Here’s the lowdown on the new issues of DC Thomson’s war comic Commando, on sale from tomorrow in all good newsagents and as digital editions – a batch that includes a new Convict Commando story written by Alan Hebden.
Commando No 4659 – Bad Vibrations
Story: Alan Hebden Art: Benet Cover: Benet
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/5th-december-2013-collection?issue=4659
Running from a hail of lead fired by vengeful Germans as tons of concrete from collapsing U-Boat crashed down around them – just a normal day at the office for the Convict Commandos, surely?
This time, though, Guy Tenby, Smiler Dawson, Titch Mooney and new boy Spider Mackay were really worried. They had lost one man on a previous mission and this one had been giving off bad vibrations from the start.
Commando No 4660 – Terror Patrol
Originally Commando No 66 (April 1963)
Story: Clegg Art: Sostres Cover: Ken Barr
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/5th-december-2013-collection?issue=4660
The narrow Channel between England and the Continent has always been vital to our safety. That was where Drake took on his enemies, the Spanish Armada – and in the last war it was where the little ships of the torpedo flotillas took on their German foes, sweeping them back from our shores.
This story is about these patrol boats and the heroes who sailed them. And especially it is about Bill Ashby, flotilla commander, who conquered not only the fast E-boats, but even Germany’s mightiest battleship!
“Many of the naval battles that were fought in the narrow seas of the English Channel were fought in darkness, masked from the probing eyes of RAF or Luftwaffe,” notes Commando Editor Calum Laird of this re-presented tale. “With this in mind, Sostres was a brilliant choice of artist for the inside work, his high-contrast style perfectly suiting the partially illuminated night. The story handles the one man’s change from commanded to commanding without ever losing any of the action Commando is known for. Ken Barr’s cover almost seems like an unnecessary extra but of course it isn’t!”
Commando No 4661 – “Sink The Odessa!”
Story: Alan Hebden Art: Morahin Cover: Janek Matysiak
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/5th-december-2013-collection?issue=4661
Royal Navy Lieutenant Mike Fraser and Chief Petty Officer Derek Chalmers were frogmen – well used to going on daring solo operations in the murky ocean depths aboard their underwater chariot.
But when an important job to sink a strategically vital battleship went awry in the German-occupied Crimean region of Russia, they found themselves teaming up with a rag-tag guerrilla group in a desperate attempt to complete their mission.
Commando No 4662 – The Flying Shark
Originally Commando No 2224 (October 1988), re-issued as No 3724 (June 2004)
Story: Roger Sanderson Art: Gordon Livingstone Cover: Ian Kennedy
Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/5th-december-2013-collection?issue=4662
He was a brilliant fighter pilot, ruthless and cunning – he knew no fear. For his breath-taking skill and sheer nerve he was known to friend and foe alike as “The Flying Shark”.
But there was another reason for that name. Tattooed on the pilot’s shoulder was the emblem of a shark’s head. He didn’t know how it had got there – in fact, he didn’t even know who he really was!
“Brought to you by a trio of our finest contributors – each of whom is without doubt firing on all creative cylinders – The Flying Shark is classic Commando through and through,” argues Commando’s Deputy Editor Scott Montgomery. “Writer Roger Sanderson – now best known as a prolific author of Mills & Boon romance novels – delivers an exciting script with a neat mystery at its core. Visually, Gordon Livingstone’s interior artwork is up to its usual impeccable standard while Ian Kennedy’s cover is typically stunning.
“As I said: classic Commando. I hope you enjoy re-visiting it.”
• There are more details of Commando on the official Commando website, the Commando Facebook page
DOWNTHETUBES EXCLUSIVE COMMANDO SUBSCRIPTION OFFER
If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for a British comics fan, downthetubes has an EXCLUSIVE discount on a subscription to DC Thomson’s Commando comic, simply by ordering through the DC Thomson Online Shop using our special discount code.
• Follow this dedicated link to DC Thomson’s Commando subscription page
Some of our readers reported problems with the link recently, but the technical team at DC Thomson have now fixed things – so if you follow the link above, the discount is automatically applied – you do NOT need to enter the COMDT promotional code. Ignore the discount field on the check out page, too.
• More information on our dedicated Commando Subscription Offer Page
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
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, Featured News