I don't know if this was intended as a breather before next month's
final issue, or if they wanted to burn off these stories before DC's war titles wrapped, or if this is just what they would've done anyway. From 1982,
Unknown Soldier #267, featuring "Kid Stuff!" Written by Bob Haney, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Gerry Talaoc; "War's Last Weapon!" Created and written by Robert Kanigher, art by George Evans; and "A Very Private Hell, part three: Debt of Blood" Again created and written by Robert Kanigher, art by John Severin.
Sadly, the cover makes it seem like it's going to be a full-blown Nazi circus, but it's merely a couple creepy performers who pretend to be refugees, entertaining British kids in Scotland until they show their true colors and kidnap some for a propaganda victory. The Unknown Soldier was a friend of one kid's family, and during the rescue the kid does a pretty good job against a Nazi his own size. "War's Last Weapon!" was the conclusion of the Viking Commando's last story; although the
DC wiki claims he appears in the last issue of
Weird War Tales. With orderlies trying to have him committed and his valkyrie trying to get him killed so she can have him, Valoric still takes out a Nazi flying saucer and makes time with a pretty nurse. Good one for him to go out on!
I don't know if this would read better collected, because I think this story hit the same beats repeatedly: it's Enemy Ace vs. Balloon Buster, and while the Ace has been captured this time, the American officers seem to like him better than "poor white trash" Savage. Still owing him a fight, Savage tests Von Hammer's Fokker, then lets him free so they can face each other in the skies. Von Hammer gets the drop on him this time, but his guns jam before he can conclude the battle; so Savage gets him to continue on the ground, with a shootout! Savage gets shot there, but refuses to be taken to a doctor: he'll live or die in the sky. As he tries for his home airfield, Von Hammer notices his own fliers spying Savage, and breaks up their attack on him. He doesn't know if Savage made it back or not, and neither do we; although
James Robinson would have at least one story with the Balloon Buster much later, as well as tying him into western hero Scalphunter.
You know I don't know why the concept of a Nazi circus hasn't already been used as the main concept behind a horror movie yet, especially during the heyday of Nazi-related exploitation movies in the 70's. Just seems like a natural plot to one.
ReplyDeleteI remember first seeing the Viking GI guy from his entry in an old issue of Who's Who. I don't know why he wasn't used again during Vertigo's heyday in the 90's, as I'm curious what a then modern take on him would entail.
I'm sure if they ever made a movie based on him, the actor from the Norseman would be perfect to play him.
James Robinson really did create the best, most logical retcons of the 90's during his Starman run. He really rehabilited & fixed so many lingering issues for various characters in that run. Amazing what he was allowed to do back then.
Maybe it should've been the Viking Commando vs. the Nazi Circus! Just go straight-up grindhouse with it. I haven't seen the Norseman, but the Viking needs that Chris Hemsworth enthusiasm: his Valkyrie keeps encouraging him to just die already, but he's always in a minute, baby, I want to see I can kill this thing...
ReplyDeleteThis was a pretty typical lineup for Unknown Soldier in its last few years- Unknown Soldier in the lead, Enemy Ace closing it up, and another Kanigher story in the middle. I think Creature Commandos had a Nazi circus story too, but that’s it as far as I remember. And yeah, Enemy Ace has a formula- did his wolf friend show up too? He’s practically a regular.
ReplyDeletePlease don’t get me started on James Robinson and his Starman- I hate both with a passion.
You do? Interesting. He certainly has his detractors.
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