We hope you’re not afraid of the dark, because there’s a distinct Halloween flavour to the latest set of Commando comics, as the war comic counts down to the year’s modern incarnation of the ancient Celtic festival, Samhain.

Commando, issues 5687 – 5690, go on sale tomorrow, Thursday 12th October 2023 in all good newsagents, and digitally, too.

Plus, don’t forget that Commando editor Kate McAuliffe will be giving a live online presentation, followed by a question and answer session, next week, on Tuesday 17th October. This free event is organised by the Company of Makers. Learn about how Commando is created — from original story ideas to being stocked on shelves. Tickets available here.

Now the spooky season has officially begun, Commando is kicking off the horror with some subterranean horror from Kate Dewar, the tale enhanced no end by Esteve Polls’ gritty artwork, and an eerie cover by Keith Burns. You’ll want all the lights on for reading this one….

Here’s the details of the titles in this set.

Commando 5687: Home of Heroes – Beneath
Story: Kate Dewar | Art: Esteve Polls | Cover: Keith Burns

When the Nazis thundered over Europe they took control of the people and the land. But they did not know what horror lay beneath the earth, hungry and rage-filled from the last war that had ravaged those soils. It had tasted human-flesh and it craved more…

Commando 5688: Gold Collection – The Haunted Woods
Story: Bernard Gregg | Art: Haupt | Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally Commando 981 (1975)

It was a place shunned by every living creature. No man would go into that wood, no animal hunted there, no insect stirred. For centuries an atmosphere of evil had brooded amongst those trees, while an ancient mist shrouded the terrible things that had happened there…

Commando 5689: Action and Adventure – Dawn of the Gorgons!
Story: Dominic Teague | Art and Cover: Dan Barnfield

In 1956, the Egyptian government seized control of the Suez Canal. In response, British and French forces launched ‘Operation Musketeer’, a joint offensive to reclaim the canal, transporting troops and aircraft across the Mediterranean Sea in preparation for an invasion.


On its way through the Med, HMS Wyndham, encountered a strange, abandoned vessel filled with a mysterious cargo. The inexperienced marines sent to investigate were about to unwittingly stumble upon a nightmare that had been slumbering since 1943!

Yes, the Gorgons return to the pages of Commando, foul beasts you may remember from Issue 5589, “Night of the Gorgon”, also written by the demonic Dominic Teague. Dan Barnfield takes over the monstrous mantle of artwork, as he’s featured on interiors and cover art.

Commando 5690: Silver Collection: Renegade Sergeant
Story: CG Walker | Art: Blasco | Cover: Jeff Bevan
Originally Commando 1591 (1982)

After he escaped from the police in London, safecracker Bert Devlin changed his name and joined the army in an attempt to shake off his past. He thought he’d managed it too — until he was stopped by an MP one day who turned out to be the policeman he’d clobbered while escaping!

Here’s an issue for those who like a more classic kind of Commando – but that’s not to say there isn’t something sinister contained within its pages. It may not look like the creepiest issue of this set, but perhaps looks can be deceiving! For what horrors await you inside this issue has to be seen to be believed…

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

• A Commando digital subscription lets you read each month’s Commando adventures – that’s four issues a fortnight – on your browser, iPad/iPhone, Kindle and Android device – subscribe here

• Commando is also available digitally from Magzter

As of October 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

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

Commando 5687 – 5690 Cover Gallery

• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Commando Comics 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, Comic Previews, Comics, Digital Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News

Tags: Bernard Gregg, Blasco, CG Walker, Commando, Dan Barnfield, DC Thomson, Dominic Teague, downthetubes News, Esteve Polls, Halloween, Haupt, Ian Kennedy, Jeff Bevan, Kate Dewar, Kate McAuliffe, Keith Burns, War Comics