England, 1405 AD. Peasants in Somerset wanted rid of the Allinghams, their feudal overlords. The Allinghams’ men were as brutal and cruel as their masters. Taxes were high and collected without mercy.
Salvation seemed to come in the shape of Mortimer Allingham — the cunning son of the clan who has been disowned by his father. He planned to turn one of the locals, John Carrick, into the “Green Knight” — a figure from local myth — and lead a rebellion. Many of the locals, though, wondered if any of them would survive the explosive consequences of his scheme.
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.
So, here is the fifth episode of the series following the inter-linked fates of several families from the South West of these isles. By the late 1300s, the days of the Roman invasion are far behind them and the peasants are now revolting.
I hope you enjoy this story and the journey to come.—Calum Laird, Commando Editor
Story: Ferg Handley
Art: Keith Page
Cover: Keith Page
Meet Clive Rushden, brilliant Hurricane pilot.
Meet Mark Rushden, young Commando officer.
They were brothers, but put them in the same room and they’d be at each other’s throats.
What a pair to choose for one of the most daring missions ever conceived — and behind enemy lines.
Introduction
Ken Barr’s cover sets the scene for a battle royal between two very similar-looking characters (Richard Todd anyone?) because, while they look alike, there is no other similarity between the pair of main players. Brunt’s story sets them against each other in nature and arm of service then adds a little slice of action to separate them even further. The whole plot is very neatly played, focussing of fears and distrust to add more and more spice.
All it needed was a good artist to finish it…and Commando editor Chick Checkley found the very man in Gordon Livingstone. His strong black-and-white work perfectly mirrors the black and white opinions of the brothers.
Family ties were never so strained.—Calum Laird, Commando Editor
Story: Brunt
Art: Gordon Livingstone
Cover: Ken Barr
O)riginally Commando No 156 (March 1965), re-issued as No 759 (July 1973).
The accepted wisdom is that to command a group of fighting men, a leader needs to inspire. Sometimes he needs to inspire confidence, sometimes loyalty…and sometimes fear. Flight Lieutenant Garry Fraser didn’t really agree with the accepted wisdom; he was one of the lads and in his mind that’s how things would stay when he was promoted.
Then his chance came and Garry had to deal with…
The Burden of Command
Story: Alan Hebden
Art: Carlos Pino
Cover: Carlos Pino
There was only one thing that Sergeant Jack Brett and his Matilda tank crew hated as much as the Germans, and that was a certain tank transporter crew from the Royal Army Service Corps. When they weren’t fighting the one, they were fighting the other. And so, when all three met on the Egyptian desert, it meant trouble.
But the handful of British soldiers had a big, big problem — they had to stop the advance of a huge German column…with their single damaged Matilda and that one tank transporter!
Introduction
This story encapsulates many of Commando’s core values. Foremost, there are a set of memorable characters most of whom clash, creating conflict and drama.
In addition, we have a rollicking desert war adventure, featuring an impressive array of military hardware — from trusty Matilda tanks to lumbering, American-made Diamond T transporters, heavy duty RASC lorries and trucks, not to mention zippy German armoured cars.
So…let’s get ready to rumble!—Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor
Story: Lomas
Art: Ibanez
Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally Commando No 1050 (July 1976), re-issued as No 2411 (October 1990).
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