Mission Eleven: Battle Hawk -- Part Two

Last time, Johnny Cloud had ordered his Happy Braves pilots to not take animal mascots with them on combat missions. He worried that the stress of combat was responsible for his men engaging in superstitious behaviors. When Tex took his monkey, Top Banana, on the last mission, Cloud grounded him to send a firm message to all his pilots.

That night Cloud experienced a childhood flashback about befriending an injured hawk when he protected the cornered bird from a mountain lion. To his surprise, the hawk stayed by him until his wing was healed. 

The medicine man remarked that the hawk was grateful and would “tell others of his tribe.” He added that the hawk would repay the debt sometime in the future. Cloud dismissed the observations of the medicine man as mere superstition.

Back to present day, next morning, Cloud chooses to go solo on a reconnaissance mission to find the German rocket launchers. He dives into the ragged gash where the launchers have been placed. But like the day before, he has trouble seeing through the heavy smoke screen pumped out by the rocket crews. 

Just then, a hawk comes in through his open canopy and lands on his shoulder. Cloud is beyond surprised. Yet, the hawk guides Cloud, left then right, by digging his talons into his shoulder. 

Cloud maneuvers through the smoke by following the Hawk's directions. And, when he slips into a clearing, Cloud finds himself directly above the launchers, much to the shock of the enemy.

Cloud drops his bombs at close range and destroys the terror rockets. 

WHROOOOM! 

Cloud returns to base where he is chided for having a hawk perched on his shoulder. “Hawk-Eye? He just dropped by to repay a debt,” Cloud remarks. He does not share the amazing events that led to the destruction of the rocket launchers. 

Indeed, the Hawk, or a Hawk ... some Hawk has repaid the debt of many years ago.

Image Credit:
AAMOW#92 (August 1962): Story Art: I.Novick; Writer: R.Kanigher.
Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics.

Mission Eleven: Battle Hawk

Tasked to destroy terror rocket sites, Cloud laments that his pilots have superstitiously adopted animal friends as co-pilots. The missions have been difficult, and his Happy Braves flight is under extreme stress.

Although Cloud understands the press for superstitious behavior under these conditions of high stress, he worries that these animal co-pilots will interfere with the mission. Consequently, he orders that no pets are allowed on flights.

On the next mission, the Happy Braves encounter heavy flak with losses. The rocket launchers they seek are hidden in a ragged gash cut by a river within a rocky plateau. The Germans release a smoke screen to shroud the launchers. Consequently, the bombing run is unsuccessful.

As they circle back for a second sweep, Tex reports that his monkey, Top Banana, has spotted a gaggle of Me-109s on the ceiling preparing to dive. Cloud orders his crew to duck back into the gash, within the flak, so as to discourage the bandits from following them. The Happy Braves find cover, but the smoke screen prevents a second bombing run.

After climbing out of the gash, the waiting bandits press the attack. Cloud downs a Me-109, as do others. But overall, the mission was a failure -- the terror rocket sites are still operational.

Back at base, Cloud grounds Tex for allowing Top Banana to ride with him. Once again, Cloud laments that his men are developing superstitions to cope with combat stress. Is this a sign that his pilots are at their breaking point?

That evening, Cloud experiences a surprising flashback ... 

Image Credit:

AAMOW#92 (August 1962): Splash Page Art: I.Novick; Writer: R.Kanigher

Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics

Mission Ten: Two Missions to Doom -- The Debriefing

Two Missions of Doom is a solid Johnny Cloud adventure. The action is fast as the two missions intertwine. The subplot of luck and providence is framed against the losses of two named pilots, a failed mission, and an attack on the base, underscoring the inescapable theme that combat defies words. 

There is an undercurrent of brotherhood when a boyish Shamrock is baptized in battle both on the ground and in the air. We can’t ignore his name, can we? He is luck. Consider that Cloud’s mission against the radar station is only successful with Shamrock in the cockpit.

But there is more complexity here. His Big Brother in the Sky leads Cloud to the tanks and provides cumulus cover when he needs it during the final dogfight. This is more than luck, as the scales are tipped in Cloud’s favor. Once again, we see that Cloud is guided by and protected by the Great Warrior Spirit that he knows as his Big Brother.

So, what can we make of Shamrock’s role in the final analysis? As stated above, Shamrock is just that -- he is luck. Perhaps, the undercurrent is that luck is needed in combat no matter how much skill or courage one has.

In an odd twist, a column of German tanks attacks the airbase. This can only happen if the field is located on the continent. This appears to be a misfire, as the Happy Braves have been based in England up to this point. 

Perhaps Cloud’s squadron was transferred across the channel to assist the Ninth Air Force that supported infantry movements after D-Day – it’s a stretch, but that is the only way that tanks could overrun Cloud's airbase.

I have one complaint: The story art, particularly the P-51s, are crudely drawn and are quite cartoonish -- check out the picture on my previous blog posting (3/26/24) to see.

