At the controls of his trusty Airco DH2 biplane, Lieutenant Andrew Maxwell of the Royal Flying Corps was used to duelling with German pilots high above the trenches.
However, after being shot down and taken prisoner by a deranged, sword-wielding enemy officer, Andrew soon wondered which type of duel was more dangerous — in the air or on the ground.
Story: Steve Coombs
Art: Rezzonico
Cover: Ian Kennedy
It was a jewelled armlet, a family coat of arms. It had been presented to the warrior de Marneys at Agincourt in 1415 by a grateful king and carried into battle by the family sons ever since.
All the de Marneys were fighting furies who either conquered or died gloriously. Then came the Second World War, and young Desmond de Marney, the last of the line. He was no hero — he wanted to be a farmer instead of a soldier. How would he learn overnight to be a leader of men, to wear with honour the “hero’s badge”?
Introduction
Not many of our stories feature the Battle of Agincourt. Therefore, we thought we’d celebrate the 600th anniversary of that major victory in the autumn of 1415 for King Henry V against the French during the Hundred Years’ War.
The first handful of pages of this classic from 1965 are almost like a mini-history of British warfare throughout the centuries. Soon we reach World War II and a warrior legacy passed down the ages in the form of an historical artefact — a family coat of arms.
Hero’s Badge is stirring stuff, I hope you agree.—Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor
Story: Clegg
Art: Sostres
Cover: Davis
Originally Commando No 193 (December 1965)
Although the War in Europe was over by June 1945, some groups of fanatical S.S. soldiers caused chaos for the occupying Allied forces. These rogue Nazis were known as “Werewolves” and would never surrender.
Major Rick Hogan of the Office of Strategic Services had a plan to deal with a ruthless Werewolf group who attacked army bases and robbed banks, preying on military and civilian targets alike. He would infiltrate them, using a German spy under his command, and bring down this guerrilla threat once and for all.
Story: Shane Filer
Art: Vicente Alcazar
Cover: Janek Matysiak
They were escaped prisoners-of-war, desperate to risk anything rather than be recaptured. They had even put on enemy uniforms, armed themselves with enemy weapons. There was nothing they would not do to avoid going back into captivity.
Introduction
A former Commando staffer once told me that he almost used to dread whenever the much-loved 1963 war film “The Great Escape” had been on television. Long before satellite movie channels, streaming, or even DVD, the antics of Steve McQueen, James Garner et al were solid, reliable Christmas/Easter/Bank Holiday entertainment on the British small screen.
The latest viewing usually led to a flurry of hopeful story synopses identical to the movie (as if the staff were unaware of it) or queries as to whether Commando had “done” that particular tale — and if not, why not?
So, as you’ll see here, Commando does occasionally do prison camp stories but they have to be different to the aforementioned Hollywood classic. This one delivers the goods. It has a fairly dark edge, which is enforced by Ian Kennedy’s magnificent, moody cover.—Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor
Story: Lomas
Art: Dalfiume
Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally Commando No 1093 (January 1977), re-issued as No 2419 (November 1990)
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