Commando (comics) - Publication History

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. 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.

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 comics circulation figures reached 750,000 according to George Low, the editor. Landmark Issue no 4000 of Commando- 'Aces All!'- was released in April 2007. If issues continue to be printed at the current rate, Commando No 5000 will be released in 2017. In 2011, Commando Comics celebrated their 50th anniversary of publication, having begun in 1961. They issued reprints of several of the early Commando stories from the 1960s. Commando in 2011 re-printed (in reverse order) all of the first twelve issues from 1961. Since 2007, half of Commando issues released have been re-prints of earlier stories but the remainder are new and original stories & artwork. A book celebrating the best of Commando comics cover art was released in October 2011.

There have been a large number of writers and artists who have produced the stories in Commando, based in a variety of locations including the UK, Italy & Argentina. One of the earliest artists was Gordon Livingston who was one of the very 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. Livingston produced the interior story art for over 360 issues of Commando, his last work being issue no 3293-'Sweeney's Island', released in December 1999, the same year he retired. Another early artist was Ken Barr who has produced the cover art for over 200 issues, including the earliest ones printed in 1961. Another notable cover artist was Ian Kennedy who, since 1970, has produced the cover-art for over 1200 issues of Commando and has also done the interior story art for a number of them (he also worked for Battle, Air Ace & War Picture Libraries). Another popular artist was Argentinian Jose Marie Jorge who had a distinctive and precise drawing style and who produced the interior art for 163 issues, mostly aviation-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 October 2010. Commando in its 50-year history has employed 140 writers, over 100 cover artists & 120 interior artists. In February 2011, new editions of Commando became available via digital download.

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 & 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 & Science Fiction stories released by Commando. 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 WW2 from the experiences of German combatants whilst #2574-'Giant Duel' was a story about Italian air-force bomber crews in WW2. 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.