Image Credit:
AAMOW #91 (June 1962): Story Art: Jerry Grandenetti; Writer: Robert Kanigher.
Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics

Mission Ten: Two Missions to Doom -- Part 2

 

Last time, Johnny Cloud returned to base after his Flight failed to destroy a German radar station only to discover that the three tanks had attacked the airfield. Shamrock, Cloud's mechanic, was taken prisoner.

Cloud suits up for another attempt at the radar station, but this time he flies solo. Cloud asks his Big Brother for help finding the tanks, and he is led to them. With the tank column below, he circles to attack. As he dives, Cloud agonizes that Shamrock could be in one of them. Suddenly, the second tank fires on the leader. Then the third tank fires on the second tank. 

Unsure about what is happening, Cloud bombs the third one and circles the field to look for Shamrock. He sees him climbing from the wreckage of the second tank, so he lands and picks up his crew chief.

Shamrock explains that he was held captive in the second tank. He pretended to be in a state of panic until he grabbed a monkey wrench and beat the crew with it. He had fired on the first tank.

With Shamrock jammed in beside him, Cloud continues on his mission, flying low to sneak up on the radar station. The flak batteries hold off, as Cloud’s P-51 appears too low to drop his bombs, but Cloud releases his bombs anyway. 

Direct Hit! The explosion tosses his plane head over hoofs. BLAAAM!

Before he can regain control, several Fw-190s dive to finish him off, but Cloud out-maneuvers them and kills four. Cloud sees his Big Brother looking on, so he asks for cover and gets it.

        Cloud limps his smoking Mustang to base. He hits the tarmac. WHRRRRRREEEEEEEE! As they walk away from the wreck, Cloud says to Shamrock, “Now you know …” Shamrock shrugs; now he is at a loss for words.

Image Credit:

AAMOW#91 (June 1962): Story Art: J. Grandenetti; Writer: R. Kanigher.

Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics

Mission Ten: Two Mission to Doom

We meet Johnny Cloud’s freckle-faced crew chief, Shamrock, at the start. He’s earnest and takes pride in keeping Cloud’s Mustang in tip-top shape from tail to prop. But war is brutal, so he attaches a four-leafed clover badge on the cowling for good luck.

Shamrock confides that he worries about Cloud’s safety, and so he asks him: “What’s it really like up there?” Cloud pauses and says nothing. He cannot find the words to describe the horrors of combat, so he looks away. 

But the question lingers.

On the next mission, the Happy Braves intercept a wave of German bombers; the fighting is fierce and two P-51s are lost along with their pilots, Stevens and Phil. The bombers are turned back, but Cloud feels demoralized. 

When Cloud returns to base, Shamrock asks his question again. And, like before, Cloud is unable to answer.

When Cloud takes off the next day, Shamrock notices that the good luck emblem has fallen off. He waves his arms, but Cloud is gone. What little protection he could proffer is moot. 

Shamrock panics!

The Happy Braves Flight pass over a trio of German tanks, but they press on to their target: a radar station. As they approach the target, flak gunners open fire, and with hot metal exploding all around them, the P-51s fail to destroy the station. 

Before they can mount a second run at the radar station, a gaggle of Fw-190s emerge from the sun and force the Braves to retreat. 

When the flight returns to base, they discover that the three tanks had attacked the airfield. Shamrock was taken. Cloud worries. Is Shamrock still alive? 

Image Credit:

AAMOW#91 (June 1962): Splash Page Art: J. Grandenetti; Writer: R. Kanigher.

Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics

DC War Comics -- Part Four

It has been a month since I posted last. So, this week, I give you a double-posting.

Last month, I explored the start of the Sgt. Rock era. This was the first war series in the Big Five DC War Comics. Plus, the stories were longer (about 13 pages on average).

Close on the heels of Sgt. Rock, a second serial hit the Big Five in May 1959 with the introduction of Gunner and Sarge in OFF. This duo fought in the jungles against the Japanese and was joined by a combat dog named Pooch several months later. The series continued until August 1965 – a run of 50 issues.

Another short series was begun in SSWS with the August 1959 issue featuring the French resistance fighter, Mademoiselle Marie. She grabbed the cover spot without so much as an audition; no surprise there, as she was leggy with a sassy pixie cut and a submachine gun on her shoulder. Marie’s lead story was aptly named Battle Doll. She rappelled down ropes, scaled walls, and planted bombs, all while wearing above-the-knee-skirts. Her series was short with only eight appearances after which she was replaced by tank-eating dinosaurs – poor gal.

Johnny Cloud reported for duty in December 1960, behind Rock, Gunner and Sarge, and Marie. But before we get to him, let’s look at one other series that roared into battle just a few months later – here, I am referring to Jeb Stuart and the Haunted Tank.

The Haunted Tank series began in GIC with the May 1961 issue, and within a few months, gained its own subtitle that lasted until 1977. It was quite popular, and one of my favorites too. The theme borrowed a spiritual punch from Johnny Cloud with cavalry general JEB Stuart (of the CSA) ghosting the M3 tank commanded by Sgt. Jeb Stuart, and at times, providing information and wisdom to help the crew prevail in battle.

