G.I. Combat #59
"Have Bazooka -- Will Travel!"
April, 1958
Story: Unknown
Art: Russ Heath
The Bazooka Man has arrived, but the machine gunners don't need a
bazooka, and are doing just fine. KPOW! Two soldiers firing from cover
are doing fine, as well. VOOOMP! The Bazooka Man sees that things are
going well for the mortar crew. Things can change when you "Have Bazooka
-- Will Travel!"
Al the Bazooka Man goes off in search of a war -- but he is not having
much luck. The others figure that the bazooka will be getting mighty
rusty by the time he's ready to use it. One soldier yells out to Al if
he could shoot off an apple from his head. Another soldier asks he could
shoot down some duck for dinner. KWHAMMA! KLANKETY KLANK The bazooka
was his constant traveling companion -- and both soon come across a tank
in trouble. An Eighty-Eight had nailed the tank crew, and they have no
way to return fire. Al and his bazooka have arrived just in time... The
tank will now have some much-needed firepower. Have Bazooka -- Will
Travel! WHOOM As they rattle their way through the brush... on the
trail of the Eighty-Eight, the tank comes under fire again. The crew
asks Al to open up with the bazooka, but he knows that they're too far
away.
The 88 was dead ahead, against the rocky hillside... BAM! The tank crew
want to hear the bazooka in action, but Al is not ready to carry the tune
just yet. CLANK-CLANK! They want him to open up his X-Mas present for
the Eighty-Eight, but this particular package needs to be sent special
delivery... CLANK - CLANK - CLANK - Right to their doorstep! WHROOSH
BLANGG Right on delivery.
The tank heads off for some much needed repairs, and Al kept walking
until he met up with one of their patrols. Unfortunately for the Bazooka
Man, the last thing they need is a noisemaker on the trip. RATTA TATTA
More work comes up for Al when he hears some enemy MG fire. After
heading towards the source of the MG fire, he sees that one of their
recon planes and its pilot in directly in the MG's fire. VIIP! VIIP!
VIIP! Al tells the pilot to get his buggie moving, and the airman is
game. RRRRR! The Bazooka Man is to be the recon plane's wing gun.
VIIP! VIIP! BWEEE! They're getting closer... RATATAT! RATAT!
Closer...
RATATATAT! POW! With the prop gone, they're about as close as they're
ever going to get. Al's in good with his bazooka! WHROOSH KAWHAMMM
After the pilot has been picked up -- the Bazooka Man is back walking in
the woods, and greets another patrol who have no use for a noisemaker
giving their position away. He keeps on walking... where an amphibious
transport is supposed to head downstream with some explosives for an
engineering outfit. The banks are filled with enemy riflemen. (Holy
Chuck Connors, Batman!) Fortunately for them, they'll soon have bazooka
-- will travel!
KPOW! KPOW! POW! POW! As they travel downstream, the transport crew
wonders how a single bazooka will be able to handle snipers. Al assures
them that the bazooka will kick up some dust. WHOOSH Rifles and helmets
are soon flying in the air from the impromptu dust storm. The "duck" has
arrived with its cargo for the engineers... When they ask Al what he'll
be doing from here, the Bazooka Man says that he'll keep on traveling
down the road -- with his bazooka!
The Grand Comics Database does not have this issue listed, so I can't
identify the writer, but the artist is definitely Russ Heath.
Richard Boone as Paladin was on "Have Gun -- Will Travel!" I wonder how
a show entitled "Have Bazooka -- Will Travel!" would have fared on prime
time television back then?
As a child, I would take a vacuum cleaner tube, place it on one shoulder,
and pretend that I was using a bazooka.
My first chance to play with a "tank" was on the Atari 2600, and the
Combat Tank cartridge. Things were really pinging and ponging back then.
In this April, 1958 story, Al the Bazooka Man is shown smoking a
cigarette for three panels on page 2.
When trying to knock on the door of an Eighty-Eight, a bazooka is a
heckuva knocker.
The recon plane pilot resembles the late actor, Tyrone Power.
Thanks to Al, the pilot has got a wing gun, and a prayer against the
enemy MG.
Steve Chung
"Have Bazooka -- Will Review!"
The archives of the Silver Age Reviews Yahoo Group, celebrating that classic era of comic books published between 1956 and 1972! (And occasionally beyond!)
