Flaming Heck! It's some new Commandos

Just because it was Valentine’s Day this week, Commando hasn’t gone all lovey-dovey. Oh no! Four More action-packed tales are now on sale in all good newsagents for adventure fans...

Commando No 4471: The Flaming Dagger
Story: Stephen Walsh Art: Keith Page Cover: Keith Page

As a 12-year-old living in Paris in the early days of the Second World War, Isaac Vidal hoped that freedom would soon come again to France. He had every confidence that it would for did not his favourite comic have a battling British hero who would thwart the Nazis at every turn?

His optimism was not shared by all, for the Flaming Dagger was a character from fiction and everybody knows that fictitious heroes never win wars. Do they?

Commando No 4472: Battle In The Snow
Story: Ferg Handley Art: Vila Cover: Janek Matysiak

December, 1944. In the midst of the German Ardennes Offensive, an American GI — Corporal Joe Wallace — regains consciousness after a skirmish. Suffering from a head wound, he has no memory of who he is or what happened to him and his buddies.

As he fights to regain his memory, Joe has to battle for his very survival…

Commando No 4473: Killer Ship
Originally Commando No 44 (Nov 1962)
Story: Eric Hebden Art: Cecil Rigby Cover: Ken Barr

Every night as darkness spread over the Mediterranean, sailors of the German Navy who were on duty grew nervous and uneasy. For this was the time the ghost ship would strike.

Out of the night would roar a sleek, black E-boat with the skull and crossbones flying from its masthead.

And on its bridge stood a British sailor as bold as any pirate of the Spanish Main, Lieutenant Bart Mason of the British Navy — running his own private war.

"1962 was the second year of Commando’s history and they struck gold time after time," notes title Editor Calum Laird of this re-issue. "Writers like Eric Hebden used their full imagination to come up with classic characters and plots, just like here. Eric’s son Alan has the same talent.

"Cecil Rigby’s inside artwork works very well here, with a strong line and skillful use of black for the night scenes. There’s very little you can say about Ken Barr’s cover art that hasn’t been said before, but his capture of the speed of the killer E-boat really is something. You can almost smell the salt and the diesel!

Commando No 4474: Hit ‘Em Hard!
Originally Commando No 2111 (August 1987)
Story: Alan Hebden Art: Jose Maria Jorge Cover: Tony Corbett

Nick Bonner led a squadron of Curtiss Kittyhawks against Axis forces in North Africa in 1941. They were slogging it out with the Italians for supremacy of the skies. It was a tough fight, but one which was about to take a savage new twist when a ruthless group of Luftwaffe pilots arrived…

"This super air tale from 1987 was written by Alan Hebden, who still crafts many a cracking script for us today," says Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor. " Interestingly, Alan’s dad, Eric, was also a veteran Commando author. Check out his sterling work on “Killer Ship”, (No 4473) the 1962 classic reprinted alongside this story.

"The inside art here was by the great Jose Maria Jorge, another Commando stalwart, who sadly died in 2010 and is much missed. It’s a small consolation but at least his dynamic, wonderfully-detailed black and white line art is still with us to enjoy all over again."

• The Draw Your Weapons exhibition featuring art from Commando continues at the National Army Museum in London this month and runs until 30th April 2012. For the latest information visit: www.nam.ac.uk/exhibitions/special-displays/draw-your-weapons-art-commando-comics


• Official Commando web site: http://www.commandocomics.com/


• Commando Official Facebook page


• Click here for subscription information or write to: D.C. Thomson & Co Ltd, The Subscribers Department, Commando Library, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL or Freephone (UK only) 0800 318846


• Commando is also available for iPad and iPhone. The apps are free to download through the Apple iTunes App Store and a digital subscription is priced at £4.99 per month, compared to a £99 annual print subscription. For those not sure there are four free issues to download prior to making a purchase.


• Commando Comics iPhone App on iTunes


• Commando Comics iPad App on iTunes

Dundee Commando exhibition open

Commado crew at the exhibition's opening night. From left to right: Scott Montgomery (deputy editor), Calum Laird (editor), George Low (former editor), Ian Kennedy (artist) and Gordon Livingstone (artist).

A quick reminder about the Commando exhibition in Dundee Jeremy Briggs gave an advance plug for last month, which has now opened, in advance of Dundee Comics Day on 30th October.

Marking the 50th anniversary of Commando, It's in the Tower Foyer Gallery at the University of Dundee and runs until 19th November.

It includes some stunning original artwork by the likes of Ian Kennedy, Gordon Livingstone, Cam Kennedy, John Ridgway, Carlos Pino, Keith Page, Jose Maria Jorge and others, and also features all sorts of interesting memorabilia kindly loaned to the University by publishers DC Thomson.

