story about a haunted bugle (or something of the sort),” notes editor Calum Laird of this re-presented tale. “If you are, disappointment awaits. Not that this isn’t a good story, because it is, but because the Bugle very much plays second fiddle (sorry!) to the two principal characters and the gulf that divides them. It’s classic Commando warfare… between men on the same side.

“Sostres’ inside art helps the mix along, with a striking mix of highly-detailed images backed with broader sweeps of the brush, his faces and expressions very nicely drawn.

“So, follow the bugle’s call and try out what was originally titled Short Step Into Danger.”

Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/24th-april-2014-collection?issue=4700

Commando No 4701 – Dangerous War
Story: George Low Art: Olivera Cover: Janek Matysiak

Lieutenant Jason Spark and his Commando team had completed another hazardous mission — blowing up an enemy radar station in Occupied France. While beating a hasty retreat, they found an unexpected prize — a high-ranking German officer who could provide the Top Brass with valuable secrets and intelligence.

All Jason’s team had to do was bring their captive in alive. Little did they know that even if they did that, an even more dangerous assignment would await them

Preview: http://www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/24th-april-2014-collection?issue=4701

Commando No 4702 – Operation “Viking”
Originally Commando No 2313 (September 1989), re-issued as No 3875 (January 2006)
Story: Alan Hemus Art: Denis Mcloughlin Cover: Ron Brown

Norway, a proud country, lay under Nazi rule. Slowly signs of resistance began to show, the beginning of a bitter war against the invaders.

And although the defiant days of the marauding Vikings of old were long past, it was said that in one remote fiord the battle was being waged to the limit by the ghost of a Viking berserker many centuries dead…

“Norway, with its icy Scandinavian landscapes and rich, Viking heritage, is an ideal setting for a Commando adventure,” argues Deputy Editor Scott Montgomery. “Set against the German occupation, here we have a brilliant yarn with a supernatural edge and a Berserker legend at the heart of it.

“Featuring some exciting interior art by Denis McLoughlin and Ron Brown’s atmospheric underwater cover, we hope you agree that this is great fun. You’d go berserk if you missed out!”

Preview: http://www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/24th-april-2014-collection?issue=4702

Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/10th-april-2014-collection?issue=4698

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

• Commando Collections: Checklist

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About the Author
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John Freeman

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.