Here’s a rundown of the latest issues of Commando (Issues 4795-4798) from DC Thomson, on sale now in all good newsagents and through various digital platforms…
Commando No 4795 – Lethal Attraction
Story: Alan Hebden Art: Manuel Benet Cover: Manuel Benet
Preview: http://www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/26th-march-2015-collection?issue=4795
It seemed a simple job; hop across to Belgium and find out what was causing strange magnetic field disturbances in the Ardennes region. So simple did it seem, that the Convict Commandos thought they might have time for a bit of relaxation along the way.
Trouble, though, followed Britain’s most dangerous special missions unit like seagulls follow a trawler, and it wasn’t long before they were caught in a net thrown by advancing German forces.
Commando No 4796 – Night Strike
Oiginally Commando No 151 (February 1965), re-issued as No 739 (May 1974)
Story: Kenner Art: Buylla Cover: Ken Barr
Preview: http://www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/26th-march-2015-collection?issue=4796
A tough, battle-hardened platoon finds it hard to accept a young officer straight from home, especially when the signs are that he may be a coward.
But Second Lieutenant Gary Bardon was no coward. His nerve had broken, true, but when the chips were down he went all out to prove he was twice the man they thought he was.
“Over the years we’ve had a fair few ‘brothers at war’ stories,” notes Calum Laird, Commando Editor. “In fact, there was one a couple of months back called just that. It’s a device that works well, and this story is no exception. The siblings at each other’s throats are not only in the same arm of the forces, they are in the same unit, one commanding the other. But who is really in command? Now there’s a question.
“The inside by Buylla — who illustrated 9 Commandos in all — is assured and engaging. Particularly in the final sequences, his compositions come to dangerous life just like the story.
“I think you’ll like this one — I know I did.”
Commando No 4797 – U-Boat Hunt
Story: Bill Styles Art: Jaume Forns Cover: Janek Matysiak
Preview: http://www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/26th-march-2015-collection?issue=4797
After Royal Navy Lieutenant-Commander Robert Paterson lost his ship, his crew — and very nearly his life — to a prowling U-Boat in the Atlantic, he became obsessed with finding the enemy sub responsible.
Robert was given command of a Q-Ship — a vessel that looked like a merchantman but was fitted with concealed guns that would destroy any U-boat that came in range.
It seemed Robert might have his revenge!
Commando No 4798 – Shield Of Truth
Originally Commando No 1064 (September 1976), re-issued as No 2364 (April 1990)
Story: Ken Gentry Art: Gordon Livingstone Cover: Ian Kennedy
Preview: http://www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/26th-march-2015-collection?issue=4798
Buried under rock and sand in the North African Desert lay the Shield Of Truth. Made of bronze, highly polished, it revealed the truth about any man who looked into its mirror surface.
Hidden for over two thousand years, it was found by two British pilots who had staggered mile after mile across the merciless sands. When they stared at their reflections in it, one saw his bravery dissolve into fear…and the other saw his fear change to bravery.
“Our eponymous ‘Shield Of Truth’ is an example of what film director Alfred Hitchcock famously called a ‘MacGuffin’ “ notes Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor, “A plot device: something that motivates a character or propels a story forward. Here, though, it plays second fiddle to the characters themselves, and rightly so.
“However, in my opinion, the most interesting character here isn’t one of the leads (although they’re all great) — he’s a rather eccentric French Foreign Legionnaire called Jules, who seemingly appears out of nowhere. He reminds me of Ben Gunn from Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic swashbuckling tale Treasure Island and is every bit as memorable.”
• There are more details of Commando on the official Commando website, the Commando Facebook page
• Commando Collections: Our Checklist
Don’t Miss Out on our Exclusive Commando Subscription Offer!
If you’re looking for a gift for a British comics fan, downthetubes has an EXCLUSIVE discount on a subscription to DC Thomson’s Commando comic, simply by ordering through the DC Thomson Online Shop using our special discount code.
If you follow the link above, the discount is automatically applied – you do NOT need to enter the old DTT “COMDT” promotional code. Ignore the discount field on the check out page, too.
Commando Digital Editions
- Available on the App Store for Apple devices
- Available on Comixology
- Available on Readly
- Android App on Google Play
- Available on Kindle
- Available as browser edition
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
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, British Comics - Current British Publishers, downthetubes Comics News