The latest set of Commando comics from DC Thomson, on sale Thursday 18th June, offer four World War Two-set stories, including a new adventure with Warlord’s Sergeant Rayker, making another welcome return to the pages of the long-running title, Mike Dorey – again delivering superb art.
Here’s the latest intel from Commando HQ – and, good news! For those of you who have lost your local TG Jones, readers can not only subscribe to the war comic over at the DC Thomnson web shop – you can now buy issues direct from dcthomsonshop.co.uk with free delivery!
Commando Issue 5967: Rayker: Back in The Ranks
Story: Simon Topping | Internal Art: Mike Dorey | Cover Art: Mike Dorey & Grant Wood
Sergeant Moses Rayker, a black man in a white man’s army, fights two wars: one against the Germans and another against racism within the segregated American military. After extreme losses during the German surprise attack in the Ardennes, General John Lee asks for something new from Santa — Infantry volunteers. Race isn’t important, he says, but anyone who joins needs to be a private or PFC.
It took Rayker five years to earn his stripes, but those guys need a leader, and to be one, he’ll need to be… Back in The Ranks!
Commando Issue 5968: Dive After Dark
Story: Brunt | Internal Art: Mira | Cover Art: Ian Kennedy
First published 1972 as No. 616
There wasn’t a bomber squadron in North Africa that could outfly the Fleet Air Arm outfit who called themselves “Buckley’s Bats”. Every pilot was an ace and every navigator could find his way across the desert blindfolded.
And the planes these supermen flew? Well, they were Fairey Albacores — cumbersome biplanes with a top speed of only 160 mph. Nobody, no matter how good, could win a war flying kites like that… or could they?
Commando Issue 5969: Desert Duel
Story: Andrew Knighton | Internal Art: Carlos Pino | Cover Art: Keith Burns
North Africa, early 1943. Following a raid on a German outpost, the crew of a Churchill tank nicknamed Lancelot find themselves isolated in the desert. Damaged and relentlessly pursued by a Tiger I tank, their attempt to rejoin their formation turns into a life-or-death struggle against the German tank, and eventually between the commanders of the two crews.
As vultures circle overhead, this can only end in a… Desert Duel!
Commando Issue 5970: Sleeping Tiger
Story & Internal Art: Anglo | Cover Art: Philpott
First published 1985 as No. 1874
All his life, Jim Slater had been able to sleep anywhere at any time – at home, at school, even at work. If he had the chance to nod off, he took it, and was soon dozing. Well, tigers like to catnap too, don’t they? And that’s what Jim turned out to be – a sleeping tiger.
• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Buy issues direct from dcthomsonshop.co.uk with free delivery | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter | Follow Commando Comics on Facebook | Twitter | YouTube |
• If there’s a past Commando comic you would like to see reprinted, contact the team via generalenquiries@commandomag.com
Commando Issues 5967 – 5970 Cover Gallery
Also Available Now…
Commando Presents: Sergeant Rayker
ISBN: 978-1917436618 | Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
Sergeant Moses Rayker – one of DC Thomson’s most unforgettable creations – returns in this explosive graphic novel collection. First introduced in Warlord in 1979, Rayker became a breakout favourite thanks to his fierce moral code and refusal to tolerate prejudice from either Axis or Allied forces. His adventures ran through weekly issues, annuals and specials until 1984… and then the legend roared back in 2025 in Commando, courtesy of writer Dominic Teague and artist Mike Dorey, whose incredible line work helped make Rayker so memorable originally.
Now, for the first time, Rayker’s first two rebooted Commando stories are blown up to full graphic novel size, presented with dynamic artwork that showcases every punch, clash and narrow escape.
• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter
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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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