Four-Fisted Tales

I'm a real big fan of the classic EC Comics from the 1950s. The long-defunct publisher was known for its horror and crime titles. Yes, one series that really stole my heart was Two-Fisted Tales. The creation of the great Harvey Kurtzman, the series showed the guts and no glory side of combat with a message of 'War is Hell'. Equally legendary artists Jack Davis, John Severin, Wally Wood, Alex Toth and DC's King of War Comics, Joe Kubert contributed to the series which lasted 24 issues. Though that might be a small run compared to G.I. Combat or Sgt. Rock, the legacy of Two-Fisted Tales has endured for decades.

So imagine my excitement last year when I read about this really cool graphic novel from Ben Towle (Amelia Earhart: The Broad Ocean.) Even though Four-Fisted Tales isn't related to those beloved EC Comics, the influence is clearly there. The cover, which shows an array of animals trudging behind a soldier reminds me of the Severin covers when the series shifted focus more on swashbuckling tales of action and adventure. There's that signature colored bar the runs vertically on the left-hand side. And the title with the hyphenated words larger than life. Believe me, when I saw this book being advertised in the trades, I thought I had been transported back to a newsstand in 1953!

Four-Fisted Tales explores the impact animals of various species and sizes have made on warfare- both ancient and modern. There's Hannibal's use of elephants to transverse the Alps. The long-standing tradition of cats being made crew members on naval ships. The importance of carrier pigeons on the western front of World War I to coordinate attacks, retreats and rescues. Towle's collection also features loyal dogs, the game-changing horse, even a bear as important tools in assisting in the war effort. Though not every animal is on the side of the good guys, their importance and assistance in never in doubt. 

There's even a little bit of that Harvey Kurtzman anti-war message in this book. Which if keeping with the spirit of the original series, I completely understand. But it also makes for the epilogue to have this fun and educational graphic novel to end on a low note. I acknowledge; war isn't pretty. But with some of the more light-hearted and heart-warming stories that fill this book, I didn't expect it to end on such a bummer.

I'm hoping there will be a volume 2. I feel like there are so many more stories out there to be told of how the animal kingdom has been used to expand and conquer the kingdoms of human history. 

Worth Consuming

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Two-Fisted Tales #9 (Banned Comics Week)

 

Not everything EC published was considered subversive. William Gaines, who would eventually go on to publish Mad Magazine, published comics based on the Bible, classic works of fiction, and reprints of comic strips from highly circulated newspapers. But perhaps the most well regarded series published by EC was Two-Fisted Tales.

   These were macho stories that starred fighting men and dastardly villains. Many stories were to some degree historically accurate, if only in means of dress, armament and procedures of the soldiers depicted in this books. Two-Fisted Tales not only flew under the radar of the Senate hearings on Juvenile Delinquency but was also revived, albeit very briefly, after the establishment of the Comics Code Authority.

  Two-Fisted Tales has appeared in many movies and TV shows, often as a prop used by servicemen or 50s youths. The book is discussed as a favorite of Corey Feldman’s character in the film Stand By Me. The series was used as reading material by servicemen in various episodes of MASH.

   It’s interesting that I mention MASH because this issue which reprints Two-Fisted Tales #26, like the long-running classic sitcom, is set during the Korean War. This issue is devoted to an account of the Marine retreat at the Changjin Reservoir after over a million Chinese soldiers poured into North Korean to assist those armies that were looking at sure defeat by UN forces. (This event is also the focus of at least 2 episodes of MASH, when the camp has to bug-out and is mentioned again as a news flash over the intercom during a surgery scene.)

The retreat is broken down into 4 chapters drawn by such greats as Jack Davis, Harvey Kurtzman and of course, the master of EC war comics, John Severin. Chapter one explores how the Marines were literally ‘this close’ to victory in North Korea before the Chi-Com forces entered the war. Chapter 2 looks at both the American retreat as well as the advancement of the Chinese by focusing on both an American pilot and a Communist ensign who are trying to gain as much ground as possible.

Chapter 3 has the Americans almost ready to regroup before being attacked by ‘Banzai forces.” This forces which would attack after a series of vicious mortar barrages and then scare their American opponents by striking in complete darkness while banging cymbals and blaring trumpets. The attack causes one soldier to undergo ‘shell shock’ and again this experience was the plot of several episodes of MASH.

Lastly, we see the mass evacuation of the last remaining free port in UN control in North Korea. As troops manage to remove the citizens by boat and plane, American soldiers were destroying tons of food, ammo, and gasoline to prevent it from getting in the hands of the advancing enemy. This tragic tale of wanton destruction and pure waste is witnessed through the eyes of a tiny dog. It’s perhaps the saddest part of the entire story both making feel terrible sympathy for the puppy, that I know isn’t real and how this scene was played our 25 years later during the surrender of Saigon.

Hardly a gory comic, yes the spoils of war are real and they’re not downplayed. But EC didn’t hype the trauma for dramatic effect like in their other war comic Front-line Combat. If anything, the tone of this book was very patriotic and also a prayer for servicemen and women that were still over in Korea when this issue was first published in 1951.

To me, this was like reading an issue of MASH (if that ever existed but wouldn’t it have been awesome if it did?) The only things missing were a laugh track and a serviceman in drag.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars