Commando Issues 5827 – 5830 are on sale from Thursday 13th February, in all good newsagents, online or on subscription – and an action-packed, and varied set of issues we’re getting, too!
This set opens with another new “Kampfgruppe Falken” story, “Cannon Fodder King”, written by Dominic Teague, with fantastic interior art and a stand out cover by Manuel Benet. Set on the Russian front, the German soldiers of the poorly supplied Kampfgruppe Falken – and their commander, Major Heinz Falken, face threat not just from their enemy, but danger from the scheming General Heiss, too. This time out, Falken has competition… Will he be able to hold onto command, or will a brawny usurper be too much, even for him?
Dominic weaves a terrific tale, continuing a great revival of the characters first seen in Warlord comic back in 1977, created by Alan Hemus with art by Luis Collado Coch. (The series was added to Warlord’s mix after the success of “Panzer G-Man” and “Hellman of Hammer Force” in rival publisher Fleetway’s Battle comic).
Also new in this set is “Sword of Destiny” by Ferg Handley, an enjoyable story of war torn Ancient Greece, its people facing overwhelming odds from better equipped invaders, the story told by a Greek tavern keeper to four British soldiers during World War Two, pondering their own future. Alejandro Perez Mesa, who started out on Commando last year on covers, and provided interior art on Issue 5721, “Roll Depth Charges”, delivers some standout art on this glorious tale of legend, a great choice to tell this story.
(If you like Alejandro’s art, you may want to check out the graphic novel Good Bastard, written by David Brana, released in 2023, or the Spanish language tale, 1574: La forja de Manila, from Cascaborra).
Represented stories in this set are “Last Chance“, centred on Sergeant Ben Lockner, described as a fighting machine, the type of NCO whose men would follow him anywhere… unaware he wants to die fighting, to wipe out his secret past!
Plus, in “Stranded” Private Jack Wilmot accompanies a fiery Brigadier to front-line positions – but they’re shot down in the depths of the jungle and stranded in enemy-held territory! Necessity involves a desperate ruse to try to make it back to safety, with vital intelligence, but will a bull-headed Australian sergeant ruin the plan?
Commando 5827: Kampfgruppe Falken: Cannon Fodder King
Story: Dominic Teague | Art and Cover: Manuel Benet
The men of Kampfgruppe Falken were expendable, a cannon fodder unit easily replaced – or that’s what General Heiss thought. More than anything, Heiss wanted to replace the king of the cannon fodder – Major Heinz Falken himself!
For this, Heiss had a devious plan to force Falken to face his toughest battle yet – a fellow German who was built like a dreadnought and had a punch like an artillery shell – a man named Major Klaus Vogel. He was determined to turn Kampfgruppe Falken into Kampfgruppe Vogel!
Major Heinz Falken returns, and this time he’s got competition! Will he be able to hold onto command, or will this brawny usurper be too much even for him? Whatever happens, there’s a fight on top of a tank!
Commando 5828: Last Chance
Story: Gentry | Art: Usero | Cover: Penalva
Originally published June 1971 in Commando 558
Sergeant Ben Lockner was always the first into action and the last out – a fighting machine, a soldier who knew no fear, the type of NCO whose men would follow him anywhere.
Some folk wondered what made Ben tick, what special courage kept him cool as ice in the hottest action. They all had their own answers but not one of them was anywhere near the truth… for Ben wanted to die fighting, to wipe out his secret past!
Here at Commando, we don’t believe in last chances – so if you missed this classic issue the first two times we printed it, now’s the time to get stuck in! With an amazing cover by Penalva, this is one issue you won’t want to miss!
Commando 5829: Sword of Destiny
Story: Ferg Handley | Art and Cover: Alejandro Perez Mesa
Greece, 1941. Fatigued by a losing battle, four British soldiers take shelter in the home of a local hunter, who tells them a tale that has been passed down through his family for generations.
In ancient times, a young blacksmith was exiled from his home by an invading tyrant. Unsure of his fate, he wandered the land. But the gods had a plan for him. He would lead a force to take back his home. He would wield the sword of destiny!
An epic story for you fans of Greek mythology, this issue has it all: action, adventure, even a fight with wolves – we’ve not been Spartan with this one! No need to muse about picking it up, it’s the stuff of legend!
Commando 5830: Stranded!
Story: Staff | Art: CT Rigby | Cover: Penalva
Originally Published January 1983 in Commando 1674
It had been some years since Private Jack Wilmot had seen any action, although as orderly to a fiery Brigadier, he’d more than once accompanied the officer to front-line positions. This time, however, it looked as if they’d bitten off more than they could chew – they had been shot down in the depths of the jungle and were stranded in enemy-held territory.
Now they’d need all their luck, and a bit of deception too, if they were to survive…
Yet another amazing Penalva cover for this set’s silver issue. We’re off for another adventure in the Burmese jungle with two soldiers who don’t quite see eye-to-eye. Let’s hope they can make it out in one piece!
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• If there’s a past Commando comic you would like to see reprinted, contact the team via generalenquiries@commandomag.com
Commando Issues 5827 – 5830 Cover Gallery
• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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, Comic Previews, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Reviews
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