The Losers (comics)

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The Losers
The Losers: Ante Up cover by Jock
The Losers
Publisher Vertigo
Schedule Monthly
Publication date August 2003 – March 2006
Number of issues 32
Main character(s) Clay
Roque
Jensen
Cougar
Pooch
Aisha
Creative team
Writer(s) Andy Diggle
Artist(s) Jock
Shawn Martinbrough
Nick Dragotta
Ale Garza
Ben Oliver
Penciller(s) Clem Robins
Colorist(s) Lee Loughridge
Creator(s) Andy Diggle
Jock

The Losers was a comic published by the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics, written by Andy Diggle and drawn by Jock.

Based on an obscure old DC Comic following a team of soldiers in WWII, this new series brings the concept up to date with a present day setting and a team of special forces soldiers who declare war on the CIA after their Agency handler tries to assassinate them.

It has been noted that the update bears more than a passing resemblance to the A-Team.[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] The Losers (1969)

Upon America's entry into the European theatre of the Second World War, a Special Forces group composed of personnel from all branches of the armed forces was formed. The members were Captain William Storm, a former PT Boat commander with a wooden leg and an eye-patch; Johnny Cloud of the U.S. Army Air Force, known as "The Navajo Ace"; Sarge Clay, one of the oldest serving Marines, and Gunner Mackey, one of the youngest. Because each member had suffered the deaths of personnel under their command for which they felt responsible, they dubbed themselves The Losers.

[edit] Beginnings

Prior to the formation of the group, each character had his own adventures in DC's war anthology comics (with Gunner & Sarge sharing their adventures). Captain Storm had his own title, which lasted 18 issues from 1964 to 1967. Their stories, which ran in the DC war comic Our Fighting Forces, were written by Robert Kanigher and illustrated by a variety of artists, most notably Sam Glanzman, Russ Heath, John Severin, Jack Kirby and Joe Kubert. Captain Johnny Cloud had appeared in All-American Men of War #82-115 (1960-1966); the two-men team of Gunner and Sarge had first appeared in #67 of the same title before transferring to Our Fighting Forces for a fifty-issue run, #45-94.

Their first appearance as a group was with The Haunted Tank crew in issue 138 of G.I. Combat (October/November 1969), in a story titled The Losers. They got their own series a few months later (January/February 1970), as the lead feature in Our Fighting Forces, beginning with issue 123.

The group served in Europe, Africa and the Pacific, meeting other characters of the period such as the Haunted Tank and Sergeant Rock. The team briefly had a female member named Ona Tomsen who was part of the Norwegian Resistance movement, who joined the team in issue 135. At the same time, the team briefly lost Captain Storm, who suffered amnesia (and lost an eye) due to a bomb blast. They reunited in issue 141, when Capt. Storm reappeared as a one-eyed, peg-legged pirate. Gunner's pet dog Pooch also joined the team for some missions.

[edit] Series creators

Robert Kanigher was the original writer for the series, and he emphasized the group's hard-luck outlook. They were, in a sense, anti-heroes, and the stories cast light on the negative impact of war. At the height of the Viet Nam War, Kanigher wove this outlook into many of the DC war books. Also in common with most DC war books of the time were spectacular covers by Joe Kubert. Ken Barr handled the artist's chores on the first issue, with Ross Andru and Mike Esposito picking up in issue 124. John Severin, veteran of Marvel Comics' Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos came in by issue 132 to handle the art chores. This run lasted until Jack Kirby took over as artist/writer with issue 151. While Kirby enjoyed working on the series [1], he took them in an entirely different direction that wasn't favored by fans, judging by comments in the book's letter pages. Bob Kanigher was back writing the book, with Jack Lehti handling the art.

Issue 164 saw Ric Estrada penciling and George Evans inking, and Evans handling all of the artistic duties by issue 166. He continued on the strip until the final issue, 181 (September/October 1978). The story that was originally set to run in issue 182 finally appeared 4 years later, in Unknown Soldier #265 (July 1982), in a story titled Young Losers - Young Lions. This was written by Kanigher and drawn by Evans.

[edit] The end

According to Crisis on Infinite Earths, the team met its end in Markovia in 1945. Along with others, they were attacking the towers created by the series villain, the Anti-Monitor. His minions, shadow demons, touch each one, destroying them.

