Action Stations

Four new Commando titles have just hit the shelves - Deadlock at Marne written by one time Commando editor, George Low with art by Keith Page is another in the series set during the Great War. I'm enjoying these First World War stories and hope that Commando continue publishing stories set around the conflict on a regular basis.


Duel in the Jungle is a World War II story set in the Burma Theater of war.

Escape from Singapore is another second world war tale, this time concentrating on the war at sea.

Finally we have Last Stand at Berlin which takes place during the closing months of the second world war. You'll notice from the banners on three of these issues that they boast bonus stories. Well actually it is the one story split across the three issues - part 1, 2 and 3. I've not read the story yet but this looks like a good idea and I do hope they prove popular - might open up a new market for short war stories there.

Archive's Magazine Watch - Commando

The latest Commando books are available in stores now - titles are Miracle at Mons, Three, Two, One..Zero, The White Russian and The Raiders.


 Just lately the books have been turning up in stores attached to what they call a postercard, Quite a nice idea since the reverse of the card often features stunning artwork that can be framed. However I have a gripe with this in that the actual books are attached to the cards with sellotape - see that barbed wire design across the front of the books in the pictures, well that's sellotape and it can be difficult to remove the book from the artcard without tearing the cover.

 The only option I've found is to carefully remove the sellotape from the artcard, which is easy enough since it doesn't tear the card, but leave it attached to the book cover since it does tear the paper. Not good for collectors like myself and I hope that publisher, D C Thomson address this problem. We love the artcards (long may they continue) but we don't want to rip the books.


We have taped the cards to the Commando issues so you'll notice that your Commandos are taking up a bit more space on the newsagents' shelves. The stories themselves are the same action-packed tales you've come to expect and they're the same size you want...they're just a bit easier to spot! From Commando Press release


However the books are still up to the usual high quality and the series continues to be the only one of its kind on sale on newstands today. The Commando books have been running so long now that they have become a British institution.

It is especially nice that Commando this month launch a series of books set during The Great War - Miracle at Mons is the first in the series.

The stunning artcard with Commando book NO 4874

50 and still marching on.

Next year will see D C Thomson's Commando Magazines celebrate their 50'th birthday and there are some great features lined up for the celebrations, entitled Operation Gold. It's all go on the 6th January 2011 when issue 12 will be reissued, originally published in 1969 the book is titled, The Desperate Days. Alongside this issue 1344 originally from 1979 will also be reissued.

And the celebrations are being kept up throughout the year with reissues of the first twelve Commando Books, a specially written 50th anniversary story and a brand new series featuring the special missions team, The Convict Commandos.

Check out the fine Commando official website HERE for more details

POCKET HISTORY (courtesy the WIKI) The comic series, then going by the title Commando War Stories in Pictures, was launched by D.C. Thomson of Dundee, Scotland, in July 1961. It was an addition to the company's already high profile comics, such as The Beano and The Dandy. During its launch year two issues were published per month, but due to the comic's increasing popularity this rose to four a month. Since 1981 there have been eight issues published per month. As of issue 539, certain stories have been reprinted.

In September 1993 the comic title changed to Commando For Action and Adventure. The last issue to feature the former title was issue 2690, Password to Freedom, published in August. The first comic to feature the new title was issue 2691, A Race Against Time, published the following month.
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The Commando's on the loose again

The four titles currently on sale, all priced at £1.35, are:

Welcome to the war by Mike Knowles and Olivera
Operation Red Commando by Alan Hebden and Vila
Mercenaries by Mike Knowles and Garijo
Race to Freedom by Ferg Handley and Keith Page

the titles are numbered 4283 - 4286