Commando comic marks the Battle of Britain

By John Freeman on July 8, 2020

Enjoy some high-flying aerial adventures as Commando commemorates the 80-year anniversary of the Battle of Britain in issues 5347 – 5350, out this week from DC Thomson Media. Here’s the intel…

Commando 5347: Home of Heroes – Flying Fever
Story: Andrew Knighton | Art: Muller & Klacik | Cover: Ian Kennedy
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With a terrific cover by aircraft enthusiast Ian Kennedy, this Commando tackles the toll of the constant fights and flights the pilots of the RAF endured during the Battle of Britain. The brave men were sometimes sent on up on several sorties a day with very little to no sleep, something writer Andrew Knighton plays upon in this nerve-wracking yarn.

Commando 5348: Gold Collection – Spitfire Spirit
Story: CG Walker | Art: Medrano | Cover: Phillips
Originally Commando No. 1128 (1977)
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Harry ‘Handlebar’ Hanley of the RAF found himself alone against six Black Eagles in this classic Commando. They blasted his Spitfire full of holes, and Luftwaffe ace Kurt Krantz was sure his enemy would trouble him no more. But he was going to find out that the Spitfire spirit doesn’t die so easily!

Commando 5349: Action and Adventure – The Rejects
Story: Jim & David Turner | Art and Cover: Carlos Pino
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Jim and David Turner’s ‘The Rejects’ is a story that shows not every flyer fit neatly into the RAF. All manner of men took to the perilous skies in 1940, determined to defend the tiny British Isles from Goering’s fearsome aircraft armada. Different nationalities – British, Polish, Czech, French, and Irish pilots, like Michael O’Connor, banded together and lunged headfirst at the mass of Luftwaffe bombers and fighters… Pilots who were equally determined to crush the Allies under their boots!

Commando 5350: Silver Collection – Cards of Fate
Story: CG Walker | Art: Gordon C Livingstone | Cover: Phillips
Originally Commando No. 1230 (1982)
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A seemingly supernatural threat intervenes as six ordinary playing cards are given to six ordinary pilots, marking them as good as dead! Just what was the terrifying power of darkness that cut this Hurricane squadron to pieces during those few weeks of the Battle of Britain?

Another exciting – yet offbeat Commando from classic writer CG Walker, who gives the reader a story they are seldom likely to forget!

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John Freeman

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.