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One war. Five Stories. “Weekes’ War” is latest Commando Presents digital collection

By John Freeman on November 30, 2022

DC Thomson’s Heritage Comics’ latest digital offering is Commando presents… ‘The Weekes’ War’, a special five-part series depicting the end of the World War One. This digital edition collects five issues of Commando Comics released in 2018 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.

In this one-of-a-kind, one-off series of stories, Commando brought together a collaboration of eight different artists and writers, working as one to show the final days before the Armistice of 11th November 1918, from five different perspectives.

Follow the story of the five Weekes siblings’ survival on the front line, behind enemy lines, aboard a battleship, in the skies above the trenches, and right down in the mud. Five issues about five siblings struggling to survive the conflict. But will they all make it back home?

When the story was first released in 2018, over five issues of the regular Commando comic, all with covers by Ian Kennedy, it was the first time the long running war comic had tackled the shared experiences of one family with five different interwoven narratives.

“On the Commando Team, we feel it’s important to honour the men and women involved in the First World War by telling their stories and so have crafted an innovative Commando Comics experience,” a spokesperson person explained. “We hope that the readers will enjoy each self-contained story and the series as a whole.”

Also included in the digital edition is a cover gallery, featuring the original artwork by Ian Kennedy for each issue, and a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of this innovative series.

Get your copy of Commando presents… ‘The Weekes’ War’ on Kindle and ComiXology today, and look out for new Heritage Comics and Commando Presents digital releases on the final Wednesday of every month.

THE STORIES

Commando 5173: Danny’s War — Commando 5173 – Danny’s War – Cover Rough by Ian Kennedy

Commando 5173 - Danny’s War - Cover Rough by Ian Kennedy — Commando 5173 – Danny’s War – Cover Rough by Ian Kennedy

Danny’s War

First Presented in Commando 5173 | Story: Iain McLaughlin | Art: Morhain & Defeo | Cover: Ian Kennedy

By late 1918, Captain Daniel ‘Danny’ Weekes had been in the trenches for longer than he could remember. He could no longer recall all the faces of the men who had served with him or died under his command. He would do anything to put a stop to the fighting.

But with three brothers, a sister and his father fighting their own battles, who knew if Danny’s war was ending… or just beginning?

Michael’s War

First Presented in Commando 5175 | Story: Richard Davis | Art: Morhain & Defeo | Cover: Ian Kennedy

While his family fought on land and the sea, Lieutenant Michael Weekes took to the sky in his Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8, sweeping over German archies in the lead up to the Saint‑Mihiel offensive. Reconnaissance and fighter, Michael’s plane did more than its fair share of shooting.

But after crash-landing behind enemy lines, armed with only his Webley revolver and wits, Michael Weekes came face to face with a front of a different kind…

Billy’s War

First Presented in Commando 5177 | Story: Heath Ackley | Art: Klacik & Defeo | Cover: Ian Kennedy

Lieutenant Billy Weekes wanted desperately to see some action aboard the British Destroyer HMS Meadfoot. He had two brothers in the trenches, one in the skies, and a sister on the front line as an ambulance driver. They would all have amazing stories about their war experiences, but Billy… all he had to talk about was the weather reports.

That is, until a U-boat went rogue after ignoring the order to return to port, and the HMS Meadfoot was tasked with bringing it in.

Harriet’s War

First Presented in Commando 5179 | Story: Iain McLaughlin | Art: Khato | Cover: Ian Kennedy

In the dark, the cries of the wounded men on the front line echoed, their hoarse voices calling for the ‘angels on wheels’ to come save them. One such angel was Harriet Weekes, an ambulance driver in the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry.

As the fourth and only female Weekes sibling, Harriet had joined up to do her part in the war just like her brothers. Some said she was reckless. Some said she drove like a bat out of Hades. But when there were people who needed her help, she was an angel on wheels.

Tommy’s War

First Presented in Commando 5181 | Story: Richard Davis | Art: Morhain & Defeo | Cover: Ian Kennedy

November 11th, 1918. Armistice.

The war was over… or so most thought, but some still held to the regime of battle, and kept a tight hold of their prisoners.
All the Weekes family wanted was to be together again, but Tommy lay far away on the other side of the shrapnel filled fields
of No Man’s Land. It was all or nothing, and the Weekes family would do anything to get Tommy back!

Get your copy of Commando presents… ‘The Weekes’ War’ on Kindle and ComiXology today, and look out for new Heritage Comics and Commando Presents digital releases on the final Wednesday of every month

• The latest Commando Comics in print are available to buy and request in WHSmith and all good local newsagents | Read our news story

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.