Star Spangled War Stories #162 (DC)
Joe Kubert (a) otherwise no credits known
DC published a wide range of genres across the fifties sixties and seventies though war comics and westerns did start to lose their attraction. This particular comic had been previously famous for the long running The War that Time Forgot which featured soldiers vs dinosaurs on a strange island. Then came Enemy Ace who ran for a few issues.
The Unknown Soldier began in issue 151 and quickly took over the comic dropping the Star Spangled War Stories title and simply continuing as The Unknown Soldier. Obviously like all characters some stories are better than others but Coward or Hero did portray a real problem on the battlefield. Not everyone is a hero,. Men are afraid before battle but when the time comes it's duty first.
As this was in the period of 52 page comics with lots of reprints there were two other stories, the first set in the First World War (for a change). An American flyer is the anti-hero in this tale entitled The Ace of Sudden Death. Steve Savage is a maverick praised by the brass but not so popular with his CO or his colleagues in his squadron who just see him as a glory hunter who is potentially dangerous to their lives.
A visit to the front line trenches convinces Savage he must take action against the spotter balloons and once more takes to the skies. Suspended he takes one more unauthorised flight to meet his destiny.
The last story about recruits to the British (Colonial) Army was barely worth a read frankly and I'm a patriot. Back of Beyond was a disappointment.
However two out of three isn't bad and I actually preferred the reprint to the main story which wasn't that bad I have to say. perhaps my own tastes have moved on a bit.
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