DC Thomson Media’s Commando Comics goes all out with this week’s set of stories (Issues 5419 – 5422) as heroes battle it out in North Africa, Vietnam, and the not-too-distant future, harking back to the look of a story befitting much-missed companion SF title Starblazer.

Commando 5419: Home of Heroes – Five Seconds in ‘Nam
Story: Heath Ackley| Art: Muller and Klacik | Cover: Neil Roberts
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Age nineteen and a radio operator in ‘Nam, could there be anything worse? Well, yes, you could be that and separated from your team with nothing to go by but a garbled distress call nearby. That’s the position Charles “Hoss” Nelson found himself in in 1968 and it turned out to be even more dangerous than he could imagine!

Another stunning aviation cover from Neil Roberts, with claustrophobic interiors from Muller and Klacik which perfectly compliment Heath Ackley’s writing. A rare first-person narrative, Ackley puts you right in the action, masterfully building the tension.

Commando 5420: Gold Collection – Crackshot
Story: Eric Hebden | Art and Cover: Gordon C Livingstone
Originally Commando No. 340 (1968)
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“SLASHER GIBSON WAS A ‘RED-CAP’, A MILITARY POLICE SERGEANT… AND HE OF ALL PEOPLE WAS WANTED FOR MURDER!”

With an opening caption like that, who could resist not reading on?! From Golden Era Commando legends Eric Hebden and Gordon C Livingstone, this story ticks all the boxes for fans of the genre and British comics alike.

Commando 5421: Action and Adventure – Darksiders
Story: R Tate | Art; Vicente Alcazar | Cover: Neil Roberts
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Commando goes Cyberpunk as it dips its toe in the waters of its much-missed companion title, Starblazer. Set in The City, Commando CO Truman is tasked with retrieving stolen tech from the Rebels, but soon finds himself in the Dark Zone with a massive bounty on his head. Can he get his team out alive and will he unravel the mystery surrounding his mission before it’s too late?

Another fast-paced action heavy issue from R Tate, with interiors stunningly rendered by Vicente Alcazar who gives credence to the high-gloss machinery against the grime of The City. All this is topped off by a spectacular cover by Neil Roberts which pays expert tribute to the genre.

• Check out out our guide to Starblazer, including interviews, a checklist and more, compiled by Jeremy Briggs and others

Starblazer was published between Issue 1 in April 1979 and the final issue, 281 in January 1991, a single black and white 64 page story hiding behind a painted colour cover. But what started as a fairly straightforward science-fiction version of Thomson’s digest-size Commando comic would mutate over the course of its history. Its initial tag line of “Space Fiction Adventure In Pictures” would conclude its run with “Fantasy Fiction In Pictures”, with the inclusion of more sword and sorcery elements in the later issues…

Commando 5422: Silver Collection – Desert Thief
Story: Roger Sanderson | Art: Fleming | Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally Commando No. 1666 (1982)
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Private Jim Collinwood had never stolen a thing in his life… he just wasn’t the type. But there were those who had pointed the finger at him and accused him of just that! And, at a time when he had enough to do just surviving in the desert war, proving his innocence was not going to be easy — yet prove it Jim would!

Another classic cover from Commando icon Ian Kennedy, capturing the heat of Sanderson and Fleming’s desert wastelands.

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

• The Art of Ian Kennedy is available to order here on Amazon (Using this Affiliate Link helps support downthetubes, thank you)

The book showcases Ian’s fantastic array of work for not only DC Thomson Media but also his own personal collection. The high spec 160-page art book includes both never before seen and classic covers, as well as illustrations from the DC Thomson archives, featuring titles as diverse as Lucky Charm and Buddy. 

Set out chronologically, the book showcases Ian’s career at the famous Scottish publishing house, from his early days working on ‘Red-Skull Branson’ and ‘Commando Jim’ to his most recent covers and commissions for Commando

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

Commando Issues 5419 – 5422 – 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.

Categories: British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News

Tags: Commando, Commando Comics, DC Thomson, DC Thomson Media, downthetubes News, Eric Hebden, Fleming, Gordon C. Livingstone, Heath Ackley, Ian Kennedy, Klacik, Muller, Neil Roberts, R Tate, Roger Sanderson, Vicente Alcazar, War Comics