• The exhibition is open Monday - Friday 09.30-20.30 and Saturday 09.30-16.30. Admission is free.

• Exhibition information: www.dundee.ac.uk/museum/exhibitions/comics/commando.htm

• Watch out for an interview with Chris Murray from the University of Dundee, talking about his Comic Studies course, on downthetubes tomorrow

Commando at 50: Second Shots

Here's the latest Commandos to hit newsagents, courtesy of DC Thomson, as the countdown to the comic digest's 50th anniversary begins in earnest...

Commando 4359: Johnny The Jinx
Story: Eric Hebden Inside Art: Alonso Cover Art: Lopez Espi
Originally No 301 for 1967, re-issued in 1976 as 1019

Remembered by Commando Calum Laird from childhood and re-issued as part of the 50th anniversary program, this story centres on Lieutenant Johnny Dawson. Gremlins, leprechauns — call them what you like — they all had it in for him. He was the sort of bloke whose Sten would suddenly jam for no reason, or he’d be the one in a million who’d be issued with the grenade with a faulty fuse.

Yes, Johnny had a real jinx. He didn’t like it, the top brass didn’t like it and, most important, Johnny’s men didn’t like it. In fact if his luck didn’t change soon he’d have a mutiny on his hands.

Commando 4360 Flying Fury
Story: Ken Gentry Inside Art: José Maria Jorge Cover Art: Sanfeliz
Originally No 384 from 1969, re-issued as No 1107 in 1977

Chosen by former editor George Low to be re-issued as part of the 50th anniversary programme, this is the late José Maria Jorge’s first book for Commando.

Painted on the fuselage of Otto Koll’s Messerschmitt fighter were many RAF roundels, the number of Spitfires and Hurricanes he had shot down. He was a master-flyer. He reigned supreme.

But there’s a lot of truth in the old saying, “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

All the RAF needed was something impossible… a pilot who could out-fly and out-fight Germany’s best!

Commando 4361 Free French Ace
Story: Ferg Handley Inside Art: Rezzonico Cover Art: Ian Kennedy

Although he had been born in France, Mike Perrin grew up in Great Britain and considered himself to be English. Furthermore, he blamed the French and their early surrender to Germany for the deaths of his parents.

When Mike passed out as a fighter pilot his Gallic heritage saw him posted — mistakenly, he believed — to a Free French squadron. He didn’t want to be there and made no bones about it. This bad attitude was going to get him into a lot of trouble…

Commando No 4362: Mountain Warriors
Story: Alan Hebden Inside Art: Keith Page Cover Art: Keith Page

They looked comical in their striped robes and leading their mules. But the Goumiers were soldiers through and through, fighting for France against all comers in North Africa.

Make no mistake, these mountain warriors were silent, dangerous…and deadly!

Calum tells us the working title for this tale was The Goum Show — Goumiers are often referred to as Goums. And it is not the first Commando cover to feature a donkey.

• Official Commando web site: http://www.commandomag.com/

• Click here for subscription information or write to: D.C. Thomson & Co Ltd, The Subscribers Department, Commando Library, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL or Freephone (UK only) 0800 318846

• You can read interviews with former Commando editor George Low, current editor Calum Laird and writer Ferg Handley on the downthetubes main site.

Commando evades blizzards, heads for newsagents

Here are the latest issues of DC Thomson's Commando to fight their way through the snowdrifts to the newsagents’ shelves. Just in time for Christmas, too.

If anyone is having difficulty getting copies in the seasonal weather, Commando editor Calum Laird suggest you email shop@dcthomson.co.uk, and the team there will do their best to help out. Plus, a subscription might be a wise investment as missed copies of our upcoming 50th year’s output may cause some wailing and gnashing of teeth!

Commando fans may have noticed the official website (www.commandocomics.com) has had an update. DC Thomson are trailing the launch of digital editions of Commando, launching next year, on the site, and there's now better links to an extensive guide to the title's back issues list and behind the scenes features.

Commando 4351: Death Camp
Story: Ian Clark Art: Olivera Cover Art: Alan Burrows
Previously No 2637 from 1993

Barbed wire, watchtowers and searchlights — the camp looked like any other POW cage… from the outside. But hidden behind the perimeter fence was a nightmare world where starved prisoners were forced to act as guinea pigs for the sadistic doctors of death!

Commando 4352: Hunger for Glory
Story: Ian Clark Art: Josè Maria Jorge Cover Art: Josè Maria Jorge
Previously No 2663 from 1993

Colonel John Devlin, USAF, had chased glory in three wars…but it had always passed him by. Now, in the savage air battles over war-torn Vietnam, he saw his final chance to grab it when a new pilot arrived — a real hotshot, a born ace.
There and then Devlin decided that this top gun was going to be his ticket to glory…regardless of the cost of men and machines!

