Sunday, April 5, 2015

342. Star Spangled War Stories featuring the Unknown Soldier vol 1 #198 ... DC ...

What a mouthful for a title eh? But the fact is that comics in the 70s and going through 80s had volumes where the stories and characters are more experimental. Experimental means in each comic there may be several stories - some are short (even a couple of pages) and some are serials continuing from each comic to the next and whichever character proves popular will have run of the mag or even promoted to his or her own solo mag

This is what happened even in Marvel - example Thor sprang from Journey into Mystery

As for my labelling this as volume 1, it is because to me after this long run by the Soldier, his next run was a 12 issue series followed years later by a 4 issue series in Vertigo

Now with that out of the way, isn't it nice we are not reviewing a number 1? Hah!

Also do note that usually the covers are not necessarily relevant to the interiors and in this comic there are 2 tales. First up is the Soldier who is facing execution for being a traitor to the allies. Cue: flashback as he went on a mission and thought it was a success oblivious to the fact that while he was running around trying to be clever, for once, the Germans have some tricks up their own sleeves

So naturally at the end of this tale, our Soldier escapes. Otherwise no next issue eh? But this is not the end as he then have to find a way to clear his name

Now I am not a fan of short tales but this issue's back up or flipside is awesome. It's about 3 soldiers who are injured. One who is blind, one who is without leg use and such. And the hospital they are recuperating is suddenly under attack. The way they work together to take down the Germans is just plain intelligent ... although I find the last bit trying to make light rather .. off because that makes this tale feel more like an afternoon cartoon serial where a moral is pounded into your head at the end of each episode, know what I mean?

Ratings: 8/10

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