WWI in comics

Gregvan · 14 July 2009, 10:14 PM

Roughly contemporary with Hans von Hammer was DC's other WWI ace, Lt. Steve Savage - the "Balloon Buster". He was a cowboy pilot from out west, a crack shot with a pistol who burned boche balloons like nobody's business. But he was always in trouble with his superiors and disliked by most of his squadron mates. The only one who liked him became his wingman, but was soon shot down.

Gee, I wonder where they got THIS idea?

This is the first issue from 1965, with terrific art by Russ Heath - who did the story art in the interior as well. Much later on, Steve Savage and Hans von Hammer would meet in a three-part series.

Southside Bucky · 15 July 2009, 10:57 AM

Hi Greg.

Thanks very much for that particular stroll down memory lane...I had completely forgotten about Steve Savage!

Thanks too for the Evans/Heath/Severin info...Your knowledge of obscure Pop Art artists never ceases to greatly impress me.

Here's a few more Steve Savage covers...YEEEEEEHAAA!!

Southside Bucky · 15 July 2009, 11:02 AM

Southside Bucky · 15 July 2009, 11:05 AM

Southside Bucky · 15 July 2009, 11:12 AM

And another superb Kubert 'Enemy Ace':

Southside Bucky · 15 July 2009, 04:09 PM

Printed in the UK, Commando comics were launched in 1961. If you wanna know more, here's the Wiki entry:

Commando Comics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stories are usually set in WWII, so this cover's something of a rarity...Also, I'd say it surely has to be the only cover art depicting a dogfight between an Albatros and a man on a bike?

Check out the issue number...Can you imagine trying to collect the whole set?

Willi Von Klugerman · 15 July 2009, 05:21 PM

Don't forget Phantom Eagle!

Eric Petras · 15 July 2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregvan

You mean this one, Eric Petras?

The art on the cover and interior was all by John Severin, who knows WWI airplanes pretty well. Unusually, instead of the usual Fokker Tripes and D.VII's, the bad Baron and his buddies of the Flying Circus were depicted flying Halberstadt D-types and Albatros D.II's! Here's the dastardly Baron himself, and Sgt. Fury's Dad, who flies a Sopwith Pup:

Thank-you Gregvan! I thought I would never see it again ....
all of my comics were thrown out by a relative years ago, during a house move!

I had also forgotten that comics once only cost 15 cents!

Willi Von Klugerman · 15 July 2009, 05:38 PM

I can't imagine our Manfred saying those things!

Gregvan · 15 July 2009, 08:23 PM

For awhile back in the early '60's, DC's All-American Men of War featured issues with "Battle Aces of 3 Wars". Obviously WWI was covered, but the stories were pretty lame and the art wasn't anything great either.