Mission Nine: Wingmate of Doom -- The Debriefing

Before the holiday, I presented Wingmate of Doom. What an intriguing parable. And clever writing by Robert Kanigher. This one is a top-10 Johnny Cloud saga. 

The tension between Johnny Cloud and Two-Talons is suspenseful from the start and builds until a surprise ending brings an unexpected resolution. The reckoning of the grudge is simple yet surprising. This one forces you to ponder the arithmetic just as Cloud had to.

It is a story that lingers long after the comic book is put down.

But it wasn't just Cloud that had to figure out to resolve the grudge. No. One can only wonder how Two-Talons struggled with his own conflict of conscience. We see this struggle front and center by his behaviors. His first response was to leave Cloud exposed to attack, but then, after being saved, he found a way to discharge his demand for vengeance. Certainly, Cloud’s selflessness stunned him. 

And, we all get a life lesson here about letting go.

And furthermore, one has to wonder if the name Two-Talons is symbolic of how difficult this lesson can be. Kanigher was good at using names to reflect the plotlines.

As with Ace of Vengeance (reviewed a few months ago), this adventure introduces a new foe: German Ace Von Krieg. But he plays in the background, as the conflict with Two-Talons crowds him out. Perhaps, Von Krieg returns later (hint). But oddly, Two-Talons disappears, and we never see him again. 

Image Credit:

AAMOW#90 (April 1962): Story Art: J. Grandenetti; Writer: R. Kanigher.

Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics

Mission Nine: Wingmate of Doom - Part 2

Last week, we learned that Johnny Cloud's Happy Braves Flight gained a new pilot named Two-Talons. The new pilot comes from Cloud's tribe, but there is bad blood between them. Two-Talons is quick to remind Cloud of the debt that he owes. Cloud "owes him a life." 

On the next mission Cloud assigns Two-Talons as his wingman so as to check his devotion to the mission. It is a radical decision given the grudge. But Cloud has to know where his new pilot stands when it comes to fighting Von Krieg's elite squadron. 

Will he fulfill his duty as a wingman? That is to say, will he provide protective cover for Cloud when he most needs it.

Or, will he shirk his duty and leave Cloud open to attack?

 

The patrol engages the enemy over Holland, and when Cloud dives to attack the bandits, Two-Talons breaks off leaving Cloud unprotected. A Me-109 latches on Cloud’s tail but Tex swoops in and downs the bandit before he gets a kill-shot.

Back at base, Tex berates Two-Talons for shirking his duty. Cloud says nothing and walks away. 

The next day, Two-Talons is again assigned by Cloud to be his wingman, much to the surprise of his men. Once again, they engage Von Krieg’s squadron in a fierce dogfight, and Cloud destroys a Me-109. But he sees Two-Talons in trouble – a bandit has grabbed his tail and is angling for a kill shot.

Cloud slots in behind the pair, but his guns jam. In a desperate move, Cloud rams the Me-109 from behind thereby saving Two-Talons from certain death. CRAASH!

Cloud parachutes from the wreckage and is knocked unconscious when he hits the ground. Cloud lies in a field. He will certainly be captured by German troops. 

But. Two-Talons lands and rescues Cloud. 

As they return to base, Cloud asks Two-Talons why he saved him. Two-Talons replies that Cloud had paid his debt by ramming the bandit. The debt of "a life" had been paid. It was Two-Talons' life that was saved. Cloud reflects on this, feeling relieved that, in the end, Two-Talons chose the mission over his grudge.

Image Credit:
AAMOW#90 (April 1962): Story Art: J. Grandenetti; Writer: R. Kanigher.
Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics

Mission Nine: Wingmate of Doom

On patrol, Johnny Cloud spots a lone P-51 being attacked by a Me-109. Cloud breaks from his Happy Braves flight and dives down to help, but before he gets there, the lone P-51 pivots and destroys the bandit.

The quick move was impressive. Who is he?

Cloud climbs back towards his flight, when suddenly, his group is encircled by bandits from Von Krieg’s squadron. Cloud joins the fight, destroys two Me-109s while his flight scatters the rest. The ensuing combat is fierce and quick. The bandits retreat and Cloud’s flight returns to base.

