DC Thomson Media has announced it will mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War with three special issues of Commando, 5531, 5532 and 5534, on sale from Thursday 14th April 2022. One is written by best-selling award-winning New York Times, Sunday Times and Amazon #1 bestselling author of over fifty novels, James Swallow, making a welcome return to the comic.
The three issues also feature two covers by the late Ian Kennedy, and one by Neil Roberts.
The announcement of the imminent withdrawal of the British Royal Navy’s ice patrol ship HMS Endurance in early 1982 prompted the Argentinian Junta in Buenos Aires to plan a military grab of the Falklands – a siege they assumed would succeed, with little resistance. Such an adventure was attractive as a distraction for the Argentine public, at a time of political unease.
On 19th March 1982, Argentinian forces landed on the South island of South Georgia, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic and raised their national flag. After little reaction from Britain, the head of the ruling Junta in Argentina, General Leopoldo Galtieri launched Operation Rosario, the invasion of the Falkland Islands by the Argentinian military on the 2nd April.
On 3rd April, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher faced an appalled and furious House of Commons to announce that Argentine armed forces had landed on British sovereign territory; had captured the men of Royal Marine detachment NP8901; had run up the Argentine flag at Government House; and had declared the islands and their population to be Argentine
Three days later, Operation Corporate began, with a British naval taskforce leaving Portsmouth for the southern ocean. By 25th April, South Georgia was back in British hands and on 14th June the Argentine forces in the Falklands surrendered to the British. Over 900 lives had been lost in the fighting.
British comics such as Battle and Warlord featured strips centring on the conflict in the 1980s, which Jeremy Briggs documented for downthetubes back in 2007, at the time of the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War. Commando has also published several stories about the conflict, most particularly back in 2012, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary.
The three special Commando comics to be released this year are
Commando 5531: Home of Heroes – Old Dogs
Story: James Swallow | Art: Paolo Ongaro | Cover: Ian Kennedy
Known as Operation Folklore, the Air Ministry knew they had to box clever if they wanted to beat the invading Argentinians out of the Falkland Islands. Flying a Canberra under Chilean colours, they would recon the enemy without arousing suspicion. But when the pair operating the aircraft is a reckless, young RAF pilot and the officer who made his training a misery, the two will have to put aside their differences to face a ruthless killer willing to do anything for the bounty on their heads!
James Swallow is a BAFTA-nominated scriptwriter, the award-winning New York Times, Sunday Times and Amazon #1 bestselling author of over fifty novels, with over a million books in print worldwide.
He’s well known for writing action-packed espionage thrillers, fast-paced science fiction, video games and much more.
The film rights for his Marc Dane thriller series have just been bought by Capstone Pictures.
Commando 5533: Action and Adventure – Cold Conflict
Story: Colin Maxwell | Art: Klacik | Cover: Neil Roberts
April 1982 saw Britain enter a new conflict half the world away. But before the war would officially begin, tensions rose as three Royal Marines were sent on a recce mission far from their base at Port Stanley when Argentinian forces invaded the Falklands.
Left with an impossible mission that could change the tide of the conflict, the three marines must battle both the climate and the Argentinians if they are to save the day.
Commando 5534: Silver Collection – The Deadly Trade
Story: Ian Clark | Art: Carlos Pino | Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally Commando No. 2621 (1992)
April 1982 —Argentine troops poured onto the Falkland Islands and Britain stood on the brink of war.
For Garry Mullen of the elite Special Boat Squadron, it meant at last the chance to put the deadly skills acquired over years of training to the ultimate test!
All three of these special issues will, as usual, be on sale in newsagents, and available digitally, from Thursday 14th April 2022 (and a day earlier for the digital edition).
• Commando Comics is online at www.commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook| Twitter | Commando Comics on AmazonUK
• Operation Corporate: The Falklands War in British Comics
In the early 1980s, Britain was at war over islands in the South Atlantic many Britons had never heard of – and some at the time even thought were part of the Shetlands. Back in 2007, Jeremy Briggs examined the British comics that featured the 1982 Falklands conflict between Britain and Argentina…
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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.
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