Let’s pause to compare these two: Cloud and Stewart. Both of them have spiritual connections. Yet, there are crucial differences.

Cloud routinely shared his travails with his Big Brother, as did Stuart with his Ghost. And both of them felt empowered by their spirits. But here, the similarities end. The Great Warrior Spirit provided Cloud with supernatural advantages when needed. Cloud was an avatar. He was destined to shine brighter than the storm clouds: He was invincible! In contrast, the JEB Stuart, the Ghost, did not intervene directly. Instead, he provided Stuart with insights and warnings, often in the form of riddles – this was helpful, but Stuart was left mostly on his own. He was not invincible!

Consequently, we can appreciate how Cloud stands apart from the other Big Five warriors. Take the most indomitable example: Sgt. Rock had no less courage or resolve than Cloud, but he was limited by his muscular strength and combat skills. Sgt. Rock was amazing, extraordinary even, but we see him as the ground-pounder that he was.

As this cast of characters shows, the period between 1959 and 1961 marked the start of several series across the Big Five. All of them were distinctly different. All of them displayed a unique fighting spirit of a sort. Here’s a parting glance: Sgt. Rock appeared in April to June 1959; Gunner and Sarge in May 1959; Mademoiselle Marie in August 1959; Johnny Cloud in December 1960, and Jeb Stuart in May 1961.

Other series came and went but only Sgt. Rock and Jeb Stuart lasted beyond 50 issues. Gunner and Sarge ended at 50, and Johnny Cloud lasted for 32 ending when AAMOW folded – note that Gunner and Sarge and Cloud made a few guest appearances in other titles before joining The Losers in 1970. 

In case you’re wondering, some of the other serials included OFF’s Fighting Devil Dog – Sgt. Rock’s jarhead brother – for eight issues, followed by Lt. Hunter and his Hellcats for 22 issues. In SSWS, the dinosaurs took over for 12 issues, followed by a few appearances of the Suicide Squad; then, the very popular Enemy Ace and Unknown Soldier serials took the title well into the Bronze Age. A few other heroes deserve recognition including Lt. Steve Savage the WW1 Balloon Buster who edged out Cloud in AAMOW in four issues, and Capt. Storm who grabbed his own title in June 1964, commanding a PT Boat in the Pacific for 18 issues.

Ironically, The Losers reincarnated Gunner and Sarge, Johnny Cloud, and Capt. Storm, joining them into a demoralized squad that always prevailed against overwhelming odds. The Losers were introduced in GIC in November 1969 and continued in OFF from 1970 to 1978. But I submit that Cloud was maligned in this dreadful series. He’s not the same man we see in AAMOW.

            Image Credit:

GIC#116 (March 1966): Story Art: I. Novick; Writer: R. Kanigher.

The Haunted Tank TM DC Comics

DC War Comics -- Part Three

Last time, I introduced the Big Five DC War Comics: Our Army at War, Star Spangled War Stories, All American Men of War, Our Fighting Forces, and G.I. Combat.

The Big Five started off with collections of short stories, usually six to eight pages long, but this began change in the late 1950s. Longer stories (13 pages by 1958) and returning characters began to appear, thus setting the stage for Johnny Cloud.

Serial warriors started with Sgt. Rock and Easy Company, and no one has traced his genealogy like Chris Pedrin in his Big Five Information Guide. Hints of an unyielding soldier, brave and protective of his men, nicknamed “Rock” first surfaced in AAMOW in December 1955 – the seed was planted, and over a dozen developments took shape in OAAW, SSWS, and GIC during the next three years. 

By 1959 the mold was set, and Rock rose to prominence in a series of stories: The Rock in GIC (January); The Rock of Easy Company in OAAW (April); Hold up for Easy Company in OAAW (May); and finally, The Rock and The Wall in OAAW (June 1959).

Sgt. Rock and Easy Company went on to dominate OAAW from that point on, earning him a bold, red-white-and-blue title spot in OAAW in September 1965. The members of Easy Company were profiled over time with several standouts like Bulldozer, Ice Cream, and Wee Willie, to name but a few. This cast of personalities provided friendly banter within grueling plotlines that gave cohesion to Easy Company while capturing the loyalty of fans. 

The formula worked spectacularly just as it did for comic book superheroes like Batman and Robin, the Justice League, and later, Marvel’s Fantastic Four. Rock owned OAAW until it folded in February 1977 – he was, and is, the most popular comic book war hero.

In his wake, other war heroes emerged, and the serial war comic book became the norm. It was only a matter of time before a fighter pilot like Johnny Cloud would get his own book.

... and we will finish our thumbnail review of DC War Comics next week!

Image Credit:

OAAW#191 (March 1968); Cover Art: J. Kubert; Writer of lead story: R. Kanigher.

Sgt. Rock & Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics