G.I. Combat

G.I. Combat

G.I. Combat #168 (January 1974).
Cover art by Neal Adams.
Publication information
Publisher Quality Comics (1952–56)
DC Comics (1957–1987, 2012–2013)
Schedule Monthly:
#1–78, #158–170
#175–200, #221–277
Bimonthly:
#79–157, #171–175
#201–220, #278–288
Format Ongoing series
Genre War
Publication date Vol. 1: October 1952 – March 1987
Vol. 2: May 2012 – December 2012
Number of issues Vol. 1: 288
Vol. 2: 8 (#1–7 plus issue numbered 0)
Main character(s) The Haunted Tank
Creative team
Writer(s) Vol. 1:Robert Kanigher, George Kashdan
Vol. 2: Justin Gray, J. T. Krul, Jimmy Palmiotti, Peter Tomasi
Penciller(s) Vol. 1: Neal Adams, Ross Andru, Sam Glanzman, Jerry Grandenetti, Joe Kubert
Vol. 2: Howard Chaykin, Staz Johnson, Ariel Olivetti, Dan Panosian
Inker(s) Vol. 1: Mike Esposito

G.I. Combat was a long-running comic book series published first by Quality Comics and later by DC Comics.

Publication history

The focus of the book was on stories about American soldiers or G.I.s. Initially, the stories involved Cold War adventures with strong anti-Communist themes, but over time the focus shifted to tales from World War II, and most of the stories after Quality ceased publishing the title were set during this period. As with other media, the World War II setting was sometimes used to discuss themes pertinent to contemporary conflicts such as the Vietnam War.

The first issue of G.I. Combat was published in October 1952.[1] When DC Comics acquired the rights to the Quality Comics characters and titles, they continued publishing the series starting with issue #44 (January 1957).[2] G.I. Combat and Blackhawk were the only Quality titles which DC continued publishing. Many notable writers and artists worked on G.I. Combat during its run, including Robert Kanigher, who also edited the title, Joe Kubert, Jerry Grandenetti and Neal Adams.

Each issue of G.I. Combat was an anthology book composed of several short comic stories, a format that continued throughout its run. There were several recurring features in the DC Comics version of the title, including most notably "The Haunted Tank", which first appeared in issue #87 (May 1961)[3] and ran until 1987. The Losers' first appearance as a group was with the Haunted Tank crew in issue #138 (Oct.-Nov. 1969),[4] in a story titled "The Losers". Other recurring features included "The Bravos of Vietnam" (about U.S. Marines in the Vietnam War) and late in its run, a return to Cold War themes with a short-lived recurring feature about 1980s mercenaries. Beginning with issue #201 (April–May 1977), G.I. Combat was DC's only war comic to be upgraded to its "Dollar Comics" line, with additional pages of content beyond the then-standard 32-page format. The Dollar Comic format was used through issue #259 (November 1983).[5] The series continued in a 52-page giant-sized format through issue #281 (January 1986)[6] before returning to a standard 32 page size with #282 (March 1986).[7]

The Monitor's first full appearance was in G.I. Combat #274 (February 1985).[8]

By the 1980s, war comics grew less marketable and Sgt. Rock, The Unknown Soldier, and Weird War Tales were discontinued. G.I. Combat's final issue was #288 (March 1987).

2012 series

In May 2012, DC launched a new G.I. Combat ongoing series as part of The New 52.[9] Featured stories included "The War that Time Forgot" by writer J. T. Krul and artist Ariel Olivetti, with back up stories starring the Unknown Soldier by writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti with art by Dan Panosian.[10] The Haunted Tank feature began in issue #5.[11] The new series was canceled as of issue #7 on sale in December 2012.[12][13]

Collected editions

References

  1. ↑ G.I. Combat (Quality Comics) at the Grand Comics Database
  2. ↑ G.I. Combat (DC Comics) at the Grand Comics Database
  3. ↑ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1960s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. G.I. Combat #87 saw Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart guide Lt. Jeb Stuart and the Haunted Tank on their first adventure by scribe Robert Kanigher and artist Russ Heath.
  4. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 135: "Scribe Robert Kanigher and artist Russ Heath turned these self-described Losers - including "Navajo Ace" Johnny Cloud of the U.S. Army Air Force, Marines Gunner Mackey and Sarge Clay, and Captain William Storm, a PT boat commander with a prosthetic leg - into a fighting force that meshed as one."
  5. ↑ Romero, Max (July 2012). "I'll Buy That For a Dollar! DC Comics' Dollar Comics". Back Issue! (TwoMorrows Publishing) (57): 39–41.
  6. ↑ G.I. Combat #281 at the Grand Comics Database
  7. ↑ G.I. Combat #282 at the Grand Comics Database
  8. ↑ Kanigher, Robert (w), Glanzman, Sam (p), Glanzman, Sam (i). "Death March" G.I. Combat 274 (February 1985)
  9. ↑ Moore, Matt (May 2, 2012). "DC adds 6 new titles, including modern G.I. Combat". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  10. ↑ Kushins, Josh (January 12, 2012). "DC Comics in 2012-–-Introducing the "Second Wave" of DC Comics The New 52". The Source. DC Comics. Archived from the original on January 14, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  11. ↑ Tomasi, Peter (w), Chaykin, Howard (p), Chaykin, Howard (i). "Mettle" G.I. Combat v2, 5 (December 2012)
  12. ↑ Johnston, Rich (September 17, 2012). "DC Comics Cancels G.I. Combat With Issue Seven". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2012. DC Comics has cancelled the first of their Second Wave titles.
  13. ↑ Langshaw, Mark (September 18, 2012). "G.I. Combat canceled by DC Comics". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2012. G.I. Combat draws to a close with issue #7 in December.

External links