Showing posts with label GI Combat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GI Combat. Show all posts
G.I. Combat #52: "The Big Sweep!"
G.I. Combat #52
"The Big Sweep!"
September, 1957
Script: Unknown
Art: Russ Heath
The submarine and its crew haven't seen much action, but things would
change when they make... "The Big Sweep!" After an enemy plane is
sighted, a crash dive is ordered, and the Skipper knows how little used
their torpedo tubes have been.
WHAM The sub takes on ballast and dives! WHAM CRUNCH The bombs
dropped by the enemy plane dive quickly... and the submarine soon finds
itself dashed against the reefs... With their sub wrecked, the Skipper
orders all hands to abandon ship, and carry any weapons they can. The
four thousand, one hundred and fifty tons of United States Submarine is
now so much junk. After this seeming failure, the Skipper remembers the
day he took his first command. After a series of assignments, he asked
his commanding officer about possible combat duty. All that's going on
is a mine patrol assignment.
WHAM He had heard from the other skippers who had downed their targets
with torpedos... Other submarine crews returned with their victory
brooms in the air, a sign of a clean mine sweep. For this Skipper and
his crew, their only sweep has been -- upon the deck. Back on the beach,
he knows that their chances of returning with a clean sweep are low.
TAKKATAKKA! They all hear the MG fire coming from the thickets of this
island's jungle. The Skipper orders his crew to crash dive, then
discovers to his dismay that you can't get into the sand -- as easily as
you can in water. VIIP! BWEEE! VIIP!
RATTA TATTA The MG nest is well-hidden, an unlikely target for
torpedoes. Whether he is on land or at sea, the Skipper is the one who
gives orders... The crew is to strike at their unseen enemies from port
-- and starboard. BUDDA BUDDA VIIP! VIIP! VIIP! It is the Skipper
himself who rushes directly towards the MG nest -- TAKKATAKKA!
BUDDABUDDA! BUDDABUDDA His tommy gun firing at all times. BUDDA BUD
BEEOW Just as a torpedo may find its target -- so can a crew hit the MG
nest... Another target has been spotted on the other side of the island,
and had first been seen when they came to the portside. The Skipper
follows his crew to a nearby ridge... Their small arms against an enemy
cruiser which is being loaded with ammunition.
The Skipper has an idea... They will take on the enemy destroyer -- in
true Navy fashion! Since they are in need of torpedoes, the "ashcans"
being loaded will suit their purposes. After making their way down to
where the ashcans are stored, the unsuspecting sentries are sunk swiftly
from sight. The fuses are set, but when they make their way up the rise
once more -- BLAM POW... they are spotted. The first ashcan rolls down
the ridge -- FIRE ONE! The special "torpedo" is on its way down... BAM!
BAM!
It's a miss! BAM! Another ashcan rolls down...WHUMP It explodes on the
dock... BLAM! The third and final ash can bounces its way onto the deck
of the enemy destroyer... BLAM! After being spotted by a search plane,
the Skipper and his crew return to base aboard a submarine. Each man
walks proudly... smiling and carrying their victory brooms... The big
sweep has been made at last!
The Grand Comics Database does not have this issue listed, but it is a
definite must-read, indeed.
It answers the question about how well a submarine would do against a
plane.
With the fine art of Russ Heath and the effective lettering from an
unknown letterer, it's not hard to get into the story.
There are excellent coloring sequences, such as when the purple submarine
crashes against the brown reefs in murky blue waters.
The sun is shining from behind the crew, with their backs colored in
orange, red, and yellow hues.
The Skipper and his crew may be at a loss on land, but they are not
ostriches when it comes to being in the sand.
The Asian enemy soldiers are seen in one panel, framed against lush
greenery, and brown tree trunks. They are colored grey as they fire from
the shadows.
As the Skipper runs along the hot sand towards the MG nest, we can see
the footprints left in the orange areas, and the reddish sound effects
grow larger once they're near the target.
The men are tiny figures as they descend down a brown ridge, past green
foliage, and towards a waiting purple destroyer on blue water.
Once they sneak up to the sentries guarding the ash cans, they are
colored as blue as Blackhawks.
The ash can torpedo has a few panels to itself and plays its role to the
hilt.
Back at the base, the Skipper and the crew can be assured that they've
seen more action than you could shake a broom at.
