Thursday, February 25, 2016
Groove's Faves: "Unknown Soldier and Sgt. Rock" by Kanigher and Kubert
Dig it, Groove-ophiles! When is a team-up not a team-up? When the story is a reprint ret-conned into a team-up via a frankly fabulous framing sequence! Either the economy or the Dreaded Deadline Doom was bearing down on the powers-that-were at DC when Star Spangled War Stories #157 (April 1971) was being put together, so (artist/editor Joe Kubert along with author Bob Kanigher, I'm sure) whipped up an Unknown Soldier framing sequence that made our favorite bandaged battler part of a Sgt. Rock story that was published four years before the star of Star Spangled War Stories was even created ("I Knew the Unknown Soldier!" from Our Army at War #168 (April 1966).)! Now that's how you make a reprint worthwhile, baby!
Joe Kubert was so good for so long that it was easy to take his talent for granted. Power, drama, and even at times elegance marked his pages.
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And unlike a lot of other artists, his talent didn't decline with time. He was still turning out great stuff in his 80s right up to the very end of his life.
DeleteExcellent art and script, DC always nailed its war comics.
ReplyDeleteYou are spot on. Never figured out why Marvel could not really get into the WWII genre beyond Sgt. Fury which was more like superheroes than army heroes (and Combat Kelly). For what it'w worth, there is a series out there now called Peter Panzerfaust which is a decent war comic. I think it will end it's run here in a month or two but worth getting the TBPs.
ReplyDeleteDC was adept at using framing sequences around their reprints to create new stories/titles. That's how Weird War Tales got started (again with Kubert).
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