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Commando tales of D-Day, old and new, part of latest new releases this week

By John Freeman on July 6, 2022

Commando issues 5555-5558 from DC Thomson Media are in shops and online from Thursday 7th July, 2022, featuring stories set in the Vietnam war, War in the East, and two deadly D-Day comics. Here’s all the intel you need…

Look out, in particular, for No. 5555, with a stunning cover by Neil Roberts, and No. 5557, as newcomer cover artist Mark Eastbrook really makes his mark!

All these latest issues are already available on AmazonUK, and the listings there now include previews of each issue, too give you a taster of the stories.

Commando 5555: Home of Heroes – Dead Men’s Boots
Story: JP Bridson | Art: Klacik | Cover: Neil Roberts
• Buy the digital edition from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

When Lieutenant Chuck Kinley arrives in Vietnam, things get off to a poor start. With rumours of his predecessors being fragged by their own men and NCOs playing by their own rules, it’s a tough battle for survival when you’re standing in Dead Man’s Boots!

A gritty Vietnam yarn from JP Bridson is brought to life with equally gritty-looking interiors by Klacik, all topped off with Neil Roberts’ cover, with the unusual focal point on the Vietcong, making for a belter of a Commando comic!

Commando 5556: Gold Collection – Black Zero
Story: Newark | Art: Jose Maria Jorge | Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally Commando No. 456 (1970)
• Buy the digital edition from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Commando 5556: Gold Collection - Black Zero | Cover by Ian Kennedy

Out of the sun it came, a jet black Zero with a large golden dragon on its side. And at the controls sat Captain Jirai Saito, a top ace who’d become king of the Pacific skies. He and his squadron had made their name by shooting down clumsy P-40 fighters, but the time for a showdown was at hand.

On their way from Europe was a squadron of sleek Spitfires that had left the Luftwaffe in tatters. The stage was set for the greatest air battles the Eastern skies had ever known!

One of the most requested Commando stories to be reprinted has, finally, being reprinted! This hotly anticipated classic features not only a rip-roaring story by Newark but also artwork from two legendary Commando artists Jose Maria Jorge and Ian Kennedy, two very much-missed creators.

Commando 5557: Action and Adventure – Renegade Raiders
Story: Ferg Handley | Art: Muller | Cover: Mark Eastbrook
• Buy the digital edition from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Commando 5557: Action and Adventure - Renegade Raiders | Cover by Mark Eastbrook

As D-Day approaches, Sergeant Joe Shatner and Second Lieutenant Rick Levitt head the demolition section of a US Airborne company — a rough, tough bunch of renegades with a flair for fighting and no respect for the rules. But Normandy is a long way from training and the comfort of an English pub! Faced with a chaotic landing, lost leaders and waves of German soldiers, can the team pull together and survive?

Ferg Handley strikes again with a group of rough-and-ready raiders who regularly flaunt the rules but get the job done!

With art by Muller and Commando cover newcomer Mark Eastbrook, this isn’t an issue to be missed!

Commando 5558: Silver Collection – The Strongpoint
Story: Motton | Art: Blasco | Cover: Philpott
Originally Commando No. 1807 (1984)
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Commando 5558: Silver Collection - The Strongpoint | Cover by Philpott

The target: three big guns in huge concrete bunkers surrounded by machine guns, barbed wire, and mines. They could cut the Allied invasion forces to shreds on the beaches unless they were spiked. The attackers: a bunch of raw soldiers barely out of school. Could the youngsters do it? You can bet they were going to try!

Seeing the light again after escaping the archives is this classic Commando from the 1980s, with amazing work from Motton, Blasco, and cover by Philpott.

Commando issues 5555 – 5558 Full Cover Gallery

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.