Friday, September 30, 2011

AIR WAR STORIES "You Only Lose Once"

Ten-Hut!
From the muddy battlefields of Europe to the skies overhead...
...the tragedy of war takes it's toll on even the luckiest of participants.
This story illustrated (and probably written) by Sam Glanzman appeared in Air War Stories #4, published in 1965.
Glanzman's comics career spans over 50 years and he was one of the first (in 2003) to do original comic book material for the Internet as seen HERE.
Until next time...
Dis-missed!

Friday, September 23, 2011

FOXHOLE "Even Steven"

Ten-Hut!
We travel from the forests of colonial Pennsylvania to 1940s war-torn Europe...
 ...for a tale of give-and-take (mostly "take") in wartime.
This story illustrated (and probably written) by Jack Kirby appeared in FoxHole #6, published in 1955.
Until next time...
Dis-missed!

Friday, September 16, 2011

KNOW YOUR AMERICA "George Washington"

Ten-Hut!
We travel from the skies over Korea to the forests of colonial Pennsylvania...
 ...for a tale of Colonel George Washington of the Virginia Militia!
This story from the anthology Treasure Comics #9, published in 1946, doesn't get all the facts right.
The French and Indians actually ran into the British and Colonials by accident, not a planned ambush.
However, they reacted faster than the British, and despite being outnumbered, quickly gained the advantage over the British using guerrilla tactics.
Until next time...

Friday, September 9, 2011

JET FIGHTERS "Seeley's Saucer"

Ten-Hut!
We travel from post-apocalyptic America to Korea for the tale of...
...which was published at the same time as last week's World War III!
It's no secret that the Air Force was experimenting with saucer-shaped craft during the Cold War.

The writer of this tale from Jet Fighters #7 (1953) is unknown, but it's penciled by the legendary Alex Toth and inked by Mike Peppe, a versatile artist who worked for practically every company in the field from 1941 to 1972 doing everything from funny animal to horror to romance to superhero to (of course) war.
BTW, for those interested in collecting the title, Jet Fighters ran only three issues (#5-7).
Until next time...
Dis-missed!

Saturday, September 3, 2011

WORLD WAR III "Unleashed" Conclusion

In the Summer of 1960, the Soviet Union launched a devastating sneak attack on the United States...
Oddly, this series presented a similar series of events to the first issue of Atomic War, but in a slightly-different time-frame, and a different order!
There were no cross-overs and technology and certain events were very different in the two titles.
BTW, Atomic War! came first, in November, 1952, following in December, then going bi-monthly in February and April, 1953.
World War III ran in March and May of 1953, the months Atomic War! wasn't published, giving kids of the era a monthly fix of future fun!
In mid-1953 most of the Ace Publishing comic line, except for romance and war books (WWII & Korea, not future), and one horror title, were cancelled.
The remainder died when the publisher dropped comics altogether in 1956, concentrating on science fiction/fantasy paperbacks until the company was purchased by Grosset & Dunlap in 1972, and is now a highly-successful division of Penguin Publishing Group.
Story by Robert Turner, who wrote all the tales in both issues of World War III.
Illustrated by Ken Rice.
Until next time...
Dis-missed!

Friday, September 2, 2011

WORLD WAR III "Unleashed" Part 1

Ten-Hut!
We travel to a potential near future (the 1960s as seen in 1952)...
 ...as we see a different version of how World War III could start!
We pause to catch our breaths and take in the sheer devastation.
Be here tomorrow for the conclusion of "Unleashed" along with background about how this series differs from it's "brother" title from the same publisher, Atomic War!