Another Warlord comic favourite is back this week. This week’s Commando set of war comics from DC Thomson features a high-stakes adventure in the skies above Leningrad, when the scheming SS attempt to double-cross Leutnant Kurt Stahlmann and his trusty Junkers Ju 52, “Iron Annie“.
Meanwhile, over in Burma, Private Henry Lovelock must dig deep to find the courage to save his friend in “A Different Kind of Courage“, written by Ian Winterton, who has kindly provided a feature offering background on his story, which we will publish soon, once regular readers get the chance to read the story.
For those unfamiliar, “Iron Annie” first featured in Warlord drawn by Mike Dorey, one of a number of stories told from the perspective of the Axis side, which also included “Kampfgruppe Falken”.
Our late contributor, Colin Noble, cites this, and other strips from the title, initially edited by Bill Graham (interviewed here by Jeremy Briggs), as one of his early influence on his love of comics. It’s also inspired model makers to create their own versions of the plane in miniature.
Commando Issues 5983-5986 are on sale Thursday 13th August in TG Jones and other stockists, and available digitally from Magzter and AmazonUK.
Commando 5983 (Home of Heroes): Iron Annie
Story: Dominic Teague | Internal Art: Jaume Forns | Cover Art: Neil Roberts
After Leutnant Kurt Stahlmann sabotages an SS scheme to smuggle plundered Soviet treasure back to Germany, he is assigned the task of flying supplies to Leningrad and clearing Russian ground defences along the way.
Unbeknownst to Kurt’s crew, the vengeful SS have taken measures to ensure that his beloved Junkers Ju 52 Iron Annie’s next flight will be her last.
Commando 5984 (Gold): Mustang Patrol
Story: Brunt | Internal Art: John Ridgway | Cover Art: Ian Kennedy
First published 1972 as No.700
Alan Blake was a Mustang pilot. An expert flyer in a brilliant aircraft. Give him Messerschmitts to tackle — he had no trouble with them. E-boats to shoot up — no problem there either.
But then came that terrible day when the stream of bullets from his guns tore into his own squadron leader…
Commando 5985 (For Action and Adventure): A Different Kind of Courage
Story: Ian Winterton | Internal Art: Alberto Saichann | Cover Art: Neil Roberts
Burma, 1944. Assigned to a Royal Artillery base deep in the jungle, traumatised and scared Private Henry Lovelock is only able to carry on due to the reassuring protection of a squad of Gurkhas, led by the fearless Bibek. But, when the base is raided by the Japanese and Bibek is captured, Henry must find the courage to save his Nepalese friend.
Commando 5986 (Silver): The Squadron That Wouldn’t Die
Story: McOwan | Internal Art: Jose Maria Jorge | Cover Art: Ian Kennedy
First published 1972 as No. 632
This is the story of the RAF unit that rose from disgrace to carve a glorious name for itself in perilous enemy skies. And, even when all its planes had been brought down, that squadron still refused to die!
• Commando Comics are online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter | Follow Commando Comics on Facebook | X | YouTube |
• If there’s a past Commando comic you would like to see reprinted, contact the team via generalenquiries@commandomag.com
Commando Issues 5983 – 5986 Cover Gallery
• Commando Comics are online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter | Follow Commando Comics on Facebook | X | YouTube |
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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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