The latest set of Commando issues 5907-5910 go on sale from DC Thomson this Thursday, 20th November 2025 in all good newsagents, offering action abundant with tanks, rifles, historic swords and the return of Cadman, The Fighting Coward!
Here’s our guide to the releases, and reviews of all four issues…
Commando 5907: Charlie’s Tank
Story: Julian Michael Carver | Art: Jaume Forns | Cover: Neil Roberts
Corporal Charlie Shaw was in the thick of it when tanks rolled into battle during the First World War. As one of the drivers of a Mark IV Male tank, he was certain nothing could stop them taking Bourlon Ridge!
But the tanks weren’t invulnerable – and soon Charlie found himself and his tank captured by the Germans!
Well, Sergeant Joe Shaw wasn’t about to stand around and let them capture his younger brother and his tank – even if it meant deserting his trench and rushing headlong at the Germans to stop them!
“Charlie’s Tank” is based on events to take Bourlon Ridge during the Battle of Cambrai, which took place between 20th November to 30th December 1917. Clearing Bourlon Wood fell to the 119th Brigade, who attacked with two Battalions up front as the brutal battle opened: the 19th Royal Welch Fusiliers and the 12th South Wales Borderers. They were accompanied by just four tanks from D Battalion, not the large number seen in one rather fanciful frame of “Charlie’s Tank”, although more widely, the Tank Corps deployed its entire strength of 476 machines, of which more than 350 were armed fighting tanks.
Originally conceived as a very large scale raid, the Battle of Cambrai – early success soon reversed by a German counter-attack that regained much of the ground taken – employed new artillery techniques and massed tanks.
“Ultimately a disappointing and costly outcome,” notes military historian Chris Baker, “but Cambrai is now seen by historians as the blueprint for the successful ‘Hundred Days’ offensives of 1918.”
If by “disappointing” he is referring to Third Army losses alone of 44,207 dead, wounded and missing between 20th November and 8th December, then the Battle of Cambrai was certainly that. According to the Statistics of the Military Effort of the British Empire during the Great War, the British forces in France, in the period of the Battle of Cambrai alone, suffered 75,681 casualties, 10,042 killed or died of wounds, 48,702 wounded and 16,987 missing or prisoners of war. In Military Operations France and Belgium 1917: The Battle of Cambrai, Wilfrid Miles, Britain’s official historian, gives British losses in the Third Army, Tank Corps and the Royal Flying Corps from 20th November to 8th December as 44,207, 40,000 of them in the main battle. The German compiled Sanitätsbericht über das Deutschen Heeres, im Weltkriege 1914–1918, published in 1934, the German Army Medical report of the World War, noted Germans suffered 54,720 casualties at Cambrai: 8,817 killed and died of wounds, 22,931 wounded and 22,972 missing and prisoners of war.
“Charlie’s Tank” skirts the wider success but ultimate failure of the Battle of Cambrai in favour of a more focused, personal tale of derring-do on the part of a brother trying to rescue his younger sibling when the Germans capture his tank. As such, we’re treated to non-stop action, told against some of the real events in the operation, many of them far more harrowing than Commando as a title likes to delve. While this may disappoint fans of Pat Mills and Joe Colquhoun’s “Charley’s War”, it can’t be said that writer Justin Michael Carver doesn’t deliver a rousing adventure, complemented by enjoyable art from Jaume Forns.
There is, it has to be noted, a little use of American slang in opening pages that seems ill placed, even if American troops were, by then, part of the conflict; rapidly changing into an overuse of “blimey”, to the point of almost being as rankling as the use of “like” by anyone under 30 in today’s vernacular. Let’s hope this is reined in, going forwards.
But, my personal pet hates aside, this probably won’t be noticeable to casual readers and certainly won’t cause much concern, in favour of enjoying a rescue mission with heart.
Commando 5908: The Rifleman
Story: Eric Hebden | Art: Victor de la Fuente | Cover: Jordi Penalva
First published in 1971 as No. 592
Danny Willis was the best shot in the regiment. In fact, the NCOs who had trained him said he was the best shot in the entire British Army.
