Putting the lie to the idea that Commando only covers World War II and only has one-off stories issue 4163, currently on sale, tells of Jimmy Ramsey resurrecting his Special Raiding Force to go into battle in Korea in Raiders… Read More ›
Commando
Commando Webbing: 12 January 2009
Over Christmas the boffins on the Commando Mag site launched a sneek attack under the radar and added a fourth complete on-line Commando story before they had even finished the third. Last Laugh is a World War II story of… Read More ›
Tube Surfing: 2 December 2008
It is not often we would advertise cars here on downthetubes but take a look at this cutaway of a Honda Accord. The artist is Graham Bleathman, more familiar perhaps for creating cutaways of Thunderbirds or other Gerry Anderson creations…. Read More ›
Commando – as you’ve never seen it before!
Here’s a bit of comics-related fun from a recent edition of FHM magazine (not that we here at downthetubes read such things, cough, cough). To illustrate a piece about common men’s problems (cancer, bereavement, being dumped by a woman etc),… Read More ›
Commando Webbing
The backroom boffins on the Commando Mag website have been adding to the site and trying a few new tactics to entice readers to enter on a regular basis. The ongoing series of Commando cover wallpapers chosen by editor Calum… Read More ›
Name, Rank and Issue Number!
In 1992, Scott Montgomery was at the Glasgow Comics Convention listening to writer Alan Grant as he gave advice on how to get into comics. Today, Scott is chief sub-editor on DC Thomson’s Commando comic, having previously worked on The… Read More ›
Ken Barr Prints On Sale
Comicsmagazines.com and comics artist Ken Barr have jointly pubished a limited edition art print, “Para Sarg” painted by Ken. The release is the first of a planned series of limited edition prints based on great British regiments and landmark battles… Read More ›
Armistice 90
November is a particularly important month for all war veterans and this year will be even more significant, marking 90 years since the guns fell silent over the many battlefields of the First World War. To mark this moment in… Read More ›
Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag…
For most people living in the United Kingdom in the 1970s it was something that happened somewhere else, somewhere across the water, but growing up in Belfast in those now increasingly far off days there was no getting away from… Read More ›
Commando Webbing
A new interview with Commando and Dan Dare artist Keith Page has been posted on the official Commando website. In the interview Keith, who is currently working on his 144th Commando issue answers questions posed by Commando readers on his… Read More ›
Tube Surfing: DC Thomson Style
Ian Kennedy may be the pre-eminent Commando cover artist over the course of the title’s long history but it had been running for nine years by the time he did his first cover. Before that Ken Barr was the standout… Read More ›
In Review: Commando and Starblazer Calendars 2009
Two years ago I began the review of the last Art of Commando calendar with “You wait years for a Commando calendar to come along, and then two arrive at once!” After nothing last year save for the usual Beano… Read More ›
War of Words: Comic Writing Tips
In December 2007 Matt Badham was fortunate enough to interview DC Thomson editor Calum Laird, currently editing Commando, as research for an article about writing. The interview includes tips on pitching to various DC Thomson titles such as The Dandy,… Read More ›
War of Words: An interview with Calum Laird
In December 2007 I was fortunate enough to interview Calum Laird, who edits DC Thomson’s Commando. The interview was conducted as research for an article about writing and Calum was very generous with his time. I felt it seemed a shame to waste… Read More ›
Commando Shop – Summer Offer
DC Thomson’s official Commando shop is currently offering free postage on all its orders. The Commando Gear shop offers T-shirts and mugs in a variety of different colours and designs with the Commando logo and the familiar F-S fighting knife… Read More ›
Commando Webbing
DC Thomson’s official Commando website have just completed their first web version of a Commando comic. Wall of Death was originally published in July 1966 in Commando issue 221, written by Redbridge and illustrated by Cortez. The website has formatted… Read More ›
By Sea, By Land, By Air: An Interview with Calum Laird
This interview was first published on 9th April 2008 on downthetubes and was merged with this blog in 2013. First published in 1961 Commando is Britain’s last war comic. Indeed, of those British comics that many of us grew up with,… Read More ›
By Sea, By Land, By Air
First published in 1961 Commando is Britain’s last war comic. Indeed, of those British comics that many of us grew up with, only the ubiquitous Dandy and Beano are older – however, since there are eight Commandos a month, its… Read More ›
Commando – Wall Of Death
The Commando website is continuing their on-line adaptation of Commando issue 221 Wall of Death. This was first published on 26 July 1966 and was then priced at one shilling. The electronic version is free and is currently up to… Read More ›
Commando Creators credited at last
As expected, DC Thomson’s Commando range now feature credits for their creators, part of a sweeping range of ongoing changes to the books which continue to sell well in UK newsagents and via subscription. DC Thomson long held back from… Read More ›