This is a re-issued story which reminds us of just what a talented artist the late Josè Maria Jorge was… especially when it came to aircraft. His very first Commando story will be appearing in late January 2011.

Commando 4353: Ham-Fisted Hero
Story: Alan Hebden Art: Carlos Pino Cover Art: Carlos Pino

Young Wally Clegg was a nice lad but a bit of a clumsy clot. As soon as he got near a ham radio set, however, there was a veritable transformation and he became a communications wizard.

And although he was bounced out of the Royal Signals Corps, if there was radio work to be done, Wally was there to do it. Now the Japs were poised to invade India and it looked like only Wally could send the message that would stop them. With the pressure on would he be a wireless wonder or a Ham-Fisted Hero?

Commando 4354: Company of Pals
Story: Alan Hebden Art: Vila Cover Art: Ian Kennedy

They marched of to war together, the young men of the town. Proud to serve their country and happy to fighting alongside their mates. But the Western Front in the First World War was a place of nightmares and the town’s nightmare came true when the company of pals was wiped out.

When the evil of war once more engulfed Europe, the military authorities made sure that, whatever casualties they had to suffer, never again would one town lose all its young men at once. It seemed, though, that fate hadn’t got the message...

• Official Commando web site: www.commandocomics.com

• Click here for subscription information or write to: D.C. Thomson & Co Ltd, The Subscribers Department, Commando Library, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL or Freephone (UK only) 0800 318846

• You can read interviews with former Commando editor George Low, current editor Calum Laird on the downthetubes main site.

Flying Tonight: Four New Commandos...

Four new Commandos are on sale now with one by the late great Jose Maria Jorge, who died last month.

Commando No 4339: Nightmare in Siberia
Story: Ferg Handley Art: Mike White Cover Art: Mike White

Royal Navy Lieutenant Will Clemence was also looking forward to some much-needed home leave after three years service in Russia.

However Will, who always did things by the book, somehow found himself on an unexpected, dangerous mission, alongside a civilian. Jack Lampard was a maverick American journalist — who it seemed never did anything by the book!
Would Will survive this nightmare in Siberia?

Commando No 4340: Russian Revenge
Story: Mac MacDonald Art: Rezzonico Cover Art: Ian Kennedy

In 1940, medical student Vlad Rezky had only just managed to escape from German-occupied Vienna to America. The rest of his family weren’t so lucky, hunted down because of their Jewish ancestry. One day Vlad hoped to avenge their deaths on their killer, a ruthless Nazi officer.

Four years later Vlad, an interpreter for the US Army, was part of a delegation aboard a Soviet Lisunov Li2 transport, bound for the front line. Revenge was still on his mind but the cannon shells of a marauding Focke-Wulf FW190 looked likely to end his war, and his life, long before he set foot on the ground once more.

Commando No 4341: Pilot for Hire
Story: Ian Clark Art: José Maria Jorge Cover Art: José Maria Jorge

Jake Bryson had fought in more dogfights than most. And he’d flown more types of fighter aircraft than most. He was a flying mercenary, selling his ace talents to the highest bidder.
Yes, he was in great demand all right, but the deal going down this time surprised even Jake... and that took some doing!

Commando No 4342: False Glory
Story: Ian Clark Art: Benet Cover Art: Benet

When Hitler’s armies invaded Russia in 1941, it seemed like a great adventure for many a German soldier and young Hans Moller was no exception. Gradually, though, as winter closed in and the Red Army showed a new stubborn determination, what had once been a glorious crusade became a bitter test of survival.

And, slowly but surely, Hans and his mates found themselves fighting not for glory, but for their very lives!

• Official Commando web site: http://www.commandomag.com/

• Click here for subscription information or write to: D.C. Thomson & Co Ltd, The Subscribers Department, Commando Library, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL or Freephone (UK only) 0800 318846

• You can read interviews with former Commando editor George Low, current editor Calum Laird and writer Ferg Handley on the downthetubes main site.

Scramble for the new Commandos!

The first three Commando books now on sale in all good newsagents complete DC Thomson's series of six books saluting the heroes of the Battle Of Britain, called "Aces High".

"We’ve dug back into the archives to give some of the older books an airing," says editor Calum Laird. "Very few Commando readers will have seen these, I hope, and will appreciate them."

Inside the front covers of them all are individual aircraft illustrations by Ian Kennedy.