When he got to the front and found himself with fighting men at last, he was all ready to show them just what he could do. But he soon discovered there was a heck of a difference between a rifle range in England and a trench in the front line in Italy.
“The Rifleman” is a gem from the Commando archives, focused on a keen but green soldier whose mistakes lead to disgrace but, eventually, redemption, a smashing story from Commando veteran Eric Hebden (1910 – 1988), profiled here by Victor Whittle, who served in the British Army during World War Two, initially as Captain of a coastal anti-aircraft battery in Gibraltar, later in the far east, including India, Burma and Indonesia. After the Japanese surrender, by now a Major, he sat on the War Crimes Commission in Singapore. His many comic credits include Commando, Battle Picture Library and Lion in the 1960s, and Battle Picture Weekly (for which he also acted as technical adviser), including “Day of the Eagle”, “The Fortrose Falcon” and “Iron Cross of Courage”, in the 1970s.
His son Alan followed in his footsteps as a writer for Commando and other publications, including 2000AD.
Known for his speed, artist Victor de la Fuente (1927-2010) shines here on art duties, his accomplished work, honed on stories for War Picture Library and Battle Picture Library in the 1960s, powering this represented adventure along with consummate ease.
This welcome reprint is a timely reminder of his skill, which fans of his work will be able to enjoy further with the release of a collection of “Trelawny of the Guards”, first published in Lion in the 1960s, by Rebellion next July, available to preorder now (AmazonUK Affiliate Link). (Anyone who thinks “Charley’s War” who believes it was the first time war had been treated realistically in British comics is likely to be pleasantly surprised).
Commando 5909: Cadman: Born to Lead
Story: Andrew Knighton | Art and Cover: Mike Dorey
Lieutenant Gerald Cadman, the fighting coward, once again finds himself precisely where he does not want to be – on the front lines! The arrival of the heroic and aristocratic Captain Blickley-Phipps, however, gives Cadman an idea for how to improve his station.
But for Private Tom Smith, something doesn’t seem right about Blickley-Phipps. Ruthless in his quest for glory, the captain will gladly sacrifice his own men for victory.
Even Scruff the dog can smell an impending disaster, but Cadman may be too distracted to find a way out this time!
“Cadman: Born to Lead” is a gem of a story from Andrew Knighton and Mike Dorey, Commando’s equivalent of “Blackadder” for once finding himself sharing a trench with an even obnoxious, and more dangerous officer than he is. Leading a squad of Indian infantry, Captain Blickley-Phipps quickly proves himself an utterly vile excuse for a human being; think the casual brutality Blackadder Goes Forth’s eccentric General Melchett, but twisted into far a darker character, and you’re almost there.
Cowardly Cadman is, of course, unlike his batman, Tom Smith, initially quite oblivious to Blickley-Phipps sadistic nature, anxious instead to ingratiate himself with an officer who can help him into the upper class; but even he eventually realises that the danger Phipps poses to life and limb might be greater than the threat from the Germans they’re up against in the Western Front trenches.
As with Warlord (a new adventure on the way in the next set), reviving “Cadman, The Fighting Coward” from the long defunct weekly comic Victor is surely one reason sales of Commando remain strong; and great storytelling certainly helps. Knighton and Dorey complement each other in style in this latest adventure, and you’ll certainly enjoy every twist and turn. Recommended.
Commando 5910: Two of the Bravest
Story: Cyril Walker | Art: Felix Carrion | Cover: Ian Kennedy
First published in 1984 as No. 1834
These were two swords with a history. One belonged to a fearless Arab leader, the other to a heroic Foreign Legion officer. Many years ago, they had clashed as their owners fought a respected foe.
Now, as the desert wastes were engulfed by the Second World War, these two fine blades were destined to clash again…
This set rounds off with another World War Two story, “Two of the Bravest”, Ian Kennedy’s suitably if literal cover serving as intriguing enticement into a story of adventure and betrayal in the Sahara, as allegiances shift among soldiers of the French Foreign Legion.
Ever the accomplished storyteller, CG Walker presents a redemptive tale, as young, uncertain soldiers find their feet against a common enemy. It’s an archive tale that rounds off this release very nicely.
• 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 Issue 5907 – 5910 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, Comic Previews, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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