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The Royal Navy in the desert and a time traveller in the Battle of Britain? Have Commando Comics taken a strange turn?

By John Freeman on January 19, 2022

Four brand-new Commando comics are coming at you this week, offering stories of the Royal Navy… in the North African desert! (Wait, what?) Grumman F6F Hellcats in the Pacific! Golden treasure in Burma! Plus, a time-travelling paradox during the Battle of Britain! They’re all on sale in all good newsagents from Thursday.

Commando 5507: Home of Heroes: Flight Time
Story Norman Ferguson | Art: Paolo Ongaro | Cover Ian Kennedy
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Commando 5507: Home of Heroes: Flight Time - cover by Ian Kennedy

Strange goings-on in Issue 5507 ‘Flight Time’! Air-bus co-pilot Jack Lewis was sick of being a glorified petrol station for real fighters in the sky. But Jack’s humdrum life is soon turned upside down when he wakes up at RAF Norton in 1940 as his grandfather’s wingman! Can he learn how to fly like an ace before it’s too late — or will he go down in flames?!

A debut Commando from writer Norman Ferguson, who tackles this time-travelling trip into the Battle of Britain with a little help from Paolo Ongaro’s terrific art, especially the aerial scenes. There’s a great twist in the tale, too.

Commando 5508: Gold Collection: No Time For Fear
Story: Boyle | Art: Aguilar | Cover: Penalva
Originally Commando No. 394 (1969)
• Buy the digital edition from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Commando 5508: Gold Collection: No Time For Fear - cover by Penalva

Talk about a fish out of water in Issue 5508 ‘No Time For Fear’! Well, meet Able Seaman Tim Jackson and Chris Walters of HM Submarine Service, who found themselves in the middle of the North African desert without so much as a plan. With little choice — and no time for fear — Walters and Jackson soon became the toughest pair of desert fighters west of El Alamein, with a little help from a SAS bloke determined to knock some sense into them!

Commando 5509: Action and Adventure: Hell in a Hellcat
Story: Brent Towns | Art: Morhain | Cover: Carlos Pino
• Buy the digital edition from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Commando 5509: Action and Adventure: Hell in a Hellcat - cover by Carlos Pino

You’ve heard about “going to hell in a handbasket” well Issue 5509 is hell in a Grumman F6F Hellcat for Lieutenant Frank Stewart! Frank’s life gets turned upside down when he is reassigned to a new aircraft carrier and with it comes a new Commanding Officer straight out of his past — one he never thought he’d see again!

This mystery man just so happens to be his father, and the two have a lot of catching up to do — between fending off Japanese attacks, that is!

A gut-wrenching comic by established Commando writer Brent Towns is topped off with awesome art by Morhain – and a high-drama cover by Carlos Pino.

Commando 5510: Silver Collection: The Spoils of War
Story: Bill Fear | Art: Blasco | Cover: Ron Brown
Originally Commando No. 1759 (1983)
• Buy the digital edition from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Commando 5510: Silver Collection: The Spoils of War - cover by Ron Brown

Could Bert Foster get away with stealing a priceless golden belt from a temple in the Burmese jungle? Not if the fearsome local warriors could help it! Capers and hijinks aplenty in this Silver era Commando as Issue 5510 ‘Spoils of War’ feels like Commando meets Indiana Jones! Lucky there’s no giant boulders in this issue — only crocodiles, raging rivers, some very angry locals intent on getting justice!

• Commando Comics is online at www.commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook | Twitter | Commando Comics on AmazonUK

• The official 2022 Commando Calendar is available to order from AmazonUK (Affliiate Link)

This features various covers from Commando comic ranging from the Classic Golden Era of the comic to modern day masterpieces. Included are 17 covers by some of the world’s greatest ever comic artists as well as a special double page-spread pull-out poster. Featuring artwork by Ian Kennedy, Neil Roberts, Keith Burns, and many more.

• The Art of Ian Kennedy is also available to order from DC Thomson direct

Issues 5507 – 5510 – Full Cover Gallery

• Commando Comics is online at www.commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook | Twitter | Commando Comics on AmazonUK

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.