Steve Chung
"The Big Review!"
"The Big Sweep!"
September, 1957
Script: Unknown
Art: Russ Heath
The submarine and its crew haven't seen much action, but things would
change when they make... "The Big Sweep!" After an enemy plane is
sighted, a crash dive is ordered, and the Skipper knows how little used
their torpedo tubes have been.
WHAM The sub takes on ballast and dives! WHAM CRUNCH The bombs
dropped by the enemy plane dive quickly... and the submarine soon finds
itself dashed against the reefs... With their sub wrecked, the Skipper
orders all hands to abandon ship, and carry any weapons they can. The
four thousand, one hundred and fifty tons of United States Submarine is
now so much junk. After this seeming failure, the Skipper remembers the
day he took his first command. After a series of assignments, he asked
his commanding officer about possible combat duty. All that's going on
is a mine patrol assignment.
WHAM He had heard from the other skippers who had downed their targets
with torpedos... Other submarine crews returned with their victory
brooms in the air, a sign of a clean mine sweep. For this Skipper and
his crew, their only sweep has been -- upon the deck. Back on the beach,
he knows that their chances of returning with a clean sweep are low.
TAKKATAKKA! They all hear the MG fire coming from the thickets of this
island's jungle. The Skipper orders his crew to crash dive, then
discovers to his dismay that you can't get into the sand -- as easily as
you can in water. VIIP! BWEEE! VIIP!
RATTA TATTA The MG nest is well-hidden, an unlikely target for
torpedoes. Whether he is on land or at sea, the Skipper is the one who
gives orders... The crew is to strike at their unseen enemies from port
-- and starboard. BUDDA BUDDA VIIP! VIIP! VIIP! It is the Skipper
himself who rushes directly towards the MG nest -- TAKKATAKKA!
BUDDABUDDA! BUDDABUDDA His tommy gun firing at all times. BUDDA BUD
BEEOW Just as a torpedo may find its target -- so can a crew hit the MG
nest... Another target has been spotted on the other side of the island,
and had first been seen when they came to the portside. The Skipper
follows his crew to a nearby ridge... Their small arms against an enemy
cruiser which is being loaded with ammunition.
The Skipper has an idea... They will take on the enemy destroyer -- in
true Navy fashion! Since they are in need of torpedoes, the "ashcans"
being loaded will suit their purposes. After making their way down to
where the ashcans are stored, the unsuspecting sentries are sunk swiftly
from sight. The fuses are set, but when they make their way up the rise
once more -- BLAM POW... they are spotted. The first ashcan rolls down
the ridge -- FIRE ONE! The special "torpedo" is on its way down... BAM!
BAM!
It's a miss! BAM! Another ashcan rolls down...WHUMP It explodes on the
dock... BLAM! The third and final ash can bounces its way onto the deck
of the enemy destroyer... BLAM! After being spotted by a search plane,
the Skipper and his crew return to base aboard a submarine. Each man
walks proudly... smiling and carrying their victory brooms... The big
sweep has been made at last!
The Grand Comics Database does not have this issue listed, but it is a
definite must-read, indeed.
It answers the question about how well a submarine would do against a
plane.
With the fine art of Russ Heath and the effective lettering from an
unknown letterer, it's not hard to get into the story.
There are excellent coloring sequences, such as when the purple submarine
crashes against the brown reefs in murky blue waters.
The sun is shining from behind the crew, with their backs colored in
orange, red, and yellow hues.
The Skipper and his crew may be at a loss on land, but they are not
ostriches when it comes to being in the sand.
The Asian enemy soldiers are seen in one panel, framed against lush
greenery, and brown tree trunks. They are colored grey as they fire from
the shadows.
As the Skipper runs along the hot sand towards the MG nest, we can see
the footprints left in the orange areas, and the reddish sound effects
grow larger once they're near the target.
The men are tiny figures as they descend down a brown ridge, past green
foliage, and towards a waiting purple destroyer on blue water.
Once they sneak up to the sentries guarding the ash cans, they are
colored as blue as Blackhawks.
The ash can torpedo has a few panels to itself and plays its role to the
hilt.
Back at the base, the Skipper and the crew can be assured that they've
seen more action than you could shake a broom at.
Steve Chung
"The Big Review!"
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