Discover Why DC’s War Comics Deserve More Love Than Ever!

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The Justice Society of America (JSA) has historically served as a gateway to different eras in the DC Comics universe, reintroducing heroes from the Golden, Silver, and Bronze Ages of Earth-Two. In the latest JSA series, the team clashes with the Injustice Society, resulting in the loss of one of their own – Wildcat. JSA #8 is a flashback issue, transporting readers to World War II to unfold a story that illuminates the strategies of the Injustice Society. The narrative takes place immediately following Germany’s surrender and features characters that may be less familiar to newer DC Comics fans. The JSA collaborates with Sgt. Rock, one of comics’ most esteemed war heroes (even overtaking Nick Fury in this regard), and receives assistance from the Unknown Soldier and the Blackhawks. The appearance of these characters brought back memories of a facet of DC Comics that the publisher has neglected for quite some time – their WWII comics, such as Our Army at War.

Over the years, comic books have undergone significant transformations. From the late 1930s to the 1940s, superheroes were at the pinnacle of popularity, but comics also hosted detective stories, Westerns, horror, sci-fi, romance, pulp adventures, and war comics as well. However, the decline of superhero comics in the 1950s, largely due to Frederic Wertham’s influential book Seduction of the Innocent, opened up opportunities for other genres to shine. During this period, DC Comics was producing some exceptional non-superhero titles, even as they continued to publish Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman comics. The war heroes from DC are particularly impressive, and issue #8 of JSA offers a captivating insight into their appeal.

Sgt. Rock Was the Best of DC’s Many Amazing War Heroes

In contemporary times, even casual fans should recognize Sgt. Rock due to the announcement that DC Studios was developing a movie featuring the commander of Easy Company, although this project has been temporarily halted. Sgt. Rock made his debut in Our Army at War #83, created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert. Kubert would go on to become a key figure in DC’s war comics, co-creating characters such as the Unknown Soldier, the Losers, and the members of Easy Company. Kubert’s work on the Sgt. Rock series is widely regarded as some of the best, which explains his legendary status. Although DC hasn’t always kept all of his war comics in print, there are still ways to locate them. Sgt. Rock and Easy Company were relentless in their assaults against the Nazis, often turning the tide when victory seemed impossible. The Unknown Soldier’s tales were more akin to spy stories, with the master of disguise operating behind enemy lines, causing chaos. The Losers were a diverse team of soldiers from different branches — Johnny Cloud (pilot), Sarge Clay and Gunner Mackey (infantrymen), and William Storm (PT boat captain) — who fought the Axis powers utilizing their unique abilities. Additionally, there was the Haunted Tank, starring Jeb Stuart, the commander of a tank possessed by the spirit of Confederate general J.E.B. Stuart, sent by the spirit of Alexander the Great to aid in World War II. Indeed, that’s correct!

As a die-hard fan of cinema, I must clarify that when I speak of superheroes, I’m not referring to the Blackhawks specifically as they were initially born outside the realm of DC Comics. Their debut took place in Military Comics #1, published by Quality Comics back in 1941. The Blackhawks were a band of courageous pilots who volunteered their services against the Axis powers before the United States officially entered World War II. They utilized advanced fighter planes to wage war on Germany and Japan from their base on Blackhawk Island, where they also developed new technology to combat their enemies.

Later on, the Blackhawks earned their own comic series, and Quality Comics was eventually acquired by DC in 1956. Since then, the Blackhawks have been integrated into the DC continuity, with the contemporary Lady Blackhawk becoming a member of the Birds of Prey. The modern-day Blackhawks continue to fly state-of-the-art aircraft, offering their assistance to the superhero community in their battles.

Lastly, let me mention Rick Flag Sr., who first appeared on the scene in 1987 as part of the Suicide Squad’s origin story. After the disbanding of the Justice Society, Flag Sr. established Task Force X and has been integrated into DC’s war continuity despite his more recent origins.

DC Needs to Reprint Their War Comics

Many DC comic enthusiasts expressed great joy as whispers about DC Studios developing a Sgt. Rock film surfaced. It wasn’t just excitement for what could be a fantastic movie; it was also hopeful anticipation that this development might lead to the re-release of their classic war comics, such as “Our Army at War,” “G.I. Combat,” and the assorted Sgt. Rock series. Indeed, the prospect of reprinting Joe Kubert’s work, a comics legend renowned for his exceptional contributions to war comics, alone made it an enticing idea. Here’s hoping this project regains momentum soon.

It’s not unusual for JSA #8 to include some of DC’s war heroes, as they have been featured in various DC superhero comics. Rock was around until “Our Worlds at War” in the early 2000s. Seeing them again was fantastic! The war stories from DC, even those by Kubert, are top-notch. It might take some effort, but it’s worthwhile to track down these tales. Many of them were reprinted in DC’s Showcase series of black and white reprints, which can be found online or at comic book stores. These reprints only enhance Kubert’s work.

JSA #8 is on sale now.

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2025-06-08 03:10