British Comic Companion – Commando For Action and Adventure

Last Updated: 14th December 2018

Commando Issue One Published by DC Thomson, Commando For Action and Adventure is Britain’s longest serving war comic, publishing stories of action and adventure since 1961. These stories, with their mixture of excitement, danger and courage under fire, and the dynamic artwork that accompanies them, have won Commando a loyal readership over the decades.

On land, at sea, and in the air, Commando’s stories cover every corner of the globe and are set throughout world history, the epic tales of bravery in battle making the title colloquially known as Commando Comics the Home of Heroes.

Ken Barr’s final cover for Commando – Issue 4138

Formerly known as Commando War Stories in Pictures the title primarily draw its themes and backdrops from the various incidents of World War One and Two, although many other historical conflicts, including the Falklands, have featured. It was first published in July 1961 and is still in print today.

It is the last of the British “pocket digest” or “picture library” titles, which were published in abundance and covered multiple genres from war to humour and romance. With its 68-page format, on sale in all good UK newsagents and digital outlets, Commando has remained more popular than many other British war comics.

Most stories have no continuity between them, although that has slowly changed, with the publication of several stories featuring “Convict Commandos” and “Ramsey’s Raiders“.