Nightmare in the Forest Commando issue 4268

The script comes from Commando veteran, Ferg Handley and interior art by Olivera. The computer generated cover image struck me because the usual covers are hand painted. I assumed that the publishers were trying to attract a younger readership with the cover style; after all the cover resembles a screen shot from the various war themed computer games out there. However I was informed by the editor that Commando do use computer created art from time to time. And that a large section of their readership are already made up of young fans.

I suppose it's always been the way as I can remember reading these as a kid and then my grandfather would read them after me, and then we'd pass them onto an uncle. I bet that's still going on today.


Nicholas Forder is the man responsible for the effective and exciting cover image.

The meat and potatoes of the story concerns a German squad led by tough as nails Sergeant, Kurt Sturm who after a skirmish, take several Russians prisoner. However they soon face a Russian counter attack and find themselves, together with their prisoners, stranded in a seemingly deserted and lonely forest.

A Russian private seem terrified of the forest and soon German and Russian alike find themselves battling against a vicious group of bandits who make their home in the massive Eastern forests.

It's a great story that makes full use of its graphic medium, each frame, excellently drawn to represent the almost ethereal world of the forest, advances the story as the writer skilfully weaves several plots threads in the action packed tale.

There are a few of the Germans who want to coldly execute the Russian prisoners and several Russians with mutual feelings, the conflict between the commanding officers who realise friend and foe have to join forces to beat the common enemy and that all pervasive threat from a dangerous and often unseen force. The soldiers are not used to fighting in the hellish landscape of the dense forest, but to the bandits it is home and they can blend in with their surroundings and vanish with the blink of an eye.

The Commando books have been publishing continuously since the early Sixties and they are still able to provide excellent stories such as this.

Nightmare in the Forest is on sale now, together with three other titles, priced £1.35