Brand new issues of war comic Commando (Issues 5279 – 5282) are on sale soon from DC Thomson Media. Here’s the intel, hot from our codebreakers…
Commando 5279 – Home of Heroes: A Boy Goes To War
Story: Iain McLaughlin | Art and Cover: Manuel Benet
In World War One “as many as 250,000 boys under the age of 18 served in the British Army…” according to the BBC. This Commando story is inspired by them as the hero, Tom Cowrie, illegally signs on to do his part.
Spurred on by his brother’s heroic letters, Tom runs away from home only to find out that the war is nothing like his brother had described, and in the harsh reality of the trenches he was just a boy who went to war…
Commando 5280 – Gold Collection: The Savage Sky
Story: Staff | Art: Mira | Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally Commando No. 772 (1973)
A stunning aerial Ian Kennedy cover sits atop this classic Commando issue from 1973.
With amazing artwork by Mira depicting the Commando staple tropes of a reluctant hero and a pilot attached to a bomber squadron when he’d rather be flying fighters.
In this case, Pilot Officer Andy Seymour is booted off Hurricanes and onto a mammoth Boeing Fortress – but Seymour will soon learn the flying beasts are equally as dangerous in the sky!
Commando 5281 – Action and Adventure: On Your Bikes!
Story: Ferg Handley | Art: Morhain & Defeo | Cover: Ian Kennedy
Ferg Handley tackles comedy in this World War One story. The Army Cyclist Corps wasn’t Lieutenant Arthur ‘Gormless’ Gormley’s first choice to join, but he was determined to do his bit — even if he did fall off his bike again and again. He had originally wanted to join the cavalry, but that’s a different story!
Commando 5282 – Silver Collection: The Paras Are Here!
Story: McDevitt | Art: Keith Shone | Cover: Phil Gascoine
Originally Commando No. 2544 (1992)
Phil Gascoine’s fiery cover for ‘The Paras Are Here!’ is very emblematic of McDevitt’s tumultuous plot within, which focuses on two sergeants before D-Day who lay the groundwork for the invasion. Sergeant Joe Cougan is already stressed, but when the young, clumsy PIAT gunner, Private Andy Bruce, is around Joe’s stress levels go through the roof! And it’s only made worse when his rival Sergeant Sam Gleeson, tells him to cut the kid a break!
COMMANDO COMICS LINKS
• Official Commando Comics Site: www.commandocomics.com
• The Commando Comics Calendar is on sale here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
• Don’t forget The Art of Ian Kennedy is available to order here on Amazon (Using this Affiliate Link helps support downthetubes, thank you)
• Commando Comics on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
- About the Author
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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, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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