On the tarmac, Cloud meets the impressive pilot of the lone Mustang. He recognizes him immediately. He is a Navajo named Two-Talons – they have bad blood between them.

A flashback fills in the details. Cloud and two boys play a game of chase, but the youngest boy slips on a cliff edge. Cloud tries to save him, but the pull of gravity is too much, and the boy falls. The boy is the brother of Two-Talons who thereafter reminds Cloud that he “owes him a life.”

Now a member of the Happy Braves, he reminds Cloud of the debt. 

On the next mission Cloud assigns Two-Talons as his wingman so as to check his devotion to the mission. Will he fulfill his duty as a wingman, or will he shirk his duty and leave Cloud open to attack?

Johnny Cloud has put his own safety in the hands of Two-Talons ... 

Image Credit:

AAMOW#90 (April 1962): Splash Page Art: J. Grandenetti; Writer: R. Kanigher.

Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics

Johnny Cloud's Star Jockey: The Pop Artist Roy Lichtenstein Connection

Johnny Cloud's eighth Mission entitled Star Jockey in AAMOW#89 has gained added attention from comic book collectors due to one of the stories images being appropriated with modifications by Pop Artist Roy Lichtenstein. The painting (acrylic and oil on canvas) is known as WHAAM! -- named after the boldly-lettered sound of Cloud's missile striking a MiG-15 on page eleven of the story.

See my last Blog Post for the original WHAAM! image.

The painting, measuring 68x160 inches was first exhibited in 1963. The subjects were "recomposed" with borrowed elements from other Johnny Cloud panels (in the same and other AAMOW issues, melding art from several comic book artists). The work was purchased by the Tate Modern Museum in London for about $94,000 (in 2023 dollars). WHAAM! is quite popular with museum goers. 

Consequently, this AAMOW#89 issue has been in demand enough to land on The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide ratings of the top 50 War Comics (in the War Report section). This ranking has ranged in the upper to middle 40s. 

Comic book sellers have listed AAMOW#89 at significantly higher prices despite Overstreet lumping this one with subsequent twelve-cent AAMOW issues with valuations of eight to twenty-four dollars for Good to Fine condition books.

As of the date of this blog post, Lone Star Comics (a big seller) offers two AAMOW#89 issues for $190 and $275 (Good/VG 3.0 and Fine 5.5 respectively). E-Bay shows no less that thirteen books ranging from $160 to $450, plus one badly damaged at $70. This is crazy money in my opinion, unless you are a serial collector of AAMOW, or Top-50 hound, or just like the association with Roy Lichtenstein.

Of note, Roy Lichtenstein's work has been controversial since it appropriates the artwork of Irv Novick, Russ Heath, and others without permission, recognition, or compensation. Is this legitimate? That is the question. Not just in this case, but in many instances when artists take inspiration from popular culture -- do soup cans come to mind? Sure. 

All this has made AAMOW#89 a Top-50 war comic.

As a fanatical fan of Johnny Cloud, I felt compelled to find and buy AAMOW#89 (at a price between what Lone Star Comics have in stock -- see above). And yes, I grumbled about it. 

Some other details: This is the first twelve-cent AAMOW comic; it is the first Three-War cover in the Johnny Cloud series; it is the first one wherein "Johnny Cloud" does not appear in a subtitle (however, his warrior-on-flying-horse emblem is shown on his P-51 and his name in tiny print is shown on a shoulder patch when depicted in the cockpit of the F-86 Sabre. The cover is bold and colorful by Jerry Grandenetti -- he did most of the Three-War covers.

For Johnny Cloud fans, here is the important stuff. The origin story details make AAMOW#89 an essential read. Eleven (out of sixty-five) panels are devoted to Johnny Cloud's born-with fascination with flying, plus his glimpse into the future (provided by the Smoke-maker) that shows his fighter-pilot destiny. As I mentioned last week, this is great stuff and sets
Cloud apart from most other War Comic heroes. The rest of the story is solid, but it is not one of Cloud's best adventures.

One more note: The only other Johnny Cloud story to hit the Top 50 War Comic rankings is his inaugural issue AAMOW#82, and this one barely makes the cut in the upper 40s.

Image Credit:
AAMOW#89 (February 1962): Cover: J. Grandenetti; Writer: R. Kanigher.
Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics