Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Yeah, you're probably gonna have to be more specific there.

I know DC has tried a couple times to reboot or relaunch the Haunted Tank--Kurt Busiek gave it a go in the tail end of the Power Company, for one--but this cover made me imagine a tank not haunted by a Civil War general, but by the ghosts of those wrongfully killed by America. Be a bit crowded, then. From 1972, G.I. Combat #155, "The Long Journey" Written by Bob Kanigher, art by Sam Glanzman.
The interior story is nowhere near as dramatic as the cover; but seems instead to be the conclusion of a rare multi-issue story for the Haunted Tank: they had gone from being captured by the Nazis and exhibited in Berlin, to being hijacked by Polish fighters and were now in Russia! The tankers pick up a couple Russian guides (who won't make it nine pages in) but then get caught up in the Nazi siege of a Russian city. This doesn't go as hard into it as a Garth Ennis book, but it's made clear the Russians fought hard.
General Stuart warns Jeb, the tank would not make it back home in one piece: a somewhat ominous proclamation, that could've meant they would be fighting on the Russian front for the duration, which would've made more sense. Instead, after the tank helps out a bit, the Russians seem more than happy to help them on their way, dismantling the tank to sneak it home by wagon train. Wait, wait, wait: that looks like eleven wagons, but an earlier page mentioned the Russians were out of dogs and cats to eat and were down to rats: no way they would've had all those horses, even from "every village near!"
Also this issue: a reprint from 1958's Star-Spangled War Stories #67, "Ashcan Alley!" Written by Bob Haney, art by Joe Kubert. The Nazis throw everything but the kitchen sink at a frogman as he tries to free a sub from a mine.

2 comments:

  1. See, now that would be a hell of a concept that someone like Ennis could sink his teeth into; a killer tank haunted by the innocent dead civilians of previous American wars or engagements. That fucker would have to be as big as state or country to house all those souls, but it'd be worth it.
    It would probably be ridiculed & torn to shreds by GOP/Trumblicans though for being so anti-American.

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  2. I think the tank had actually been destroyed once or twice over the series. I forget whether they fixed it or just found a new tank for him to haunt, though. Either way, it ends up somewhat less threatening than it could be.

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