Thursday, June 22, 2023

Commando 5655-5658


Calling all Commando fans! The readers asked for more reprint sets dedicated to artists and Commando delivered! Commandos 5655-5658 are four special issues devoted to the master of cover and interior artwork and fan-favourite, Jose Maria Jorge! Get your copies on sale from today, 22nd June!


5655: Hunger for Glory

Colonel John Devlin, USAF, had chased glory in three wars... but it had always passed him by. Now, in the savage air battles over war‑torn Vietnam, he saw his final chance to grab it when a new pilot arrived — a real hotshot, a born ace. There and then Devlin decided that this top gun was going to be his ticket to glory... regardless of the cost in men and machines!

First up in the Jose Maria Jorge set and what an opener — Ian Clark’s tale of glory hunting to the extreme leaves us on the edge of our seats. Jose Maria Jorge’s aviation artwork is in full play and a wonder to behold!

Story | Ian Clark
Art | Jose Maria Jorge
Cover | Jose Maria Jorge
Originally Commando No. 2663 (1993).


5656: The Kestrels

It’s said that the helicopter came of age as a weapon during the Vietnam War. Hauptmann Karl Enberg of the Luftwaffe’s Kestrel Staffel might dispute that, though. For, in the dying days of Germany’s Third Reich, he and his command of rotorcraft hammered British ground forces and ran rings around Allied fighter aircraft — despite the odds.
And those fierce battles were child’s play compared to the fight to destroy another fleet of helicopters intended as the ultimate kamikaze force...

Another classic Jose Maria Jorge issue — and what a cover! Helicopters aren’t often featured on Commando’s covers but Jorge’s amazing work on this issue couldn’t be overlooked!

Story | Alan Hebden
Art | Jose Maria Jorge
Cover | Jose Maria Jorge
Originally Commando No. 2917 (1996).


5657: Fatal Contact

From the first day it arrived in Korean skies, the F-86 Sabre was the boss of the air war over that country. Only the Russian MIG-15 could come close, but it was still outclassed.
Then without warning, entire formations of Sabres began to disappear without a trace. It was clear that they were being lost in combat — but what sort of enemy weapon had the power to cause such a fatal contact?

Aliens? Secret Weapons? Ferg Handley’s mystery unfolds in the third Jose Maria Jorge special Commando issue. His artwork is like no other and so distinctive, it’s easy to see why Jorge was and remains a fan-favourite!

Story | Ferg Handley
Art | Jose Maria Jorge
Cover | Jose Maria Jorge
Originally Commando No. 3177 (1998).


5658: Divided Aces

Squadron Leader Jack Pearson was beginning to wonder if his first command might be his last. English‑born Jack was determined to make the most of his posting to a base outside Edinburgh — even if the locals were less than friendly about his, and his fellow countrymen’s, presence.

As if that wasn’t enough, added to the mix were some veteran Polish flyers who didn’t like the way their new skipper was running things... Jack would have his work cut out for him if he was going to unite these Divided Aces!

The final of the Jose Marie Jorge four reprints, ‘Divided Aces’ was picked because it is a fan-favourite issue and also because it was the last complete Commando Jorge illustrated. Jose Maria was a master of his trade, and he has been sorely missed since his death in 2010.

Story | Ferg Handley
Art | Jose Maria Jorge
Cover | Jose Maria Jorge
Originally Commando No. 4329 (2010).

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