Second "Enemy Ace" collection coming from DC

Blue Max · 4 June 2006, 12:40 PM

I've just read that DC will be releasing a second volume 2 of their "Enemy Ace" stories. At $50 per book, they're a bit pricey, and the history can be dodgy, but I really do enjoy the character of Hans von Hammer.

Anyone else happy about this?

4 June 2006, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Max

I've just read that DC will be releasing a second volume 2 of their "Enemy Ace" stories. At $50 per book, they're a bit pricey, and the history can be dodgy, but I really do enjoy the character of Hans von Hammer.

Anyone else happy about this?

Call me sheltered, but what exactly is this "Enemy Ace".. Just curious. Viele Dank!

"Prost!"

Blue Max · 4 June 2006, 06:44 PM

"Enemy Ace" is a comic book character created by Rob Kanigher, originally and best illustrated by Joe Kubert. He is very thinly-disguised von Rochtonften clone, who flies a scarlet Fokker triplane. What makes the character interesting is his dislike and indeed, disgust at the war he must fight, and yet he feels bound by honor to fight it. This makes him a very melancholy character, giving him a bit more depth than the average comic-book war character.

Not great literature, but the stories are entertaining. The best overall summary of the character would probably be the Enemy Ace Biography page

4 June 2006, 06:51 PM

Von Reichel,
During the 1960's/70's DC Comic Book Company published two comic book
series about W.W. I Pilots.

The first was " Steve Savage " the second was " Hans von Hammer " aka Enemy Ace " The Hammer of Hell "

Perhaps a few other old duffs like myself retain their collections ?

Aerowallah · 4 June 2006, 09:19 PM

It was always spooky reading the "Mailcalls" in those issues of Enemy Ace, Sgt. Rock, etc. They seemed to be really popular with the boys in Vietnam. I remember mail datelined from places like Quang Tri and Phan Rang, with some teenager in country always asking Kubert, "why can't you show it like it is?" Make War No More?

Aerowallah · 4 June 2006, 09:25 PM

Found this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enemy_Ace

http://dialbforblog.com/archives/15/

http://tplist.millarworld.net/war.html

4 June 2006, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerowallah

http://tplist.millarworld.net/war.html

Question...I clicked on that particular link, and this caught my eye:

Quote:

ENEMY ACE: WAR IN HEAVEN is a 128-page trade paperback that reprints the original 2-issue miniseries written by Garth Ennis with art by Chris Weston, Russ Heath and Christian Alamy, wrapped in a new cover by acclaimed military painter Jim Deitz.

(6th book down, in red font.)

This wouldn't be the same James Dietz who is a member of this forum, would it? (I tried to send him a PM, but his mailbox is apparently full.) If it isn't our James Dietz, then...

But I was just curious.

totoroman · 4 June 2006, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Max

I've just read that DC will be releasing a second volume 2 of their "Enemy Ace" stories. At $50 per book, they're a bit pricey, and the history can be dodgy, but I really do enjoy the character of Hans von Hammer.

Anyone else happy about this?

I've read a few issues, and as "dodgy" as the history often gets, it DOES mean well. and the earnestness and good intentions sorta helps compensate for laugh-out-loud moments like von Hammer resolving "I can't outclimb the SPADs with their Hispano-Suiza engines, I'll just have to outdive them!"

and he does!

Joe Kubert's art definitely makes it worthwhile... the story-telling is maudlin, sentimental, and over-the-top cheesy at times. and yet, these stories have their own peculiar gutsy-bravado. the fact that they had the nerve to publish these stories at all--especially in a post WWII United States were Germans were always branded as pretty much two-dimensional Nazi left-overs was pretty remarkable.

the old "Aces High" comics have moments that are better (anything by George Evans, if memory serves) but overall, "Enemy Ace" seems to be the best WWI aviation comic book I've seen thus far.

something I was thinking about was whether it would be interesting to try and make a comic book inspired by Jean Beraud-Villars "Notes of a Lost Pilot". the French are long overdue for the proper recognition in WWI Aviation. the American's get more press with the Lafayette Escadrille! when the French do show up in comics, it's usually just as a springboard for young American cowboys who'd rather be flying with an American squadron.

5 June 2006, 03:34 PM

Thank you all, meine Freunden, for clearing that up!.. I had no idea! It all actually looks pretty interesting. I immediately took a look at e-bay and found quite a few issues available. Viele Dank!

"Prost!"

StephenLawson · 5 June 2006, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kate

Question...I clicked on that particular link, and this caught my eye:

(6th book down, in red font.)

This wouldn't be the same James Dietz who is a member of this forum, would it? (I tried to send him a PM, but his mailbox is apparently full.) If it isn't our James Dietz, then...

But I was just curious.

The same fellow.