A Brief History of War Comics ... but first, some Pulp Fiction: G-8 and His Battle Aces!

For the next few weeks, I will provide a thumbnail history of DC War Comics. This will help us appreciate wherein Johnny Cloud falls (no pun intended, as he did jump out of his burning P-51 many times).

First off, I will start with slight detour. Part tribute to my Dad (who passed away a few weeks ago -- I am totally crushed) and part set-up for the Golden Age of DC War Comics that began with flying aces such as Hop Harrigan who began his adventures in April 1939.

Here is Dad.

It was 1936, late fall, early twilight. With his chores done, the evening found Dad curled up behind the stove, atop the coal box, reading pulp fiction lit by a kerosene lamp. He was nine. And like me, he was engrossed with a fighter pilot. Dad’s hero was known only as G-8 – his true identity was never revealed!

G-8 and His Battle Aces flew from October 1933 through June 1944. In all, Robert Hogan penned over a hundred stories. G-8 was a master spy who commanded a small squadron of biplanes in the Great War, but he was up against more than just German aces. That would be too easy. Instead, G-8 faced fantastical creations from the Kaiser’s mad scientists – for example, Dr. Gurnig produced a remote-controlled flying head with a single eye that shot lethal X-rays at Allied fighters.

And if that wasn’t enough, G-8 battled supernatural beings, including Martians, a giant plane-eating spider, even a huge skeleton. Science fiction. And airplanes. Dad was captivated, but it was the cover-art that drew him in. This was when he started drawing airplanes, building wings out of balsa, and dreaming about soaring through the skies. His friends called him “airplane crazy.” 

This is Dad’s origin story – every superhero has one.

Dad liked to remind me that he was born in the year that Charles Lindberg crossed the Atlantic – 1927. So, it was only natural for him to be airplane crazy. Just as G-8’s cover art grabbed his eye, Johnny Cloud grabbed mine. So, I decided to probe his history, so I purchased a G-8 reprint: Patrol of the Cloud Crusher (June 1936). Maybe he read this one – I took a chance.

I'll tell you the story next time ... very strange, and very 1930s!

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

Mission Eight: Star Jockey - The Debriefing

Star Jockey is somewhat disappointing: The storyline is tangential and hard to follow at times. The Smoke-maker’s prophecy does not align logically with the jump into the future during the dogfight – both involve smoke or clouds and that’s it. 

Consequently, there is no theme that is developed here, just a fantastical story that leaves you stranded.

Still, to be fair, the magic that resides in the fog does prompt the reader to ponder if Cloud actually traveled ahead in time, or if he just saw it that way. But again, why is this happening? Why now? 

That is what is missing here.

To be fair, it could be a sign that Cloud will go on to fight in the Korean War. However, on a more mundane level we know that time travel is a trope that Kanigher uses to juice the plot lines.

 

Overall, the action is solid, and I particularly like the overshoot when Cloud nails the second MiG-15 for his exuberance – a deadly mistake that was common in dogfights. This is one of more realistic combat moves that Cloud makes when an E/A is on his tail. 

Again, I presume that the MiG-15 was actually a Me-109. Or was it? Well, I suppose these questions make the story memorable if only for a day or two.

 

And here’s a misfire. The title, Star Jockey, suggests that Cloud is flying an F-104 Star Fighter, but he’s not. He flies a swept-wing Sabre.

More important, with respect to development of Johnny Cloud's character, we get to see a snippet of his early childhood that reveals his fascination with flying – an essential piece of his origin story. So yeah, this is an essential detail! So too, we see that Cloud is different from the other boys in his tribe, as he has a mission – he has a war to fight. 

This origin storyline is one of Kanigher's crowning achievements. Brilliant! Well Done!

Mission Eight: Star Jockey - Part 2

Last week, Johnny Cloud and Tex are on a search and destroy mission. Tex's P-51 is damaged by flak. Suddenly, three Me-109s appear. Cloud orders Tex to hit the deck and get to base. Cloud tries to fend off the bandits, but he is hit.

With his Mustang smoking, Cloud climbs to escape the bandits on his tail. His oxygen is hit, but he continues to go higher and higher. He ducks into a cloud, but when he comes out, he is flying an F-86 Sabre jet. Cloud is surprised and dumbfounded. But there is no time to contemplate what just happened, as rockets streak by his cockpit in a loud VROOOSH! 

Cloud looks back to see three MiG-15s closing fast on his tail. 

He whips his Sabre around and nails one. Then he plunges back into the cumulus – the second MiG-15 follows him but Cloud outmaneuvers him by barrel-rolling and pulling back on his throttle. The MiG overshoots his mark and soars ahead of Cloud.

Now Cloud has the kill shot. He blasts him. But there’s one more bandit. The lone MiG-15 latches on his tail as he exits the fog. The battle is all but lost when suddenly the MiG-15 explodes behind him. WHAAAM!

The R/T crackles: Tex had circled back and reports destroying the last Me-109. Cloud looks around and sees that he is back in WW2! 

On the return flight, Cloud wonders if he once again glimpsed the future just as he did when the Smoke-maker revealed his destiny in the smoke when Cloud was a young brave. 

Or did he? Maybe he really did travel into the future, but for a moment.

Back at base, Cloud’s men jostle him to tell another story about seeing the future in a wisp of smoke. Cloud just smiles and quips that he didn’t see a thing: “What can you see when smoke gets in your eyes? – Not a thing.”

But even Johnny Cloud is not so sure.

Image Credit:

AAMOW#89 (February 1962): Story Art: I. Novick; Writer: R. Kanigher.

Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics