1960s Star Spangled War Stories

Continuing our look at DC's war comics of the 1960s, here is Star Spangled War Stories, with two heroes about as opposite as you could get.

Mademoselle Marie from Star Spangled War Stories #88 (December-January, 1959/1960) with cover art by Jerry Grandenetti, and the Enemy Ace from Star Spangled War Stories #148 (December-January, 1969/1970) with cover art by Joe Kubert.

Mademoselle Marie debuted in Star Spangled War Stories #84 (August, 1959) but her French resistance fighter found that her series did not last long.  Still, the battle doll continued on, guest starring with other World War II heroes, including Hunter's Hellcats, Johnny Cloud, the Haunted Tank, Sgt. Rock and the Unknown Soldier (who would eventually take over her title and claim it for his own as well).

Enemy Ace was Hans Von Hammer, a flying ace from World War I....who worked for the Germans.  Debuting in Our Army At War #151 (February, 1965), Hammer kept up his fight through a few issues there, moving to Showcase, then taking over Star Spangled War Stories for a time.   Though he was the enemy, Hammer fought with honor, even after losing his spot in the title, though resurfacing in Unknown Solider for a time towards the end of that series' run.

Remembering Artist Darwyn Cooke

Remembering artist Darwyn Cooke on his birthday (November 16, 1962 - May 14, 2016) with a look at his covers for DC: The New Frontier...

...a six issue mini-series that tells of the secrets behind the formation of the Justice League of America, involving the heroes of the early 1960s as well as others to combat invading aliens with the Martian Manhunter at the forefront, all while police scientist Barry Allen deals with his new lightning speed in becoming the Flash and pilot Hal Jordan comes to terms with becoming Earth's Green Lantern.

New Frontier #1 and #2 (March and April, 2004)

.

New Frontier #3 and #4 (May and July, 2004)

.

New Frontier #5 and #6 (September and November, 2004)

.

New Frontier collections #1 and #2 (February and June, 2005)

.

Justice League: The New Frontier Special and DC: The New Frontier (May, 2008 and August, 2016)

.

A wonderful story, with the charter members of the Justice League of America (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Flash and Green Lantern), along with a few others like the Losers, the Suicide Squad, the Challengers of the Unknown, the Blackhawks, Robin, Green Arrow, Adam Strange, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and members of the Justice Society...all based loosely on a secret origin of the JLA from long ago...

1960s Our Fighting Forces

Looking back at the 1960s, and DC's war comics of that era...here, a look at Our Fighting Forces, who started off the era with #53 (January-February, 1960) and ended with #122 (November-December, 1969), both covers by Joe Kubert.

#53 featured Gunner (of Gunner and Sarge, two infantry men fighting in the Pacific), and he and his partner would later join the Losers, who would feature in the title until its end.  Lt. Benjamin Hunter gained his Hellcats to fight the Axis in #106 (March, 1967), prisoners from the stockade including Brains, Brute, Cracker, Hard Head, Juggler, Light Fingers, Snake Oil, Swinger and Zig-Zag, adding the female Heller right before their feature ended (with the Losers taking over in #123, February, 1970). 

Saluting Our Veterans

Saluting our veterans on this Veterans' Day with a slightly more lighthearted Joe Kubert cover from Our Army At War #206 (May, 1969)...as Sgt. Rock gets to take a little time off.

But, as always, a reminder to still pray for those still at war, and hope that soon, their war will be over too.

1960s G.I. Combat

Looking back at the heyday of DC's war comics, which was the 1960s...starting with G.I. Combat...which started the decade with #79 (December-January 1959/1960) with a cover by Jerry Grandenetti and Jack Adler, and ended #139 (December-January 1969/1970), covered by Joe Kubert.

The earlier G.I. Combat issues were just generic war stories, but the series changed, adding the Haunted Tank as a regular feature (the story of Jeb Stuart who commanded a World War II tank, and was aided by a relative of his, who was a Confederate General who appeared to Jeb as a ghost) with G.I. Combat #87 (April-May, 1961), ending with the title in G.I. Combat #288 (March, 1987)

Don't Get Mad, Go Vote

Time again to go to your city hall or voting precinct and vote for president.

Alfred E. Newman will show you the way....or maybe not...from this cover by Norman Mingo from Mad #185 (September, 1976).

War On Time

Sgt. Rock is here to remind you that it's time to fall back again, as Daylight Saving Time ends tonight and you have to move your clock back an hour.

But. as you can see by this Joe Kubert cover to Sgt. Rock #352 (May, 1981), the Rock of Easy Company is ready for war anytime!

The Rock Face Of War

Showing the determined face of World War II's best soldier, Joe Kubert shows incredible expressions with Sgt. Rock for these two covers...

...Our Army At War #192 (April, 1968) and Sgt. Rock #395 (December, 1984).

Though the decades change, Kubert keeps a consistent style, yet also shows how much he has evolved as an artist as well.