The re-ordering of the DC Universe resulted in a different ending for the team. In The Losers Special #1, written by Kanigher and illustrated by Glanzman, the Losers (along with Pooch) died in action in 1945 while destroying a German missile site: Sarge was bayonetted, Captain Storm fell on a grenade, and the remainder were strafed by aircraft fire. The Special was published in 1985, during Crisis' initial run, and remained the definitive ending for the group for many years.

In the late 1990s, a short-lived revival of the Creature Commandos resurrected Gunner as a cyborg warrior member of the new team. Gunner and Sarge turn up alive and out of their own time in Birds of Prey, trapped in a POW-camp in the time-fluctuating Dinosaur Island...now with a "pooch" that is a trained velociraptor. It is not known if they somehow went back in time to conclude their lives or if this brings them into the present.

An alternative ending was presented in the out-of-continuity 2004 miniseries DC: The New Frontier. In it, the group was sent to Dinosaur Island in December 1945, where one by one they die due to the dangers of the island. Their epitaph, of sorts, was written by Johnny Cloud: "Ask my family and they'll tell you I was a Navajo. Ask the Army Air Force and they'll say I was an American. But if you ask my brothers, they'll set you straight. John Cloud was a Loser."

[edit] The Losers (2004)

[edit] The Losers

The Losers were reimagined in 2004, set against events surrounding and including the War on Terror. Originally a Special Forces team seconded to the C.I.A. in the 90s, the Losers were betrayed by their handler, Max, and left for dead following the conclusion of their operation. Eager for revenge and the opportunity to remove their names from a secret CIA death list, the Losers regroup and conduct covert operations against the CIA and its interests, uncovering startling operations spearheaded by the enigmatic Max, whose influence within the CIA and US Government is unparalleled.

  • Clay - The Leader, easily identified by a consistent use of black suits without ties. Commonly referred to as 'the Colonel,' perhaps alluding to his rank prior to the team's "death." A meticulous planner, initiative-taker and an excellent leader, Clay harbors the largest grudge against Max, at times appearing visibly angry at the mention of his name.
  • Roque - The second-in-command, easily identified by the large, vertical scar down the right side of his face and icy demeanor. His ruthless thirst for money motivates a majority of his actions, including the serial betrayal of the Losers and many of his underlings.
  • Jensen - The hacker, characterized by his spiky bonde hair, glasses and a conspicuous beard on his chin. Known for his nonstop motormouth that often leads him into trouble and a variety of conversational tangents.
  • Cougar - The sniper, identified by his cowboy hat and haunted demeanor. Morose and laconic as a result of a traumatic combat incident in Afghanistan. An absolute genius with the rifle.
  • Pooch - The pilot, identifiable by his shaved head and laid-back appearance, has been known to pilot any ground, air or sea vehicle with ease. Despite his involvement with the CIA and Special Forces, is also married with children.
  • Aisha - The loose cannon, identified by her eyebrow piercing and tied-back hair. Partners with the Losers in light of their common goal of killing Max. Skilled in all combat skills, with particular emphasis on melee and reconnaissance, stemming from a harsh upbringing in Afghanistan and Pakistan, primarily fighitng as a child against Soviet soldiers during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. A cold-blooded killer who prefers to leave corpses rather than survivors when she engages the enemy.

[edit] Supporting Characters

  • Max - An enigmatic man wielding unprecedented, covert influence over various governmental and military institutions. Organized the assassination of Aisha's father, a slave trader and local warlord, and the subsequent "accident" of the Losers when they went off-mission. Although the current Max enjoys substantial influence over the CIA and infamy throughout the Black Ops community, the "Max" codename predates the CIA itself by several years.
  • Robert Sanderson - Deputy Director of Operations, CIA. Originally assigned to negotiate with the Losers during an intense standoff, Sanderson comes to realize the true motives and identity of Max, whom he initially regards as an expired decoy identity "used to lure enemy agents out of hiding." Sanderson recruits Marvin Stegler to conduct a clandestine intra-Agency investigation of the MAX identity.
  • Marvin Stegler - A veteran CIA agent who as of late has been relegated to desk work. Although initially ordered to investigate the Max identity, Stegler frequently crosses paths with the Losers and comes to offer Agency support to them after he stops receiving orders from Sanderson.

[edit] Publication

[edit] Original Team

[edit] 2004 Team

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The ongoing monthly comic concluded in 2006, however it remains available in trade paperback form all published by Vertigo. All stories are written by Andy Diggle, with Jock on the majority of art duties:

[edit] In other media

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Tim Story to direct 'Losers'", Variety, June 8, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-06-08. 

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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