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Commando celebrates forty-plus years for stories by artist Manuel Benet

By John Freeman on September 23, 2024

DC Thomson have dedicated this week’s incoming set of Commando (Nos 5787 – 5790, on sale in newsagents and online Thursday 26th September 2024, to special issues with art and covers by beloved long-time artist Manuel Benet.

“He’s been working with Commando for more than 40 years, so it only seemed right!” the editorial team tell us.

Check out our profile of Manuel’s amazing comics career, which started in the late 1960s, and who started working ion Commando in 1983, here on downthetubes. Commentary below on each issue from the Commando team that picked these special issues…

Commando 5787: Home of Heroes: Hunter and Bunter
Story: Roger Sanderson | Art and Cover: Manuel Benet
Originally printed as No. 2538 in 1992

Hunter was a crackshot, a tough, well-trained sergeant. Bunter was lazy and afraid — a useless soldier. From their first meeting, the two hated the sight of one another. Not the makings of a good team at all, but the day would come when each of them would have to depend on the other — or die!

“Our first issue in the set dedicated to Manuel Benet features a classic odd couple scenario with a range of twists and turns courtesy of writer Roger Sanderson,” enthuse the Commando team. “Manuel Benet’s brilliant character work shines!

Commando 5787: Home of Heroes: Hunter and Bunter Story: Roger Sanderson | Art and Cover: Manuel Benet Originally printed as No. 2538 in 1992. A page from "Hunter and Bunter", succinctly establishing the 'rival' characters — A page from “Hunter and Bunter”, succinctly establishing the ‘rival’ characters

Commando 5788: Gold Collection: Jungle Killer
Story: Ian Clark | Art and Cover: Manuel Benet
Originally printed as No. 2669 in 1993

In the dark, dank jungles of Vietnam, danger was everywhere. But Sergeant Clint Bryden of the American Forces was at home there — just like a beast of prey, revelling in the shadows and cover. He became so good at this job that before long, even those on his side began to walk in fear of the… JUNGLE KILLER!

“This dark tale of the Vietnam war was written by Ian Clark, who clearly was channelling the great classics of Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket. The gritty issue showcases Manuel’s abilities through his careful rendering of the dense jungle undergrowth.”

Commando 5789: Action and Adventure: The Devil’s Road
Story: Heptonstall | Art and Cover: Manuel Benet
Originally printed as No. 2949 in 1996

You won’t find the name on any maps for this barren, mountainous region, but somehow the Germans had learned about the narrow pass which the local Arabs called “The Devil’s Road”.

Now the enemy were about to put their knowledge to lethal use and the two men who had stumbled on their secret and might be able to stop them, were in big trouble — spiralling out of control towards the ground in a badly‑damaged aircraft…

“We’re off to the desert in Heptonstall’s action-packed script with some amazing aerial scenes courtesy of master Manuel! They always say ‘the devil’s in the detail’ and Manuel is no stranger to beautiful intricate work which is for all to see in Issue 5789!”

Commando 5790: Silver Collection: Twice the Danger
Story: Roger Sanderson | Art and Cover: Manuel Benet
Originally printed as No. 3019 in 1997

Captain Chris Blower and his company of British paratroopers were assigned a dangerous mission in enemy‑occupied Sicily in 1943. As if that wasn’t tough enough, an American colonel had got in on the act. A real‑life film star with an inflated sense of his own importance, he knew too much about future invasion plans for his own good.

So when he fell into enemy hands, Chris and his men were suddenly faced with a mission that was doubly dangerous!

“Our final Commando in the special one-off issues dedicated to Manuel is a fun romp about a movie star caught in the throes of battle written by Roger Sanderson. The issue seemed a fitting way to round off this set since Manuel is a bit of a star around Commando HQ after all!”

• Check out our quick guide to Manuel Benet’s career here on downthetubes

• Manuel Benet is online at manuelbenet.es | Facebook

• Manuel Benet Blanes – Profile on Tebeosfera (in Spanish)

• Manuel Benet – previous downthetubes news items

Commando 5787 – 5790 Cover Gallery

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.