The latest set of Commando titles, on sale this Thursday (20th June) in all good newsagents and digital platforms, include the return of a popular strip from the fondly-remembered Warlord comic – “Kampfgruppe Falken”, a tale centred on a World War Two German army punishment battalion.
Issues 5759 – 5762 also feature mysterious desert tanks, air battles over Korea, and a British officer turned coward.
“Kampfgruppe Falken”, written by Alan Hemus with art by Luis Collado Coch, made its debut in DC Thomson’s weekly war comic, Warlord, in Issue 152, cover dated 20th August 1977, a story taking a leaf from the success of “Panzer G-Man” and “Hellman of Hammer Force” in rival publisher Fleetway’s Battle comic.
As the late downthetubes contributor Colin Noble noted in a feature for his Nothing But a Fan blog back in 2015, DC Thomson’s “old guard” had long resisted running strips that offered a sympathetic take on German soldiers. But editor Bill Graham pushed back against such attitudes, as he told Jeremy Briggs in an interview for downthetubes in 2008…
“Up until Warlord, the war stories in British comics were nearly all very jingoistic,” he said. “We tried to get away from that, though we had our battles with management, all of whom had seen service in World War Two. We didn’t want to tell stories about the Brits slaughtering the enemy in amazing feats of derring-do. We wanted to tell stories about all the fighting men in the major conflicts in a more realistic fashion.”
“Kampfgruppe Falken” followed a German army punishment battalion attempting to stop, or at least slow, the advance of the Russian army on Berlin in 1945. It quickly proved a hit with readers, the strip not only running in 77 issues of the weekly title, although not consecutively, but in several Warlord Book for Boys and Warlord Summer Special tales, too.
Commando 5759: Home of Heroes – Kampfgruppe Falken – The Point Of No Return
Story: Dominic Teague | Art and Cover: Manuel Benet
The original Warlord character storms back into comics! In 1940, Major Heinz Falken was a Panzer commander court martialled for refusing to massacre refugees in the Blitzkrieg of France. As punishment, Falken was sentenced to serve in a penal battalion on the brutal Eastern Front, under the cruel command of General Heiss.
Between Heiss’ cruelty, the fearsome resistance, and the extreme weather, Falken has it cut out for him and his men. But when an unexpected person from Falken’s past crops up, he’ll have to choose between survival or leaving his humanity behind!
The Commando team are thrilled “Kampfgruppe Falken” is making a return to comics in Commando. Join Major Heinz Falken as he fights for survival after his exile to the Eastern Front.
Commando 5760: Gold Collection – Desert Fox
Story: Eric Hebden | Art: Galindo | Cover: Ian Kennedy
First Published 1970 as Issue 514
“The Ghost” — that was the British soldiers’ nickname for the solitary German tank which would appear mysteriously out of the desert wastes to create havoc, and then just as strangely disappear. Its tracks could never be seen, and everybody reckoned it was unstoppable — everybody, that is, except Sergeant Greg Fox. Greg decided to hunt it down — armed with only a tommy gun and two grenades!
With the powerhouse trio of contributors on board, Eric Hebden on script, Galindo on interior artwork and the great Ian Kennedy on cover, this is a classic Commando tale!
Commando 5761: Action and Adventure – Fallen Sabre
Story: James Swallow | Art: Paolo Ongaro | Cover: Neil Roberts
During the ferocious fighting of the air war in Korea, both Allied and Communist forces were desperate to gain any edge in battle. Soviet-built MiG-15s duelled with American F-86 Sabres in the skies known as “MiG Alley” — and they would stop at nothing to capture an enemy aircraft intact!
Inspired by true events, Commando Issue 5761 is hot stuff, with stunning interiors by Italian artist Paolo Ongaro and a vibrant and exciting cover by the amazing Neil Roberts.
Commando 5762: Silver Collection – Don’t Shoot!
Story: CG Walker | Art: CT Rigby | Cover: Jeff Bevan
First Published 1982 as Issue 1600
The sergeant couldn’t believe his ears when Lieutenant Ron Deal ordered the men to lay down their arms. This was the brave officer who led them from the battlefields of France to the scorching sands of the North African desert. He’d never been known to give in without a fight, so what was he up to now? Surely he hadn’t turned coward?
Issue 5762 is a dynamic Commando reprint with another dream team of Commando contributors on board. With prolific writer CG Walker on the script, CT Rigby on the interior artwork and Jeff Bevan’s artwork on the cover.
• Commando Comics is online at commandocomics.com | DC Thomson – Subscriptions | Facebook| Twitter | YouTube | Commando Comics on AmazonUK | Commando Comics on Magzter | Pocket MagsDirect
• If there’s a past Commando comic you would like to see reprinted, contact the team via generalenquiries@commandomag.com
Cover Gallery
Web Links
• Calling Warlord Agents! An Interview with DC Thomson’s Bill Graham
Back in 2008, Jeremy Briggs talked to Bill Graham, former editor of Starblazer, Spike, Warlord and more, about his long and varied career with DC Thomson and his involvement with their comic strips for Wendy
• Nothing But a Fan: Battlegroup Niffleheim: Abode of The Dead
• Lambiek Profile: Artist Luis Collado Coch
• Comic Vine “Kampfgruppe Falken” series guide
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, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comic Previews, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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The Nazis and Wehermacht were a bad lot and shouldn’t be portrayed with any sympathy. I’d like to see much stronger anti Nazi stories with much more truth-telling of their evil atrocities,
such as the death camps and murder of the Jewish people.