Commando For Action and Adventure, formerly known as Commando War Stories in Pictures, and colloquially known as Commando Comics, is a British comic book magazine that primarily draws its themes and backdrops from the various incidents of the First and Second World Wars. It was first published in July 1961 and is still in print today. It is noted for its distinctive 7 × 5½ inch, 68 page format that became a standard for these kinds of stories. "Commando" has remained more popular than many other British war comics, because of its character based stories and detailed black and white artwork, with only the covers in colour.[2] It is considered by some to be one of the greatest war comics in history.[3]
The stories contain certain characteristic motifs; to mention a few – courage, cowardice, patriotism, dying for the sake of one's country, noble actions, and making a cup of refreshing tea while in the face of danger, enmity turning into friendship when the going gets tough, and so on. Apart from portraying these universal qualities, Commando Comics also show soldiers in national stereotypes, glorifying Allied soldiers, but showing soldiers as a mixture of good and evil.[4] There was usually no continuity between books; each book was a complete story with start and finish, though recently series (2 or 3 stories) of books following the same character have been published.
Publication history
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, as well as The Victor launched earlier that same year. 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 1971 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.[5]
As well as the comics, annuals were also produced in 1989 and 1990, each containing seven new stories. The annuals were in full colour and illustrated in the style of the time, not in the original style of the comics.
At its peak in terms of sales, in one month during the 1970s, Commando's comics circulation figures reached 750,000 according to George Low, who began working with Commando in 1963 and retired as editor in 2007.[6][7] Current circulation is 9,600 copies a fortnight per issue.[8]
Landmark Issue no 4000 of Commando – 'Aces All!' – was released in April 2007.[6] In 2011, Commando Comics celebrated their 50th anniversary of publication, having begun in 1961.[9] They issued reprints of several of the early Commando stories from the 1960s.[10]Commando in 2011 re-printed (in reverse order) all of the first twelve issues from 1961.[11] Since 2007, half of Commando issues released have been re-prints of earlier stories but the remainder are new and original stories and artwork.[12] A book celebrating the best of Commando comics cover art was released in October 2011.[13] In 2011, new editions of Commando became available via digital download.[14]
In June 2013, it was announced that Commando Comics, whilst still owned by D C Thomson based in Dundee, would now be printed by GGP Media in Germany.[8][15]
Commando released their 5,000th issue, 'Zero Hour,' in March 2017.[2]
Artists and writers
Commando in its long history has employed 140 writers, over 100 cover artists & 120 interior artists.[12] These artists & writers have been based in a variety of locations including the UK, Italy and Argentina. Some writers and artists who have worked on Commando include:-
Gordon Livingstone who was one of the first artists employed by Commando when it began in 1961. His first issue was Commando No 4-Mercy for None first printed in July 1961. Livingstone produced the interior story art for over 360 issues of Commando and the cover art for over 30 issues. His last work was issue no 3293-Sweeney's Island, released in December 1999, the same year he retired.[16] He died in 2017.[17]
Ken Barr who has produced the cover art for over 200 issues, including the earliest ones printed in 1961.[18]
John Ridgway, whose work with Commando began in 1971 with issue no 546 Mustang Ace and who has drawn the interior art for over 120 issues and for half of those, he also did the cover-art.[19]
Denis McLoughlin came to Commando relatively late in his career. Having worked as an illustrator since the 1940s, he drew the interior art for his first Commando (no 1623 Fight Back) in 1982. McLoughlin drew the interior art for over 170 issues prior to his death in 2002 at the age of 84.[20]
Ian Kennedy who, from 1970 produced the cover-art for over 1200 issues of Commando and also drew the interior story art for five issues (he also worked for Battle, Air Ace & War Picture Libraries).[21] Ian, who had over 70 years experience working in comics died in 2022.
Jose Maria Jorge was an Argentinian artist who had a distinctive and precise drawing style and who produced the interior art for 163 issues, nearly all of which were aviation and naval-themed stories. His work with Commando began in 1969 with issue no 384-Flying Fury and he had the honour of illustrating Commando No 4000 in 2007. His final issue was No 4329-Divided Aces printed shortly before his death at the age of 69 in 2010.[22][23]
Keith Page began in 1996 with issue 2941 Odd Man Out and has since drawn the interior art for over 200 issues.[24]
Shane Filer, a novelist whose first book Exit was published by Biblio Publishing[25] is a more recent contributor. He has written 7 issues, including No 5133-The Home Front which featured a rare female protagonist, and was illustrated by Carlos Pino.[26]
Alan Hebden wrote 286 stories for Commando, 30 of which featured the Convict Commandos.
Carlos Pino Gallardo (credited as Carlos Pino) began drawing for Commando in 1989 with issue #2302.
Ferg Handley has written over 250 issues of Commando, most notably the series featuring the Special Raiding Force known as Ramsey’s Raiders.
Brent Towns, a novelist from Australia, has written over 20 issues of Commando, many of which have featured Australian or New Zealand forces.
