Star Spangled DC War Stories Part 25: June 1961

The DC War Comics 1959-1976
by Corporals Enfantino and Seabrook

Russ Heath

 All American Men of War 85

"Battle Eagle!"
Story by Robert Kanigher
Art by Irv Novick

"The Mission Was Impossible!"
Story by Hank Chapman
Art by Jack Abel

"Booby-Trap Prize!"
Story by Bob Haney
Art by Russ Heath

Jack: When Johnny Cloud left the reservation to join the U.S. Armed Services as the pilot of a fighter jet, he never expected he'd end up as a "Battle Eagle!" After a successful run in which he destroys a Nazi bomber jet, he meets Billy, the young son of a fellow fighter pilot. Billy is visibly disappointed that Johnny dresses just like the other pilots and is not wearing full Indian garb. When Billy is injured in a bombing raid on London, Johnny visits all of the costume shops, looking for an outfit he can don to lift Billy's spirits, but he finds none available. He heads back into the skies and takes out another Nazi bomber, saving the life of Lord Leslie, whose manor house is below the site of the battle. Leslie is so grateful to Johnny Cloud that he lets him borrow a costume from his collection of battle outfits, and Johnny visits Billy at the hospital in full Indian regalia, much to the boy's delight. This is a corny story that doesn't advance the Johnny Cloud mythology very much, though we do get to see a couple of panels showing Johnny leaving his tribe to enlist.

Gosh!

Peter: This story features the first recap of any of the war series thus far. Was this because Johnny Cloud is such an unmemorable character, Bob Kanigher felt the little nippers needed a reminder? Well, hate to be the bearer of bad news, Bob, but this sappy bit of nothing may just have to be part of the next "Our Story Thus Far" since I've already forgotten what it was about.

Jack: Lt. Thorn's Landing-Ship-Tank boat was useful when tanks needed to be moved, but now it's relegated to moving coal and fish in its massive hatch. Thorn hears about an enemy train carrying secret weapons on a coastal railroad and hatches a plan to carry out a daring raid, even though "The Mission Was Impossible!" He lays track leading to his ship's open hatch, captures the enemy train, and he and his crew battle Korean fighter jets trying to stop them from transferring the train into the ship's hatch. What a cool story! This is one of the most original events I can recall in the DC war books. They should have given a few more pages to this tale and a few less to Johnny Cloud.

"The Mission Was Impossible!"

Peter: It might be cool but it seems a bit far-fetched, doesn't it? I'm no engineer but could you really drive a full-length train into a military sea vessel without mishaps? At least Hank Chapman dispensed with the obligatory repeating of the phrase very early in the story. On the plus side, Jack Abel's art is outstanding.

Jack: When a Japanese battleship captures a U.S. sub, the enemy commander sends a crew of frogmen aboard to search for a time bomb before towing the sub back to base for study. The frogmen find a bomb that is a dud and the sub is towed back to base, where it turns out to be a "Booby-Trap Prize," blowing everything around it sky high. The Japanese did not reckon with a single U.S. frogman who remained aboard the captured sub, hiding in a torpedo tube with a second bomb that he set before making a speedy exit. This is another exciting story featuring the usual dynamite art by Russ Heath!

Peter: Despite the fist-pumping "Up with the Allies" climax, Bob Haney leaves us with the sober reminder that sometimes heroes don't get away. Our frogman swims out to sea and is rescued by a passing PT boat, but his crew members are left behind as POWs--and I don't suspect the Japanese are going to be friendly captors after watching the sinking of their flotilla. Haney's suspenseful script combined with Russ Heath's dazzling visuals make this the winner of Best of the Month prize.

"Booby-Trap Prize!"

Our Fighting Forces 61

"Pass to Peril!"
Story by Robert Kanigher
Art by Jerry Grandenetti

"Ace in the Snow!"
Story by Bob Haney
Art by Jack Abel

Jack: After a jungle patrol that finds Gunner and Sarge destroying a nest of snipers hidden in a tree and a tank camouflaged by ferns, the soldiers get a two-day pass to enjoy some rest and relaxation. Things look promising when the plane that picks them up has another passenger, also on 48-hour leave--Nurse Honey! But soon their time off begins to resemble a "Pass to Peril," as a Zero shoots the plane out of the sky and Gunner and Sarge find themselves drifting at sea on a piece of wreckage, with sharks circling the makeshift raft. Good shooting and good luck are required to keep the men alive until they can recuperate in a base hospital under Nurse Honey's supervision. Check out the cover, where our heroes have their nicknames stenciled on the back of their shirts. Seriously?

