Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Commando comics out this Thursday


Here's a preview of the four issues of Commando that are due to arrive in newsagents this week. Thanks to D.C. Thomson for supplying the info and cover images.
Commando Issues 4855-4858 – On Sale 22 October 2015

Commando No 4855 – Eagles Of Dunkirk
Corporal Sean Carrick excelled as an anti-tank gunner in a Daimler Dingo scout car, whether at Dunkirk or in the cruel heat of the North African desert.
   However, when an age-old family feud is re-kindled, Sean soon finds himself fighting to save his reputation as outrageous lies are spread about his past. His dilemma is that his true life story may be even more dangerous to reveal.
   This particular Eagle Of Dunkirk would have to fight ‘friend’ as well as foe to be able to stretch his wings and escape a deadly destiny.

Introduction
With only a few notable exceptions — step forward the Convict Commandos — recurring characters have been rare on the pages of Commando over the last 50-odd years. However, we were of the opinion that you, our readers, might like a series which carried the story over more than one issue. With the pen of Ferg Handley recruited to do the writing, we decided that a historical saga spanning many generations would hit the spot.
   After the thrilling events of the previous instalment set in the trenches of the Great War, our generation-spanning epic tale of three inter-linked, entirely fictional families is nearing journey’s end. Now we are in familiar Commando territory, World War II — more specifically the frantic retreat at Dunkirk and then the killing zone of the arid North African Desert. We hope you enjoy this story of courage and honour.
   The stunning conclusion to this 13-story saga will be coming soon. Don’t’ miss it!

Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor

Story: Ferg Handley
Art: Keith Page
Cover: Keith Page

Commando No 4856 – No Escape!
All along the British lines the terrifying news spread like wildfire. 
   Brave men trembled. “He’s in our area. The Engineer of Death is here!” For they knew that once “the engineer” had set his fiendish secret traps, no one who fell into them would ever walk away.
   That’s when an unlikely hero volunteered, vowing to beat him at his own game. A skinny little genius with glasses, whose name was Percy Potts…

Introduction
It may not come as too much of a surprise to learn that the working title of this book was “Engineer Of Death”. This fairly lurid phrase is alluded to several times throughout the text and cleverly foreshadows this character, building him up as a fearsome adversary for our mild-mannered hero and arch rival, Percy Potts. 
   In typical Commando fashion, however, when the two finally meet, things don’t quite turn out the way we might expect them to.
Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor
No Escape!, originally Commando No 194 (December 1965)

Story: Bounds
Art: C.T. Rigby
Cover: Davis



Commando No 4857 – Red Ace
Sergeant Alek Pavlikov had hardly any flying hours under his belt but still felt ready to join in the fight against the Luftwaffe in the battle for supremacy of the skies above Kursk.
   His dreams of heroism were soon overtaken by a dawning realisation that a surprising number of his fellow rookies were dying on their first mission.
   Alek wondered if a ruthless superior officer had something to do with it. Was his fearsome major, Yuri Zaleski — the Red Ace — willing to risk Alek’s annihilation in a quest for personal glory?



Commando No 4858 – Danger Ahead
A stretch of treacherous water to cross, and no boat to do it in…
   All they had was a few plywood drop tanks jettisoned from aircraft, lengths of bamboo, bits of wood…and their courage.
   Yes, they needed courage most of all, for entering that stretch of water risked a horrifying death. In the search for survival there was deadly danger ahead…

Introduction
I’d like to imagine — or certainly hope — that at least one Commando reader from the mid-1970s may have since asked, “Remember the one where a joiner made a raft out of old junk, battled hungry sharks and then helped fight the Japanese…?”
   Well, this is that very book!
   Our resourceful carpenter hero, “Chippy” Stark, emerges from some fairly standard Aussie/Pom rivalry to become a true Commando hero in this offbeat classic.
Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor
Danger Ahead, originally Commando No 1018 (March 1976), re-issued as No 2356 (March 1990)

Story: Lomas
Art: Cueto
Cover: Ian Kennedy

Preview: http://www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/22nd-october-2015-collection?issue=4858 

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