Andrew Knighton, an author of speculative and historical fiction, began writing for Commando in 2018 and has created several stories set in historical eras such as the Napoleonic Wars and medieval period.
Colin Maxwell, a writer and artist of comics featuring historical characters and events, began writing for Commando in 2020 with issue #5371.
Neil Roberts, an artist with over 20 years experience in art, illustration and game art, has illustrated the covers of over 60 issues of Commando.
Manuel Benet Blanes (credited as Manuel Benet), an artist from Spain, is one of the most prolific of current artists on Commando, having illustrated the covers and interiors of hundreds of issues.
Calum Laird took over as editor of Commando in 1981, and although now retired, he still contributes stories.
Graham Manley, an artist who had previously worked on The Dandy and 2000AD, began providing artwork in 2022 with his first cover on issue #5585 and interior work in issue #5589.
Comic artist and book illustrator Keith Burns produced the cover art for his first Commando #5209 American Avenger in March 2019. To date, he has produced the cover art for over 40 issues of Commando.
Themes and stories
In the early years, all of Commando stories were devoted to the Second World War but in more recent decades, the comic has extended its range to a variety of conflicts including the First World War, the Cold War, Spanish Civil War, the Falklands, Korea, Vietnam and even ancient and medieval conflicts. A handful of issues have also dealt with fictional conflicts such as civil wars fought between imaginary states and there have even been a small number of Western and a science fiction stories released by Commando.[27] One example was issue no 4139-Rebel Army, set in immediate aftermath of the US Civil War in the 1860s. Another was issue no 2774-Space Watch, a science-fiction adventure about spaceship battles. In more recent decades, Commando have been also willing to portray conflicts through the viewpoint of soldiers on the opposite side. Issues such as #2598-Let Me Fly & #2713-The Flying Musketeers portrayed World War II from the experiences of German combatants whilst #2574-Giant Duel was a story about Italian air-force bomber crews in World War II. Issue No 2445-Iron Cross Yank featured a German ex-Luftwaffe pilot who is allowed to join the US air-force and fight in the Korean War. Issue No 1168-Thunderbolt was notable for including a sympathetic portrayal of a Japanese pilot.
Despite the emphasis placed on action and adventure, the creators of Commando have placed great importance on achieving historical and technical accuracy as much as possible. The first editor of Commando, Charles Checkley, and his deputy Ian Forbes (who later became the second editor) both served in the Second World War. George Low remarked that Forbes always had a great respect for the Germans and that it was important that distinctions be made between fanatical Nazis and the ordinary German soldiers.[2][7]
In 2019 Commando began publishing stories with a supernatural or horror theme around Halloween each year. The stories maintain a war theme, but have featured zombies, vampires, werewolves and ghost stories.
Appearance and format
The Commando comic differs from the more widely known American comic book in that it is published in a 7 × 5½ inch, 68 page format, with some 135 panels per story, which is roughly similar to a standard 22 page US comic. Most panels have both captions and dialogue to further the plot. Sound effects are rarely if ever used. The intention is to make a Commando story easy to read and follow.
The artwork is in black and white except for the covers, with the lettering done in typewriter font. Until recently writers and artists went uncredited as usual for D.C Thomson comics, though now a small grenade icon appears on the first panel, crediting individuals with story, art and cover.
Collected editions
In 2005, Carlton Books Ltd released an anthology of twelve Commando stories selected by George Low, who has edited the series since 1963. This proved a commercial success and further anthology collections have been published, some of which are themed. To date, these collections are:
Containing 12 issues: Inland Navy, Rileys Rifle, Aces Wild, Trouble Spot, Mustang Patrol, Death Patrol, The Ship Busters, Battle Wagon, Three...Two...One...Zero!, March of the Monsters, Man of Iron, Glider Ace. (This book was also published in two other editions, one called 'The 12 Best Commando Stories ever' (with different cover art also) and the other entitled 'Call of Battle', published by Seven-Oaks in 2009 which had identical cover-art to 'Dirty Dozen' but contained 10 of the above 12 stories).
Containing 12 issues: Guns on the Peak, The Fighting Few, Bright Blade of Courage, The Haunted Jungle, Tiger in the Tail, The Specialists, VLR-Very Long Range, The Mighty Midget, Flak Fever, Fight or Die!, Fearless Freddy, Another Tight Spot. (This book has been also published in two other editions – one in 2009 with the same cover-art and similar title –True Grit – but with 10 of the above 12 stories, and the other in 2007 with all 12 stories but with different cover-art and title The 12 Toughest Commando Stories Ever).
