Commando, the Dundee-published war comic that is now the last surviving title of its kind, is marking the release of its 6,000th issue this month. First launched in July 1961 with the story Walk – Or Die, the pocket-sized publication has kept its distinctive format largely unchanged across more than six decades, cementing its status as the world's longest-running war comic.

Since its debut, DC Thomson has produced eight issues a month, split evenly between new stories and reprints of classic tales, each running to 64 pages with 135 black-and-white illustrations. While the majority of storylines are set during the two World Wars, the comic has broadened its scope over the years to include the Falklands, Vietnam and the Gulf war, as well as occasional science-fiction settings. The landmark 6,000th edition, titled Sweet Revenge and written by comedian Al Murray and historian James Holland, follows a Dunkirk veteran who returns to France via a D-Day glider landing; it goes on sale on 21 September.