The latest set of Commando comics from DC Thomson – Issues 5867 to 5870 – cover land, sea and air this week. Whether it’s submarines or Mosquitoes, fishing boats or castles, the upcoming four issues, on sale from Thursday 3rd July 2025, they’ve got you covered.
All-new is “Battle of Castle Gorbach” offers a tale set in a Gothic castle in the German mountains, a rebellious US squadron, European dignitaries held captive by malicious Nazis – this one really is a cinematic adventure! With a nail-biting script from Rossa McPhillips, mood-drenched art by Vicente Alcazar, and a truly dramatic cover by Simon Pritchard, you won’t want to put it down…
Also new this set is “Missed the Last Bus Home”, an epic tale from Stephen Hume, of friends torn apart by war and ideology, with fantastic art and cover by the inimitable Carlos Pino. Is there anything worse than missing your bus? Maybe if it’s the Shetland bus!
Represented are a cracking pair of archive tales, starting with “Black Mossie”, featuring De Havilland Mosquitoes – an aircraft that’s definitely one of the Commando comic team’s top ten favourite British twin-engine multi-role combat planes, so it’s always welcome news when they come to reprint an issue all about the wooden wonder. This set rounds off with “Killer Sub”, a classic tale of a man blinded by his lust for vengeance! McDevitt’s script pairs majestically with Livingstone’s art, making for an unforgettable rollercoaster of an issue, rounded off with a cracking Jeff Bevan cover. What’s not to like?
Commando 5867 (Home of Heroes): Battle of Castle Gorbach
Story: Rossa McPhillips | Art: Vicente Alcazar | Cover: Simon Pritchard
Germany, 1945. As World War Two draws to a close, US forces advance on the German Alps, convinced of Hitler’s intentions to hold a last stand – his so-called ‘national redoubt’.
In that mountainous region, the ancient Castle Gorbach held many prisoners of war from countries conquered by Germany. But their usefulness was running out. Their only chance was to seek help from a passing American squadron – but would their distress signal be answered?
Commando 5868 (Gold): Black Mossie
Story: McOwan | Art: DS Gomez | Cover: Ian Kennedy
First published 1971 as No. 588
For months, Stan Warner and Barney Tyson had flown together in a Boulton Paul Defiant, sharing deadly danger and seeing many of their mates spiralling down in flames. They both knew the Defiant was no match for the enemy fighters, and all their working hours were spent dreaming of when they’d get a better plane.
Well, that day finally came, and even Stan and Barney were speechless with wonder. For here was a Mosquito – black, sleek and deadly – which flew faster and hit harder than almost any other aircraft in the world. Now they could really get cracking!
Commando 5869 (For Action and Adventure): Missed the Last Bus Home
Story: Stephen Hume | Art and Cover: Carlos Pino
Norway, 1936. Four friends, once inseparable, found themselves growing apart. Olav, having attended university in Germany, returned home with some troubling new ideas. As the Nazis increased their stranglehold on Norway, Rolf, his sister Conny, and her husband Fredrik, grew increasingly worried about where Olav’s allegiances lay.
With the outbreak of World War Two, Conny and Fredrik were set on resisting the Nazi menace – while Rolf only wanted a quiet life. Before long, the influence of Nazism would tear these friends apart, forcing them to choose: surrender, resist, or die!
Commando 5870 (Silver): Killer Sub
Story: McDevitt | Art: Gordon C Livingstone | Cover: Jeff Bevan
First published 1984 as No. 1791
For one Swordfish pilot, there would be no rest until justice had been done. Revenge for a coldblooded slaughter at sea was all that he cared about now.
His target was fixed in his mind. One day, he’d find and destroy the murdering captain of the… KILLER SUB!
• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter
• If there’s a past Commando comic you would like to see reprinted, contact the team via generalenquiries@commandomag.com
Commando Issues 5867 – 5870 Cover Gallery
CAW1660 Black Mossie ©DCT First published October 1971 For months Stan Warner and Barney Tyson had flown together in a Boulton-Paul Defiant, sharing deadly danger and seeing many of their mates spiralling down in flames. They both knew the Defiant was no match for the enemy fighters, and all their working hours were spent dreaming of when they’d get a better plane. Well, that day finally came, and even Stan and Barney were speechless with wonder. For here was a Mosquito – black, sleek and deadly – 
CAW3019 Killer Sub ©DCT First published April 1984 For one Swordfish pilot there would be no rest until justice had been done. Revenge for a cold-blooded slaughter at sea was all that he cared about now. His target was fixed in his mind. One day he’d find and destroy the murdering captain of the KILLER SUB.
• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter
New Warlord Collection Out This Month
Don’t miss out on a new collection featuring stories of Britain’s best World War Two. Lord Peter Flint is back in Codename: Warlord Volume 2.
Flint’s tales of derring-do along with his identity card and codebook thrilled readers of Warlord for over 600 issues before it ceased publication in 1984.
In 2019, as regular downthetubes readers know, Flint returned to the comic world once again with his reboot in Commando, proving that you just can’t keep a man like Flint down! Codename: Warlord returned to Commando in 2024 and again earlier this year, and both rip‑roaring issues have been collected, alongside continuing adventures from the original 1974 comic run.
Heres a slideshow teaser…
DC Thomson’s Heritage Comics and Commando present… Codename: Warlord Volume 2, out 23rd July 2025, is available for preorder now direct from DC Thomson or your favourite bookshop (AmazonUK Affiliate Link), ISBN 978-1917436120
- About the Author
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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, downthetubes News
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