Go Commando!

  
News from Scott Montgomery at D.C. Thomson about the latest Commando releases ...

Commando Issues 4547-4550 – On sale 8th November 2012

Commando No 4547 – The Pigeon Patrol

As the First World War raged around him, Lieutenant Kenny Dean cast his eyes skywards at the sound of any aero engine. The one thing he really wanted to do was to get into the air, but he would have settled for anything to do with flying.
   So he should have been happy when his CO posted him to a flying unit? Shouldn’t he? Maybe not, for The Pigeon Patrol was not quite what he had in mind.

Story: Mac MacDonald
Art: Keith Page
Cover: Keith Page

Commando No 4548 – Grand Slam!
In 1995 an English historian discovered a mystery that had been hushed up for fifty years – with hidden airfields, commando raids, and deadly dogfights over the Himalayas. And, ultimately, there was a daring mission involving Lancaster B1 Specials carrying lethal, ton-ten Grand Slam bombs – the biggest and most powerful of World War II.
   It certainly is an amazing tale. One that has remained top secret…till now.

Story: Alan Hebden
Art: Carlos Pino
Cover: Carlos Pino



 
Commando No 4549 – Phantom Fighters

Out of the sun the Hurricanes roared down on the Luftwaffe’s unsuspecting squadrons like eagles upon their prey. All over the Western Desert they struck – airfields, convoys, enemy fighter patrols – no German was safe. They swooped, fought and killed – only to disappear, flitting away at zero feet among the sand dunes, vanishing from the sight of men like ghost planes.
   Terror reigned in German hearts whenever the high-pitched scream of power dives warned of the coming of the

…Phantom Fighters
Introduction

A lot of the early Commando stories were set in the jungle of in the Western Desert – like this one. What the two settings have in common is that the men at the centre of the stories are away from any real command structures so they can behave like pirates, wreaking havoc on their enemies.
   Peter Ford – the artist AND the author – takes full advantage of the set-up and adds spice by throwing a potential traitor into the mix of flying action.
   You wouldn’t have guessed that from Ken Barr’s breakneck cover, but you’ll enjoy it just the same.

Calum Laird, Editor

Phantom Fighters originally Commando No 46 (September 1962)

Story: Peter Ford
Art: Peter Ford
Cover: Ken Barr


Commando No 4550 – Skull And Crossbones

Most U-boat captains were honourable men, but not this one. As his submarine pulled away from the burning hulk of the British ship he broke one of the rules of warfare – he machine-gunned the defenceless men in the water.
   Those sailors who survived would never forget the emblem on the side of that U-boat…a red shield with a skull and crossbones.

Introduction

When we first see our hero, engineer extraordinaire Charlie Shepherd, we can almost feel the oily claustrophobia of his ship’s engine room – Ibanez’s inks are as thick and black as the very oil that powers the vessel.
    
It’s a tough seafaring tale, this one. However, thanks to author Bernard Gregg, the sadistic cruelty of the main Nazi villain is neatly balanced by the appearance of a humane German E-boat officer, giving the story – which cleverly changes tack two thirds of the way through – even more depth (pun intended, apologies).

Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor

Skull And Crossbones, originally Commando No 2127 (October 1987)

Story: Bernard Gregg
Art: Ibanez
Cover: Jeff Bevan

http://www.commandocomics.com