DC Thomson Media have launched a new range of digital releases under their Heritage Comics brand, offering collected digital editions of stories from their comic archives spanning decades of publishing for boys and girls. They include the revival of Spellbound, a project long in development for the company.

The new digital editions will be released on the final Wednesday of every month, with four releases launching this week, available on Amazon’s Kindle and ComiXology services.

Commando Presents… The Warlord Files Volume 1

• Available here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Weekly comic Warlord was launched in September 1974, an anthology of action and adventure to comic readers across the UK… and further afield. Amongst the most popular and well-remembered strips was the one starring Lord Peter Flint – Codename: WARLORD. The eponymous character continued to thrill readers every week until the comic ceased publication in September 1986, after an incredible 627-issue run.

Then, in 2019 Britain’s top secret agent returned in the pages of the legendary long-running Commando comic. These more recent adventures featuring the wartime Scarlet Pimpernel is back are collected here.

Nazis beware! A defecting German professor in need of rescue? A plan to build the biggest ‘Fuhrer’ class warship of all time uncovered? Though branded a coward, there can only be one man for the job — Flint, Lord Peter Flint… Codename: WARLORD!

• Available here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

• Commando Presents Series Page on AmazonUK

Heritage Comics Presents #1: Classic Codename: WARLORD – Volume 1

• Available here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

The earliest adventures of Britain’s top secret agent are collected here, as DC Thomson’s Heritage Comics presents… CLASSIC CODENAME: WARLORD Volume 1!

Though branded a coward, there can only be one man for the job — Flint, Lord Peter Flint… Nazis beware!

• Available here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

• Commando Presents Series Page on AmazonUK

Commando Presents #2: The Fear Files – Volume 1

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Something wicked this way comes, as Commando presents… The Fear Files: Volume 1. This digital anthology collects four supernatural-themed Commando comics to thrill and delight readers of all ages.

This collection brings together four spine-chilling 63-page stories from Britain’s longest-running war comic, Commando, in bloodcurdling black-and-white art. Featuring ghoulish vampires, werewolves, witches, and ghosts, this spine-chilling selection of comics is sure to send a cold shiver down the back of your neck!

Commando #104: Ghost with a Gun

Story: Du Feu | Art: Cueto | Original Cover: Chaco

This fighting patrol numbered the ghosts among its ranks!

Corporal Benny Walker’s name will never go down in history — but he was the leader of the strangest fighting patrol the British Army had ever known. It was some patrol that one!

Benny, six yanks and a couple of ghosts. Yes, the ghosts wore uniforms too — and didn’t they tear into the Germans!

This classic Commando from the 1960s epitomises the golden era of the comic, with a story from the mysterious Du Feu, his only credited Commando, alongside Spanish comics legends Cueto and Chaco — this Commando is going to haunt anyone who misses it!

Commando #984: Night of Fear

Story: Alan Hebden | Art: Patrick Wright | Original Cover: Ian Kennedy

This beloved but hair-raising Commando is a fan favourite, often requested to be reprinted — and it’s clear to see why. With an amazing trio of British comics greats, Alan Hebden, Patrick Wright and Ian Kennedy — all at the height of their powers — this Commando is scarily good!

The tales of vampires in Transylvania were only myths… weren’t they?
​Transylvania is an eerie land of legends, of werewolves and vampires, of hauntings and spine-chilling screams in the dark.
Not the most welcoming place in the world to crash-land in at dead of night — especially when your Mosquito has been damaged, not by Nazi flak… but by a swarm of thousands of large, black bats!

Commando #5381: Operation Silver Bullets

Story: KEK-W | Art: Jaume Forns | Original Cover: Tom Foster

Follow the trail of bodies to Chateau Epouvantail and you’re sure of a big surprise. The Nazis there are bigger than average, stronger than most. They can see the sweat drip down your face in the dark; hear your heartbeat from a mile away. And when you’re close enough to see what big teeth they have, then it’s too late for you, my friend…

‘Operation Silver Bullets’ is a modern Commando offering with bite! Featuring real werewolves experimented on by KEK-W’s script, alongside artwork from veteran Commando artist Jaume Forns and up-and-comer in British comics, Tom Foster — this Commando will have you howling at the moon!

Commando #5519 Night Witch

Story: Georgia Standen Battle | Art: Vicente Alcazar | Original Cover: Mark Harris

Through the stillness of the night came a sound like the flapping of wings…
German soldiers feared the night. Their restless sleep was interrupted by a sound caught on the wind — like the knocking of flying broomsticks. Like ghosts, the Polikarpov Po-2 fighters of 588th Night Bomber Regiment swooped in to attack, destroying all that dared to be in their path. The Germans soon began to call these fearsome female pilots ‘The Nachthexen’ — The Night Witches… However, there was more to one of these women than there seemed.

From the twisted mind that brought you ‘Commandos vs Zombies’ comes a freaky foray into the occult in ‘Night Witch’. Georgia Standen Battle cements her place as a mistress of supernatural Commandos, working once again with the award-winning artist Vicente Alcazar, and newcomer to Commando, Mark Harris, to cast a spell on you in this issue!

• Available here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

• Commando Presents Series Page on AmazonUK

Spellbound Volume 1

• Available here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

A special chilling new release from Heritage Comics, Spellbound Volume 1 offers a new introduction to this digital title blending old and new stories from DC Thomson’s classic girls comic. First released back in 2019, this digital project surfaced briefly online, only to vanish almost immediately, without explanation – so it’s great to see it out in the wild once more.

Spellbound Volume 1 includes a selection of vintage features, and a cover gallery, classic chills and thrills await inside…

September 1976 saw a strange new publication sharing newsagent’s shelves next to Bunty, Judy, Mandy, and other traditional kids comics. Spellbound described itself as the “all mystery story paper for girls”, and it featured nothing but strange, mysterious and spine-tingling tales designed to give its young readers chills with their thrills.

Throughout its run, those readers encountered otherworldly adventure with “The Supercats”, schoolyard sorcery with “I Don’t Want to be a Witch”, ancient Egyptian princesses stalking the streets in “When the Mummy Walks”, and a bewitched time-travelling torch in “The Shop at Shudder Corner”. Clearly, Damian Darke, “The Master of Mystery”, was in fine, if frightening company, when he stepped out of the shadows of his library of strange stories in Spellbound‘s first issue.

More than 40 years after it merged with sister comic Debbie, the legacy of Spellbound lives on as it returns to cast its spell in a special digital collection.

Experience the strange and sinister tales told by the mysterious Damian Darke, with art by, among others, Brian Lewis (House of Hammer, World of the Unknown: Ghosts), and get entangled in the enchanting serial “I Don’t Want to be a Witch”, featuring early art by prolific British comics artist, Norman Lee (Mandy, Judy), whose distinctive style graced most of Spellbound‘s covers.

Plus, there’s modern Spellbound stories by Georgia Standen Battle (Commandos Vs Zombies series), Daniel McGachey (They That Dwell in Dark Places, By No Mortal Hand), and featuring early work by rising comic art stars Anna Morozova (2000AD, Rocky of the Rovers) and Lauren Knight (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Golden Rage).

• Available here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Look out for new Heritage Comics and Commando Presents digital releases on the final Wednesday of every month

• Commando Presents Series Page on AmazonUK

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.

Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Collections, Comics, Digital Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News

Tags: Adventure Comics, Commando, DC Thomson Media, downthetubes News, Girls Comics, Spellbound, War Comics, Warlord