in this issue, the Howling Commandos are sent on a mission to Holland to strike at a building Nazi force by strategically bombing a set of dikes. The exact target is to be revealed by a secret undercover contact known only as “Agent X.” Once they arrive in Holland, the Commandos are saved and later aided by a boy whose father—the mayor of the town—is seen as a traitor by his own people (and son) for supposedly supporting the Nazi cause.

Originality & Continuity

This issue stands out as a great standalone story, not heavily tied to previous plotlines. It dives right into the action, allowing us to follow the Commandos on a dynamic and engaging mission. What makes it special is its focus on a character outside the core Commando group: Hans Rooten, the boy who helps them along the way.

Hans’s complicated relationship with his father—the perceived traitor—is at the heart of the story, making it feel fresh and worthwhile on its own.

Characters & Development

With a large cast like the Commandos, it’s hard to focus on every character in every issue, but reinforcing and building on each one little by little is key. This issue accomplishes that subtly, especially during the mid-book “downtime” scenes where the Commandos hide out, allowing for smaller moments of character depth.

Story

As mentioned, the heart of the story centers around Hans and his relationship with his father. By the end, readers are left wondering if the father might not be the traitor he’s portrayed as—could he actually be Agent X himself? This ambiguity gives the story an extra layer of intrigue.