Double dealing and jungle adventure aplenty in new Commando comics

Commando comics issues 5431-5434 are out this week from DC Thomson Media, as both physical and digital editions, offering an intriguing mix of stories featuring vengeful Gurkhas, mysterious British officers, Motor Torpedo Boats and even a treasure chest…

I’ve picked out “Lions in Burma” for a mini-review for this set, and I wasn’t disappointed by this story, focusing on the little-known West African divisions who fought in Burma during World War Two. Coming in a week that’s seen the British government acknowledge a lack of honours for many overseas troops during World War One, I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn there’s often a similar lack of recognition for many troops from countries such as Nigeria during the Second World War, too. It’s good to see Commando remedy that frequent lack.

Heath Ackley delivers a great tale revolving around a mystery British officer rescued from a downed Japanese plane, who the Japanese desperately want to recapture, thinking he has vital intelligence. (It turns out the officer has intelligence, all right – but not the kind either the Japanese, or his African rescuers, are best pleased about!). It’s a fine tale, with some great art by Paolo Ongaro, and Neil Roberts cover perfectly captures the all-out jungle action inside.

Commando 5431 Home of Heroes: Lions in Burma
Story: Heath Ackley | Art: Paolo Ongaro | Cover: Neil Roberts
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Commando 5431 Home of Heroes: Lions in Burma

When a shifty British Officer is discovered in a crash in the deep Burmese jungle, Sergeant Obafemi Agbaje, of the 82nd West African Division, is honour bound to assist him.

But the Sergeant can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t quite right about the chap!

In Issue 5341, Heath Ackley’s story reminds us of regiments often overlooked in World War Two, to honour those whose bravery has been forgotten.

Commando 5432 Gold Collection: Blade of Honour
Story: Eric Hebden | Art and Cover: Gordon C Livingstone
Originally Commando No. 365 (1968)
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Commando 5432 Gold Collection: Blade of Honour

”Kafar hunu bhanda marnu ramro” — ”Better to die than live like a coward.” This is the Gurkhas’ motto, a code of conduct that was to be upheld. But it wasn’t just for them, they expected their British Officers to also adhere to that same code of courage. So, why then was a Gurkha’s blade, the razor-sharp kukri, poised to kill none other than a British Officer?!

How did this come to be? Well, that’s a classic represented story from the 1960s you’ll have to read now, won’t you…

Commando 5433 Action and Adventure: Dead Man’s Chest
Story: Colin Maxwell | Art: Khato | Cover: Graeme Neil Reid
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Commando 5433 Action and Adventure: Dead Man’s Chest

Five men found the Dead Man’s Chest, hidden in a cave on a tiny Scottish Island. Their eyes were filled with greed – but soon, one of them decided he didn’t want to share!

Issue 5433 is a story which would make even Robert Louis Stevenson proud… A tale of treasure, treachery, and terror from writer Colin Maxwell, as he unfolds twists and turns from the shores of rainy Scotland all the way to the sands of North Africa and back!

Commando 5434 Silver Collection: The Fiord Fighters
Story: McDevitt | Art: Ruiz | Cover: Sutton
Originally Commando No. 1678 (1983)
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Commando 5434 Silver Collection: The Fiord Fighters

A Commando harking back to the Silver era of war comics!

The fearsome fjord fighters from Norway were desperate to take the fight to their homeland. Unfortunately for their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Rolf Amundsen, his Royal Navy superior liked to do things by the book — and only by the book! But Rolf wasn’t to be beaten, as he was specifically selected by the British Commandos to aid them on a mission that would take his Motor Torpedo Boat and his crew right back to Nazi-occupied Norway!

Commando Comics is online at www.commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook| Twitter | Commando Comics on AmazonUK

• The Art of Ian Kennedy is available to order here on Amazon (Using this Affiliate Link helps support downthetubes, thank you)

The book showcases Ian’s fantastic array of work for not only DC Thomson Media but also his own personal collection. The high spec 160-page art book includes both never before seen and classic covers, as well as illustrations from the DC Thomson archives, featuring titles as diverse as Lucky Charm and Buddy

Set out chronologically, the book showcases Ian’s career at the famous Scottish publishing house, from his early days working on ‘Red-Skull Branson’ and ‘Commando Jim’ to his most recent covers and commissions for Commando

The Art of Ian Kennedy is also available to order from DC Thomson direct

Commando Issues 5431 – 5434 – Full Cover Gallery

  • Commando 5431 Home of Heroes: Lions in Burma Full
  • Commando 5432 Gold Collection: Blade of Honour Full
  • Commando 5433 Action and Adventure: Dead Man’s Chest Full
  • Commando 5434 Silver Collection: The Fiord Fighters Full

Commando Comics is online at www.commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook| Twitter | Commando Comics on AmazonUK



Categories: British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Reviews

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1 reply

  1. £1.27 for digital editions of Commando it’s rude not to isn’t it.

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