Here’s the latest Commandos to hit newsagents, courtesy of DC Thomson, as the countdown to the comic digest’s 50th anniversary begins in earnest…
Commando 4359: Johnny The Jinx
Story: Eric Hebden Inside Art: Alonso Cover Art: Lopez Espi
Originally No 301 for 1967, re-issued in 1976 as 1019
Remembered by Commando Calum Laird from childhood and re-issued as part of the 50th anniversary program, this story centres on Lieutenant Johnny Dawson. Gremlins, leprechauns — call them what you like — they all had it in for him. He was the sort of bloke whose Sten would suddenly jam for no reason, or he’d be the one in a million who’d be issued with the grenade with a faulty fuse.
Yes, Johnny had a real jinx. He didn’t like it, the top brass didn’t like it and, most important, Johnny’s men didn’t like it. In fact if his luck didn’t change soon he’d have a mutiny on his hands.
Commando 4360 Flying Fury
Story: Ken Gentry Inside Art: José Maria Jorge Cover Art: Sanfeliz
Originally No 384 from 1969, re-issued as No 1107 in 1977
Chosen by former editor George Low to be re-issued as part of the 50th anniversary programme, this is the late José Maria Jorge’s first book for Commando.
Painted on the fuselage of Otto Koll’s Messerschmitt fighter were many RAF roundels, the number of Spitfires and Hurricanes he had shot down. He was a master-flyer. He reigned supreme.
But there’s a lot of truth in the old saying, “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”
All the RAF needed was something impossible… a pilot who could out-fly and out-fight Germany’s best!
Commando 4361 Free French Ace
Story: Ferg Handley Inside Art: Rezzonico Cover Art: Ian Kennedy
Although he had been born in France, Mike Perrin grew up in Great Britain and considered himself to be English. Furthermore, he blamed the French and their early surrender to Germany for the deaths of his parents.
When Mike passed out as a fighter pilot his Gallic heritage saw him posted — mistakenly, he believed — to a Free French squadron. He didn’t want to be there and made no bones about it. This bad attitude was going to get him into a lot of trouble…
Commando No 4362: Mountain Warriors
Story: Alan Hebden Inside Art: Keith Page Cover Art: Keith Page
They looked comical in their striped robes and leading their mules. But the Goumiers were soldiers through and through, fighting for France against all comers in North Africa.
Make no mistake, these mountain warriors were silent, dangerous…and deadly!
Calum tells us the working title for this tale was The Goum Show — Goumiers are often referred to as Goums. And it is not the first Commando cover to feature a donkey.
• Official Commando web site: http://www.commandomag.com/
• Click here for subscription information or write to: D.C. Thomson & Co Ltd, The Subscribers Department, Commando Library, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL or Freephone (UK only) 0800 318846
• Read interviews with former Commando editor George Low, current editor Calum Laird
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, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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This is the second set of anniversary issues John. The first ones, including a reprint of the rare issue No.12, were out a couple of weeks ago.
Thanks Lew. Strangely, I didn’t get the covers and info for that first batch. I assumed (wrongly) that the last batch of covers Jeremy used in his interview for with Calum Laird talking about the 50th anniversary were the first of the year but not necessarily the first ‘celebration’ covers. Post modified now.
I didn’t receive the covers & info for the previous ones either (I think DCT were still on holiday) so I scanned them in myself. Here they are for anyone who missed them:
http://lewstringer.blogspot.com/2011/01/commando-comic-begins-its-50th.html