ANZACs At War (783 pages, August 2007, ISBN1-84442-059-0) This anthology contains a rare issue set in the Vietnam War. This was also published in another edition by Seven-Oaks which featured the same 12 stories but with different cover-art and a different title:-Commando: The Best 12 Aussie and Kiwi War Stories Ever. This title was also later re-released as ANZAC Heroes (January 2009, ISBN1-74237-152-3) featuring the original cover art but with only 10 of the 12 stories.[28]
Containing 12 issues: Maori Challenge, The Forgotten Five, War in the Wet, Test By Battle, Regan's Raiders, Killing Zone, Outback Army, Sub-Chaser, Secret in the Sand, Island of Fear, Outlaw from the Outback, The Warlord
Containing 12 issues: Fire Over England, Desert Fox, Danger in the Deep, The Desert of Death, The Savage Sky, The Death or Glory Mob, Zero Smasher, Island of Death, Sea Strike, Assassin!, They Flew by Night, Colonel Scarface.
Containing 12 issues: Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor, Jungle Madness, Mighty Maguire, Leave Him Behind!, Jungle Patrol, Grudge Fight, Into the Jungle, Jungle Sniper, The Black Pagoda, Jungle Express, Halt-Or Die!, Danger Everywhere!
Bandits at 12 O'Clock (784 pages, September 2008, ISBN1-84732-128-3)
Containing 12 issues: Battle Squadron, Son of a Traitor, Death of a Wimpey, The Silver Spitfire, Sailor with Wings, Lone Eagle, Sea Blitz, A Stirling called Satan, Low-Level Lanc, Black Zero, Mosquito Ace, Jet Blitz.
Containing 12 issues: Ambush at Dawn, The Strongpoint, Normandy Drop, Wrong Time-Wrong Place, Big Joe, Blood of Heroes, D-Day Drop, Operation Bulldog, Wolf Pack, Man of Iron, Big Guy, The Footsloggers
Battle of Britain - Scramble! (656 Pages, October 2009, ISBN1-84732-421-5)
Containing 10 issues: The Flying Avengers, Upside-Down Ace, Battle of the Boffins, Winged Wolves, Danger Below, Czech Mate, Squadron Scramble, No Mercy, Spitfire Spirit, Death of a Cobra.
Containing 10 issues: Operation Firebrand!, Half-Pint Commando, Terror Team, The Iron Sergeant, Time of Terror, The Mad Major, Spring the Trap, A Born Leader, Marked Man, Ten Tough Paratroopers.
Containing 10 issues: The Family Honour, Tin Can Warriors, Submarine Warriors, Killers in No-Man's Land, Mooney's Monster, Mongrel Squadron, Roar of the Guns, Duel over the Desert, Battling Bessie, Sentenced to Death!
Containing The Dirty Dozen, True Brit, All Guns Blazing and the very first issue of Commando – Walk or Die!
Commando: High Explosive (2420 pages, October 2010, ISBN1-84732-703-6 )
Containing Bandits at 12 O'Clock, Rumble in the Jungle, D-Day: Fight or Die! and the second issue of Commando – 'They Called Him Coward!'
In July 2011, Carlton Books Ltd began releasing smaller, 'pocket-sized' collections of Commando Comics edited by Calum Laird, each edition featuring three stories published in the original size, a similar format to the original 'Holiday Specials' released by Battle & Air Ace Picture Libraries.
In August 2013, Prion (Carlton) Books released collections of Commandoes that each featured six stories, published in the original size. Please note, these editions feature stories already included in the earlier anthologies.
Containing 6 issues: Inland Navy, The Ship-Busters, March of the Monsters, Bright Blade of Courage, Mighty Midget, Another Tight Spot.
In October 2022 two digital collections were published by D.C. Thomson and made available on Amazon/Comixology. The collections included stories featuring the Codename: Warlord character and several horror/supernatural stories. D.C. Thomson have said they plan to publish more of these collections featuring stories from their back catalogue under their Heritage Comics brand.
In other languages
The comics were popular in Finland, where they were known by the name "Korkeajännitys", meaning "high excitement" - it's a wordplay, referring to "korkeajännite", which would mean "high voltage". Hence the tagline: "Iskee kuin miljoona volttia", meaning "Strikes like a million volts". The term "korkeajännitys" doesn't exist in Finnish language outside this wordplay. Special issues of Korkeajännitys based on Finnish themes have been published by Egmont Publishing since 1998. These themes include Finnish Civil War, Finnish War as well as Winter War and Continuation War.
These comics have also been published in India in Hindi, under the title Commando - Sachitra Yudh Kathayein by Gowarsons Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
Legacy
In 2011-2012 the National Army Museum in London staged a major retrospective exhibition, "Draw Your Weapons: The Art of Commando Comics".[29][30] Between 1 October 2023 and 30 April 2024, an exhibition was held at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, entitled "Into Battle! The Art of British War Comics", sponsored by the built environment consultancy Ridge.[31]
Mathias Nelson from Forgotten Wars considered the comic series to be the longest-running and the best of its genre, stating, "Commando Comics is one of the greatest war comics ever written, and I myself knew people who were inspired by it to actually enlist in the British military."[3]
^Commando, Private Apache, No. 912, P.46, Nazi says "Ja, more British to kill", fellow soldier is shown thinking "This man is truly evil, how can he think like this?"
