This week’s Commando set from DC Thomson includes a brand-new Harrier Squadron story from top-selling author James Swallow, and a wartime mystery in Germany’s Black Forest. Issues 5975-5978 are on sale Thursday 16th July, available from TG Jones, select newsagents, and as digital editions.
Commando 5975 (Home of Heroes): Harrier Squadron: Ghost Flight
Story: James Swallow | Internal Art: Esteve Polls | Cover Art: Keith Burns
It is the mid-1990s and across a battle-scarred Europe, the forces of WESFED (Western Federation) and the Eastern armies of the ASBLOC (Asian Bloc) are in a delicate state of truce. But the fragile peace is under constant threat and only Harrier Squadron — an international allied task force of jump-jet pilots — can prevent a flight of bandit “ghost fighters” from re-igniting the deadly conflict!
As we noted earlier this year, If “Harrier Squadron” sounds familiar, it should; the strip first appeared in the weekly adventure comic, Warlord, initially as “Holocaust Squadron”, making is debut in Warlord No. 338 in March 1981; then as “Harrier Squadron” in launched in No. 420 in October 1982, with art by Terry Patrick. (The title change wasn’t, as far as I’m aware, explained at the time). “Harrier Squadron” storylines often involved high-stakes aerial combat, and it was a clever way to feature Harrier jump jets in an action setting, interest in them high because of the Falklands War. Its original opening stories didn’t really hit the spot but the adventure grew in the telling and by the time of its name change, the series appears to have become a reader favourite.
Supported by art from Esteve Polls, James Swallow, New York Times, Sunday Times and Amazon bestselling author of the Marc Dane novel series, rightly draws on elements of the later incarnation in style.
Commando 5976 (Gold): Assassin!
Story: Gentry | Internal Art: V. Fuente | Cover Art: Penalva
First published 1972 as No.620
Germany, 1945. Following Germany’s surrender, Allied forces occupy much of the country. In pursuit of an escaped Nazi prisoner, a troop of US soldiers encounters a French-occupied village on the edge of the Black Forest, which has been experiencing a spate of missing people.
John Daniels had only one thought in his mind — revenge. Revenge against the Brigadier who had sentenced him to prison for the crime of self-defence.
Now, the Brigadier was a prisoner in Germany, and John was on his way to find him. But it was no rescue attempt — John had orders to silence the Brigadier once and for all!
Commando 5977 (For Action and Adventure): Erlking
Story: NA Breakenridge | Internal Art: Esteve Polls | Cover Art: Marco Bianchini
Germany, 1945. Following Germany’s surrender, Allied forces occupy much of the country. In pursuit of an escaped Nazi prisoner, a troop of US soldiers encounters a French-occupied village on the edge of the Black Forest, which has been experiencing a spate of missing people.
The villagers blame the malevolent Erlking — a forest spirit. Only Klara Hoffman, a local clockmaker’s daughter, believes a more human threat dwells in the woods.
Nathan Breakenridge is an Edinburgh-based creator with with both a 1st Class Honours degree in English Literature from The University of Dundee and an MLitt in Creative Writing from The University of Stirling.
A writer who likes things a bit creepy or weird, in addition to his comics writing he’s a longtime published poet, his work appearing in literary magazines such as The Selkie.
Commando 5978 (Silver): Operation “Terror”
Story: Staff | Internal Art: Escandell | Cover Art: Philpott
First published 1985 as No. 1893
When a man has seen too much fighting and come close to death, he wants only one thing — a safe job, and a bit of peace and quiet away from the shells and the bullets. So Ned Simpson reckoned his luck was in when he was sent home from Italy and posted to guard a Welsh reservoir.
But how wrong can you be? For soon he was to come face-to-face with a crack German parachute unit.
In Wales? Yes, that’s right…
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Commando Issues 5975 – 5978 Cover Gallery
• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter | Follow Commando Comics on Facebook | X | YouTube |
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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, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comic Previews, Comics, downthetubes Comics News
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