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Out of this world action aplenty in new Commando comics

By John Freeman on December 19, 2023

It’s Season’s Greetings from DC Thomson’s Commando with Issues 5707 – 5710 on sale from this Thursday 21st December 2023. This set offers some out-of-this-world action in space and more grounded classic stories from around the globe. They include a new story from ace novelist James Swallow – and Iron Man artist Kev Hopgood makes his cover debut for the title.

Commando 5707: Home of Heroes: Duel in the Dark
Story: James Swallow | Art: Gary Welsh | Cover: Neil Roberts

In the early years of the Space Race, as the United States of America and the Soviet Union challenge one another for dominance of the ‘High Frontier’, two Air Force astronauts find themselves trapped in a dying space capsule when an out-of-control Russian weapon threatens to spark World War Three…

James Swallow blasts you off to space in this Commando, as Americans and Soviet cosmonauts face off in the icy depths of space, isolated from the world below. Gary Welsh’s art complements the drama James delivers in this claustrophobic thriller, offering plenty of twists and turns along the way, as you’d expect from a writer whose work ranges from action adventure to Star Trek short stories.

Commando 5708: Gold Collection: The Hi-jackers
Story: RA Montague | Art and Cover: Gordon C Livingstone
First Published 1970 as Issue 506

The war seemed far away as the cargo ship Baripore Star steamed peacefully along through the blue Indian Ocean. She had only one four-inch gun bolted to her after-deck, and her crew reckoned they’d never have to use it. But in the sky above, a certain plane was making towards her, and in the water below a submarine was headed in the same direction. Very soon now, war was to come to the Baripore Star…

Gordon C Livingstone takes up the brush on both interior artwork and the cover, displaying how much a master of his craft he was at bringing RA Montague’s story to life. The story itself is a classic tale of deceit and derring do!

Commando 5709: Action and Adventure: Out of the Unknown
Story: Heath Ackley | Art: Jaume Forns | Cover: Kev Hopgood

Crash-landing in the Austrian countryside, a flying saucer and intergalactic pilot have fallen into the greedy clutches of the Third Reich. It’s up to SOE Lieutenant Philip Mercer to infiltrate the Luftwaffe base and take the new technology for the Allies. But with such unparalleled power, no-one could predict what would happen when either side tried to steal this weapon from… Out of the Unknown!

And we’re back into the realms of science fiction meets war, as something from out of this world crash lands in the Reich. But can anyone be trusted with technology unlike anything we could imagine? Plus, Kev Hopgood joins the ranks with his first Commando cover.

Commando 5710: Silver Collection: The Fortunes of War
Story: CG Walker| Art: Fleming | Cover: Ian Kennedy
First Published 1980 as Issue 1441

Heath Ackley delivers a tale of Nazis versus a desperate extraterrestrial, determined the technology he possesses not fall into the wrong hands – and with a British secret agent on the scene, there are plenty of hands it could fall into! This Commando offers non-stop action and a bonkers storyline that’s a lot of fun, too…

Two men, one English and the other German. The Englishman saved the German from being knifed, then the German saved the Englishman from being shot. Later, each saved the life of the other yet again. They went through a lot together, those two, before the Second World War. And when the war between Britain and Germany began, things got even more interesting!

In print for the first time since 1980, “The Fortunes of War” is an expansive look at war and mercenaries during conflict. This classic Commando features the dream trio of CG Walker and Fleming with Ian Kennedy on cover duty.

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

Commando Issues 5707 – 5710 Cover Gallery

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.