If you like these stories, Carlton’s jumbo Commando collection of 10 stories from the Battle Of Britain – appropriately called Scramble! – is available from all good bookshops (ISBN 978-1-84732-421-4).  It includes stories like "Ace Without Honour", "Island of Heroes" and "Brigand Squadron" as well as "Blind Courage", "Fly Fast-Shoot Fast" or "Spitfire Spirit" and there's one of our usual amazon links at the end of this news item

Commando 4327: Black Ace
Story: Alan Parlett Art: Medrano Cover: Ken Barr
Originally No 124 from 1964

A survivor… alone on a cold, dark sea…this was the best that any RAF pilot could hope for if he ran up against Von Stein of the Luftwaffe. The German flew a jet-black Focke-Wulf 190, and his emblem was the ace of spades, the card of death.They called young Jack Collins a coward until the day he and his Hurricane took off to meet the Black Ace in mortal combat…

Commando No 4328: Lone Ace
Story: David Bingley Art: Gordon Livingstone Cover: Buccheri
Originally No 275 from 1967

“Stand by for a crash — young Danny Price has just taken off!” What a reputation for a young pilot to get. Too bad that every word of it was true.
From recklessness and bad judgement, or maybe just through bad luck, Dan finished up pranging every aircraft he ever flew. Spitfires, Hurricanes, Grumman Wildcats – they were all the same to Dan. In the sea, in the fields, on the decks of carriers he dumped them with amazing regularity, totally beyond repair.
Not until he crashed one with cold courage right on to an attacking U-Boat did anyone start believing in Dan — even Dan himself!

Commando No 4329: Divided Aces
Story: Ferg Handley Art: José Maria Jorge Cover: José Maria Jorge

Squadron Leader Jack Pearson was beginning to wonder if his first command might be his last. English-born Jack was determined to make the most of his posting to a base outside Edinburgh — even if the locals were less than friendly about his, and his fellow countrymen’s, presence.
As if that wasn’t enough, added to the mix were some veteran Polish fliers who didn’t like the way their new skipper was running things… Jack would have his work cut out for him if he was going to unite these divided aces? 

Commando No 4330: Sniper Hunt
Story: Alan Hebden Art: Morahin Cover: Keith Page

Lance-Corporal Matt Horne always wanted to be a sniper. So when the chance came to join an established sniper team as a flanker — to watch the backs of the sniper and his spotter — Matt grabbed it.
However, with a mysterious rival marksman causing carefully-calculated mayhem, Matt soon found out that sniping was a bitter, deadly game — one where there were no rules and the hunter very easily became the hunted…

• Official Commando web site: www.commandomag.com

• Click here for subscription information or write to: D.C. Thomson & Co Ltd, The Subscribers Department, Commando Library, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL or Freephone (UK only) 0800 318846

• You can read interviews with former Commando editor George Low, current editor Calum Laird and writer Ferg Handley on the downthetubes main site.

Commando Webbing: 16 November 2009

Norway sends us Nemi (published daily in The Metro and compiled annually by Titan) and in return we now send them Commando.

DC Thomson's official CommandoMag site is reporting that Commando comics are being published in Norway by Egmont Serieforlaget with each issue of the new Kamp Og Kommando (Action and Commando) digest including four translated issues of British Commando. This is not the first time that Commando has been published in Norway as translated Commandos were originally published in the digest Kamp.

The cover for Kamp Og Kommando issue 1 is from Commando issue 46, Phantom Fighters, originally published in the UK in December 1962 with script and internal art by Peter Ford and cover art by Ken Barr. This story has already been published in Norwegian by Kamp as Fantom Jagerne.

Elsewhere in Scandinavia, Finland continues to publish Commando stories in Korkeajannitys, which translates as High Voltage.

More details of Kamp Og Kommando are available on the CommandoMag website.

More covers of Kamp and Korkeajannitys are available at the Where Eagles Dare website.

Returning to the English speaking world and the Tainted Archive blog has a new interview with Commando editor Calum Laird and writer David Whitehead. In the interview they talk about their work on Commando and speculate on exactly why the 48 year old title continues to be successful.

• Read the Tainted Archive interview here.

• Read the downthetubes interview with Calum Laird here.

Finally back on CommandoMag, and the site gives us a preview of the title page of artist Jose Maria Jorge's latest Commando work. The issue, written by Steve Coombes, is due for release next Spring and has the working title of Crossed Sword Squadron. Jorge's reputation of being the best regular Commando artist is well displayed in his typically accurate art of three Second World War RAF Tempest fighters flown by Polish pilots.

Rather than spoil CommandoMag's preview by reprinting it here we will leave you instead with the the cover of Commando issue 3177, Fatal Contact, showing Jorge's original art for an American Sabre jet's encounter with two flying saucers - one of a wide selection of Commando cover paintings available on his website.

• See the Commando artwork preview here.
• More details of Jose Maria Jorge can be found on his website.