Last time we learned that Johnny Cloud often thought about a debt that he owned to a young ranch hand who saved him from being kicked by a wild stallion. Cloud only remembered the ranch hand as the "Silent Rider" who came to his aid just when he needed it.
Now, years later during the war, Cloud meets the Silent Rider in the field of battle. The ranch hand is a bazooka soldier facing down a column of Tiger tanks. And Cloud ... he has just landed his damaged P-51 in a field. The column of Tigers rumble in the distance.
Are they trapped? Will they be captured?
Amazingly not!
Cloud rushes his take off and roars towards the tanks. He pulled hard on the stick and the P-51 noses up, just missing the tanks. He has saved the Silent Rider, so the debt is paid!
For an instant, Cloud is relieved.
But the battle is not over.
An Fw-190 attacks Cloud’s damaged Mustang as they cross the channel. Cloud is unable to fight back since his guns are jammed! The German sees an easy kill, so he swoops in close, guns twinkling with fire.
Cloud slides his canopy back, and the bazooka man hangs out the cockpit; he fires his last rocket to destroy the bandit.
WHAM! He has saved Cloud again!
With smoke billowing from his cowling, Cloud ditches his plane in the channel. Both men are thrown from the wreckage after a wave tips the sinking plane.
The Silent Rider struggles to swim. Cloud races and grabs him before he drowns. Cloud holds him tight and keeps
the Silent Rider afloat until they are rescued.
Finally, the debt – having been paid and repaid – is even.
Image Credit:
AAMOW#93 (October 1962): Story Art: I.Novick; Writer: R.Kanigher
Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics
No comments:
Post a Comment