⋙ Libro Gratis Showcase Presents The Losers Vol 1 Robert Kanigher Ross Andru Books

Showcase Presents The Losers Vol 1 Robert Kanigher Ross Andru Books

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Showcase Presents The Losers Vol 1 Robert Kanigher Ross Andru Books

Being a "dinosaur" I grew up on Dell, DC, Gold Key, Marvel, and Charlton comics and these DC Showcase pieces bring back a lot of great memories for me. This volume, The Losers, was a title that combined characters from several different DC battle series into a unified story line. The combining didn't really make any logical sense to me at the time---still doesn't-----but, my attitude was always one of "What the heck! It's only a COMIC BOOK!". Originally, DC had a long running series of stories about two marines in the South Pacific, "Gunner" and "Sarge", and their combat adventures against the Japanese (many times against a relentless "Col. Tanaka"). They were frequently aided by a white german shepherd k-9 "troop" called "Pooch" (go figure). Another series in another DC comic was "PT Boat skipper", Captain (Bill) Storm, who lost one of his legs in action and became a prosthetic-legged swabbie---still commanding P.T. boats---who stayed in service rather than being discharged and sent home. Yet another contemporary series involved Capt. Johnny Cloud, the "Navajo Ace", who went to war in the sky as a representative of his people in Arizona and who, as a fighter pilot, traded the four footed Mustang he'd ridden growing up on the reservation for a FLYING "Mustang" (a P-51) with a Rolls Royce Merlin engine. At some point the "powers-that-be" at DC decided to consolidate these characters and created a "special missions" force incorporating them...the so-called "Losers" (the rationale behind this has always escaped me). It must be said, though, that the Losers stories were always entertaining (even if far fetched) and you got some good art in the package with them, especially when the great John Severin became their regular artist. Another DC WWII series---"Big Al, Little Al, & Charlie Cigar"---didn't make the Losers cut and finally ended up being REAL losers, LOL!
The only thing that always left one scratching one's head in this series had to do with Capt. Storm. In the stories it was always being said that he was "outranked" by Capt. Johnny Cloud, but it was often hard to get a handle on this. Storm was a NAVAL officer and, in the Navy, the term "captain" can be ambiguous. There is a TITLE, "Captain", that is given to any man who commands a maritime vessel; a boat or ship's "captain", either naval or civilian. There is also the Naval RANK of Captain, which falls just below that of ADMIRAL, and is generally equivalent to "bird" Colonel. The sense of the likelihood of Bill Storm's "captaincy" is that it is a command title and his actual rank is that of Lieutenant (J.G.) or Lieutenant. If it is the latter then he is the same rank (03) as Johnny Cloud. The equivalences are always foggy with DC. Thing is---he KEEPS being identified as CAPTAIN. This gets hinky when the Losers get "seconded" to some Brit MAJOR, who is deemed their "superior officer". Not if Storm IS a captain, he's not. I must ASSUME---always did---that Storm is a Naval LIEUTENANT, equivalent in rank to Cloud, but with just less Time-In-Grade. Confusions apart, the Loser stories are entertaining and great fun for all. And, Oh, that Severin ART!!!!

BTW....another DC confusion (and inconsistency) involves the name of the commander of "The Haunted Tank" in another old series reprinted in "Showcase" editions. In the original story---first one or two in the series----he is named SMITH----Jeb Stuart SMITH----after the Civil War confederate cavalry general. However, in short enough order, his SMITH surname gets DROPPED ENTIRELY and from then on he is just Jeb STUART. Whew! Comic books will drive you crazy!


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Showcase Presents The Losers Vol 1 Robert Kanigher Ross Andru Books Reviews

I enjoyed this collection of war romance stories about DCs legendary Sgt. Rock and Easy Co. This first Showcase edition gives Rock fans the opportunity to enjoy his WWII adventures from the very beginning. Robert Kanigher introduces this valiant and hard-nosed character in G.I. Combat #68, while Bob Haney narrates the first Our Army At War (#81) appearance of (and perhaps creates) Easy Co. It also has the tale of how Rock became a sergeant in 3 Stripes Hill, in Our Army at War #90. These narratives, whether written by Kanigher (who writes most of these stories) or Haney, are quite intense and suspenseful. The first stories focus on Sgt. Rock's sturdiness and stubbornness as a soldier and they rely on a third person narrative (Our Army At War #s81-84). Later on, the story takes on a first person narrative, using Sgt. Rock's own voice, always telling stories of courage, brotherhood, and personal sacrifice, often involving new recruits. Sometimes there are stories of cowardice turned into courage. It is also during this early period where Sgt. Rock establishes the famous motto, "That's the way it is in Easy Company... where nothin' is easy!" Other stories are quite dark dead men holding there positions (which may have been a stark picture to present to younger audiences) as a lesson of what a true soldier (in this case a true Easy Co. man) would and should do.

"Sid never lost his position... It's a rule of Easy's... You won't find it written down... But no one's broken it!" ("Calling Easy Co.!" in Our Army at War #87)

"Who knows how long the enemy tried to climb the wreckage... Who knows how long Freddy Miller pinned them down... Who knows when they retreated... Who knows when he finally stopped?" ("The Big Star," in Our Army at War #102)

Yes, some lessons on heroism from Easy are a little over the top, characterized by Kanigher's hard-boiled surrealism. While other stories show a sense of humor "Luck of Easy" (#92); "A New Kind of War" (#104); "TNT Birthday" (#105); "Meet Lt. Rock" (#106); "That's An Order" (#110); and "Rock's Battle Family (#115)." 

Also, in this first volume Kanigher creates different battle situations and different personal conflicts albeit the typical conclusion of "That's the way it is in Easy, where nothing is Easy." Sgt. Rock's persona also develops during this early stage into a mythical hero he has a combat antenna that warns him of dangerous situations. Kanigher carries this skill to surrealistic dimensions in the mystical "S.O.S. Sgt. Rock" (#116). In addition, his man to tank and man to plane combats, and his coolness, or rockiness under the worst of circumstances give him the superhuman qualities that will characterize him from here on.   

We also get to see the introduction to some Easy regulars, such as Ice Cream soldier in a story titled after his nickname in Our Army At War #85; Bulldozer in an exciting and intense "Battle of the Stripes," #95; and Wildman, in a wild and action-packed "Eyes for A Blind Gunner," #113. And in latter issues, the stories of Easy are occasionally populated by other regulars such as Zac, the bazooka man, Sunny, and Wee Willie, characters which will disappear permanently later on. It is interesting though, that Ice Cream soldier gets kayoed twice, in "Doom over Easy!," #107; and in "The Snafu Squad," #117; only to reappear in later issues after #110 until a second death in #117, the last issue for this volume. We'll see again Ice Cream soldier in action after #118. 

One thing that I enjoy from these stories is Kanigher's adroit use of metaphors and similes. You got to get a kick out of "Suddenly, a machine opened up on us like a bank that hadn't had a customer in years..." There is also a literary style in his use of repetition to intensify heroism inspired by Rock's own sturdiness

Men who couldn't rise... Rose to their feet... Men who couldn't lift a finger... Lifted rifles... Men who couldn't fight... Fought! ("The Rock!," G.I. Combat #68) 

Haney's contributions live up to the mood and style established by Kanigher, so that it is hard to tell the difference between the two. 

Accompanying these great stories is Joe Kubert's hyperbolic, surrealistic, and cinematic style. Men confronting "buzzards" and tanks, men in action, and men under stress and fear. Jerry Grandanetti also does a good job at drawing war material, but my all-time favorite will always be Kubert, whose art pairs well with Kanigher's dramatic, and sometimes, poetic language. He gives Sgt. Rock the features that make him look the rock he is meant to be. Ross Andru, Mike Esposito, Mort Drucker, and Irv Novick are responsible for one issue each among the early stories.

Trivia What was Sgt. Rock's occupation before the war? In which issue does Sgt. Rock panic and runs away from battle?
Being a "dinosaur" I grew up on Dell, DC, Gold Key, Marvel, and Charlton comics and these DC Showcase pieces bring back a lot of great memories for me. This volume, The Losers, was a title that combined characters from several different DC battle series into a unified story line. The combining didn't really make any logical sense to me at the time---still doesn't-----but, my attitude was always one of "What the heck! It's only a COMIC BOOK!". Originally, DC had a long running series of stories about two marines in the South Pacific, "Gunner" and "Sarge", and their combat adventures against the Japanese (many times against a relentless "Col. Tanaka"). They were frequently aided by a white german shepherd k-9 "troop" called "Pooch" (go figure). Another series in another DC comic was "PT Boat skipper", Captain (Bill) Storm, who lost one of his legs in action and became a prosthetic-legged swabbie---still commanding P.T. boats---who stayed in service rather than being discharged and sent home. Yet another contemporary series involved Capt. Johnny Cloud, the "Navajo Ace", who went to war in the sky as a representative of his people in Arizona and who, as a fighter pilot, traded the four footed Mustang he'd ridden growing up on the reservation for a FLYING "Mustang" (a P-51) with a Rolls Royce Merlin engine. At some point the "powers-that-be" at DC decided to consolidate these characters and created a "special missions" force incorporating them...the so-called "Losers" (the rationale behind this has always escaped me). It must be said, though, that the Losers stories were always entertaining (even if far fetched) and you got some good art in the package with them, especially when the great John Severin became their regular artist. Another DC WWII series---"Big Al, Little Al, & Charlie Cigar"---didn't make the Losers cut and finally ended up being REAL losers, LOL!
The only thing that always left one scratching one's head in this series had to do with Capt. Storm. In the stories it was always being said that he was "outranked" by Capt. Johnny Cloud, but it was often hard to get a handle on this. Storm was a NAVAL officer and, in the Navy, the term "captain" can be ambiguous. There is a TITLE, "Captain", that is given to any man who commands a maritime vessel; a boat or ship's "captain", either naval or civilian. There is also the Naval RANK of Captain, which falls just below that of ADMIRAL, and is generally equivalent to "bird" Colonel. The sense of the likelihood of Bill Storm's "captaincy" is that it is a command title and his actual rank is that of Lieutenant (J.G.) or Lieutenant. If it is the latter then he is the same rank (03) as Johnny Cloud. The equivalences are always foggy with DC. Thing is---he KEEPS being identified as CAPTAIN. This gets hinky when the Losers get "seconded" to some Brit MAJOR, who is deemed their "superior officer". Not if Storm IS a captain, he's not. I must ASSUME---always did---that Storm is a Naval LIEUTENANT, equivalent in rank to Cloud, but with just less Time-In-Grade. Confusions apart, the Loser stories are entertaining and great fun for all. And, Oh, that Severin ART!!!!

BTW....another DC confusion (and inconsistency) involves the name of the commander of "The Haunted Tank" in another old series reprinted in "Showcase" editions. In the original story---first one or two in the series----he is named SMITH----Jeb Stuart SMITH----after the Civil War confederate cavalry general. However, in short enough order, his SMITH surname gets DROPPED ENTIRELY and from then on he is just Jeb STUART. Whew! Comic books will drive you crazy!