Home › Comics › British Comics › Doctor Who and Star Trek artist and writer Mike Collins joins Commando comics ranks

Doctor Who and Star Trek artist and writer Mike Collins joins Commando comics ranks

By John Freeman on August 17, 2023

Mike Collins (2023) - photo courtesy Mike Collins — *Mike Collins*

Four new Commando comics, issues 5671 – 5674, are on sale in newsagents from DC Thomson today, Thursday 17th August. It’s a set that sees the debut of comic artist legend Mike Collins on the title, delivering amazing art on one of the new stories, “Disaster in Dieppe”, written by Andrew Knighton.

Over the past four decades, Mike Collins has drawn Doctor Who, Spider-Man, Star Trek, Transformers and Wonder Woman – just to name a few titles you might recognise.

When not storyboarding upcoming episodes of Doctor Who, or drawing the independent comic First Men on Mars, Mike’s also recently penned and illustrated two Star Trek short stories for Star Trek Explorer, both time travel stories, one involving the crew of the U.S.S. Voyager; the other, available soon to subscribers, set aboard Deep Space Nine.

“‘Disaster at Dieppe’, written by Andrew Knighton is a cracker of a tale drawing on a particularly grim series of events in World War Two,” Mike enthuses. “I’ve tried to make it look as authentic as possible, hope you like it!”

Mike will be at Comic Expo Bristol on Saturday 7th October, so you may want to take copies of his first Commando with you if you’re going, to get them signed! Check out his official website here.

Commando 5671: Home of Heroes – Dutch Courage
Story: JP Bridson | Art: Dan Barnfield | Cover: Keith Burns

Commando 5671: Home of Heroes - Dutch Courage - cover by Keith Burns

A little shaky before battle? Not Kapitein Robin van der Laan of the East Indies Army Air Force. In his North American B-25 Mitchell bomber, he was armed and ready to take on the enemy whatever the price.

But Robin was going to find out how much it would cost — for his Mitchell was outclassed by the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero in every way. As casualties mounted, Robin vowed to take down every enemy fighter he saw — and he would need all his courage to do it!

A rare Commando about the Dutch during World War Two in Issue 5671 written by JP Bridson. With amazing art from Dan Barnfield and a true-to-form spectacular cover by Keith Burns.

Commando 5660 – Gold Collection: …And One Was Traitor
Story: McOwan | Art: Quesada | Cover: Ken Barr
Originally Commando No. 276 (1967)

Commando 5660 – Gold Collection: …And One Was Traitor - cover by Ken Barr

All his life young Joe Minelli had it rough, all because he was a little guy and had an Italian name.

When he passed the tough selection course for the British Special Air Service and became Trooper Minelli of X Troop, Joe thought he’d made it at last. He’d find friends and fighting comrades in the company of crack fighting men.

Then things began to go wrong on top-secret raids, and the whispers began, just like at school — only a million times worse.
“Minelli… Italian… Minelli…Traitor!”

Now it was up to Joe…

There’s more twists and turns to McOwan’s story that you could even imagine! No spoilers but you won’t want to miss Quesada’s interior artwork and this classic Ken Barr cover.

Commando 5673: Action and Adventure – Disaster at Dieppe
Story: Andrew Knighton | Art: Mike Collins | Cover: Neil Roberts

Commando 5673: Action and Adventure - Disaster at Dieppe - cover by Neil Roberts

*A tantalising peek at the opening page of Commando 5673: Disaster at Dieppe, art by Mike Collins*

In August 1942, the Allies launched Operation Jubilee, an amphibious attack on the German-occupied French Port of Dieppe. It was a disaster and a strategic failure, with harsh lessons learnt at a high cost to life.
This is the story of three men: one pilot, one tank driver, and one infantryman, and their fight for survival in that hell on earth.

Andrew Knighton’s interwoven story of three friends in different regiments and their tragic adventure in Dieppe is an issue to behold. Neil Roberts’ moody and dramatic cover really sets the tone from the get-go!

Commando 5674: Silver Collection – Stowaway!
Story: Roger Sanderson | Art: Enriquez | Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally Commando No. 1461 (1980)

Commando 5674: Silver Collection - Stowaway! - cover by Ian Kennedy

As Johnny Hale stood on trial, charged with desertion and robbery, it seemed inevitable that he would suffer severe penalties for his crime.
But Johnny had a story to tell. It was not the tale of a coward or a crook, but the story of a man who had to rely on every ounce of his nerve and courage to carry him through the most perilous situations.

It had been a strange adventure, but although Johnny had started out as a weakling he had finished up as a real man.

This classic Commando reprint is on its first airing since 1980.

• If there’s a past Commando comic you would like to see reprinted, contact the team via generalenquiries@commandomag.com

Please note, as of June 2023, the Heritage Comics and Commando Presents digital releases project is on hiatus, as DC Thomson examine new ways to publish classics from their archive – check out the Commando Presents Series Page on AmazonUK for all the digital titles released under these banners

Commando 5661 – 5664 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.