Gunner bravely throws his body on top of Nurse Honey

Peter: There's quite a lot going on in this story and not much to do with Nurse Honey, who drifts away on a wave fairly quickly. A veritable smorgasbord of terror is directed at our two heroes and they manage to stay alive through even the worst of it. Even if I could enjoy the "suspense" and "action," I can't warm up to this duo of dunderheads and their one-liners, no matter how hard I try. Incredibly, this was the 17th adventure for Gunner and Sarge but perhaps more inexplicably there will be 33 more!


Jack: Frank's plane is shot down over the snow-covered mountains as he photographs a Nazi secret weapon--new rockets that can shoot down Allied planes, including that of Frank's brother, Billy. Frank vows revenge but must escape from a Nazi prison camp and flee like an "Ace in the Snow," pursued by the relentless camp commandant. Frank manages to survive and kill the Nazi, allowing him to return to safety and later bomb the Nazi stronghold into oblivion. This is not the first time we've seen a backup story by Bob Haney outshine the lead story by Bob Kanigher, and I bet it won't be the last. This story reminds me of one of my favorite Nick Cardy covers, which I'll reproduce here.

Peter: Did the Nazis leave the film Frank took of their secret hideaway on the plane or with Frank? Seems mighty sporting of them. This was an excitingly told tale from start to finish so I could check my brain at the door and just enjoy the pace and the nice Jack Abel art. Abel may just win my "Most Improved Artist of All Time" award very soon.

"Ace in the Snow!"

Our Army at War 107

"Doom Over Easy!"
Story by Robert Kanigher
Art by Joe Kubert

"The Sixty-Second Ace!"
Story by Bob Haney
Art by Jack Abel

"Underwater Cowboy!"
Story by Hank Chapman
Art by Jack Abel

Jack: Everett is a member of Easy Co. who is shell-shocked when he survives a blast. That night, Everett warns Rock not to let fellow soldier Buster stand watch. Rock ignores him and Buster is injured by a blast. The next day, Rock sends the Ice Cream Soldier out on point and Everett warns him against it. Ice Cream Soldier's gunfire warns the rest of Easy Co. of an attack from the air, and he is injured just as Everett predicted. Finally, Everett warns Rock not to go out alone on reconnaissance, predicting that an injured sergeant would surely spell "Doom Over Easy!" Rock heads out alone and is soon joined by Everett himself, who is hurt when he steps on a booby-trap. Rock saves the day and returns to his men with the wounded Everett, whose days as a seer ended with the second blast. A very exciting story with great, gritty art by Kubert. Peter, did you think Buster and Ice Cream Soldier were killed?

You tell 'em, Rock!

Peter: I'd bet my favorite potato masher on it, Jack! Isn't that what's meant by the hanging tin pots? I thought Ice Cream Soldier and Buster were major "supporting characters," but everything points to our heroes being KIA (unless Kanigher is counting on readers with short memories). We'll keep an eye out for return visits but if these two turn up somewhere down the road that would diminish the impact of "Doom Over Easy!" for me. Sgt. Rock always seems to bring out the A-game in Kubert and Kanigher and this installment is no disappointment.

Jack: German WWI flying ace Major Von Ritter is given a watch to commemorate his sixtieth victory. New flier Lt. Bill Davis is also given a watch before his first patrol. Davis becomes "The Sixty-Second Ace!" when he defeats Von Ritter in battle after figuring out that the German is timing his attacks. I am all for WWI stories, especially featuring biplane action, but I found this one a little hard to follow.

"The Sixty-Second Ace!"

Peter: And I found it just a little too boring for my tastes. We've seen several stories already about the green fighter pilot who takes down the veteran ace and this is one of the lesser ones.

Jack: Anxious to put his brand on an enemy sub and destroy it, a frogman becomes an "Underwater Cowboy!" and tracks down the elusive craft. Pardner, this story is about as hokey as it gets! "My blood boiled like a chuckwagon coffee pot" is a representative caption.

Yipee-ki-yay!

Peter: I was about as interested as a gelded calf at a hoedown, Jack. I had to let out a hoot when Cowboy squeezed enough "shiny fish" to draw a bull brand on the side of the sub rather than, say, an X. At least he didn't take the time to scrawl the lyrics of Marty Robbins' "El Paso," right? Perhaps Hank Chapman had written a western and couldn't sell it? Pert near as readable as skywritin' to a near-sighted insurance salesman in a hailstorm is what I says. Regardless of the quality of the writing on the last two stories, Jack Abel's art is as purty as a peach.

COMING NEXT ISSUE!