Fightin' Air Force
Encyclopedia
Fightin' Air Force was a bimonthly war comic published by Charlton Comics
from 1956
–1966. Telling fictional stories of American military pilots, it was a sister title of the other Charlton war comics Fightin' Army
, Fightin' Marines
, and Fightin' Navy
.
Regular contributors to Fightin' Air Force included Dick Giordano
(who illustrated many early covers), Sam Glanzman
, Jack Keller
, Rocke Mastroserio
, Bill Molno, Charles Nicholas, Jack Abel
, and inker Vince Alascia
. Editor Pat Masulli
helmed the book for most of its run.
The first issue of Fightin' Air Force was #3, published in February 1956. Early issues sported the tagline
"Jet Aces in Action." Issue #12 (Oct. 1958) was a 100-page special. Fightin' Air Force ceased publication with issue #53, dated Feb./Mar. 1966. Altogether, the title published 51 issues.
Beginning in June 1966, Charlton created a new war title, War and Attack, which took over the numbering of Fightin' Air Force. War and Attack mostly featured infantry stories based during World War II
; it published ten issues before it was cancelled with issue #63 (Dec. 1967).
, telling tales of American pilots battling the Japanese and the Germans. (Despite the title of the comic, the United States Air Force
wasn't formed as a separate branch of the military until 1947, after the conclusion of World War II; before that it was part of the United States Army
.) Some issues featured Korean War
stories, and a few went back to World War I
for material.
Regular text features told true stories of notable aircraft and famous aviation missions.
The title's last four issues (#50–53) hosted a recurring feature called "American Eagle," with art by Charles Nicholas and Vince Alascia
. The Eagles — a trio of flyers named "Reb" Folsom, "Hotrock" Hutchins, and "Ugly" Harrison Clymes — battled Baron von Kesselein, the "Flaming Sabre of Hitler," and other World War II villains.
Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
from 1956
1956 in comics
- Year overall :* Fredric Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent and the United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency hearings continue to negatively affect the comics marketplace...
–1966. Telling fictional stories of American military pilots, it was a sister title of the other Charlton war comics Fightin' Army
Fightin' Army
Fightin' Army was a bimonthly war comic published by Charlton Comics from 1956–1984...
, Fightin' Marines
Fightin' Marines
Fightin' Marines was a bimonthly war comic published by St. John Publications from 1951–1953, and Charlton Comics from 1955–1984, although it was primarily a reprint title from 1978 to the end of its run...
, and Fightin' Navy
Fightin' Navy
Fightin' Navy was a bimonthly war comic published by Charlton Comics from 1956–1966, and then again from 1983–1984...
.
Regular contributors to Fightin' Air Force included Dick Giordano
Dick Giordano
Richard Joseph "Dick" Giordano was an American comic book artist and editor best known for introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes, and serving as executive editor of then–industry leader DC Comics...
(who illustrated many early covers), Sam Glanzman
Sam Glanzman
Sam J. Glanzman is an American comic-book artist, best known for his Charlton Comics series Hercules, about the mythological Greek demigod; his biographical war stories about his service aboard the U.S.S...
, Jack Keller
Jack Keller (comics)
Jack R. Keller was an American comic book artist best known for his 1950s and '60s work on the Marvel Comics Western character Kid Colt, and for his later hot rod and racecar series at Charlton Comics.-Early life and career:...
, Rocke Mastroserio
Rocke Mastroserio
Rocco "Rocke" Mastroserio , who sometimes signed his work "Rocke M.", "RM", "Rocke" or "RAM", was an American comic book artist best known as a penciler and inker for Charlton Comics.-Early career:...
, Bill Molno, Charles Nicholas, Jack Abel
Jack Abel
Jack Abel a.k.a. Gary Michaels was an American comic book artist best known as an inker for leading publishers DC Comics and Marvel Comics. He was DC's primary inker on the Superman titles in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and inked penciler Herb Trimpe's introduction of the popular superhero...
, and inker Vince Alascia
Vince Alascia
Vincent Alascia , also known as Nicholas Alascia, was an American comic book artist known for his work on Captain America during the Golden Age of comics, and for his 23-year run as inker on a single creative team, with penciler Charles Nicholas Wojtkowski and writer Joe Gill at Charlton Comics...
. Editor Pat Masulli
Pat Masulli
Patrick J. Masulli was an American comic book creator, most notably as the executive editor of Charlton Comics from 1955–1966, during much of the Silver Age of Comic Books...
helmed the book for most of its run.
Publication history
As with many comic book titles published at the time, Fightin' Air Force did not start with issue number one; it was a renaming of a Charlton war comic called Never Again, which published two issues between August 1955–July 1956.The first issue of Fightin' Air Force was #3, published in February 1956. Early issues sported the tagline
Tagline
A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product , or to reinforce the audience's memory of a product...
"Jet Aces in Action." Issue #12 (Oct. 1958) was a 100-page special. Fightin' Air Force ceased publication with issue #53, dated Feb./Mar. 1966. Altogether, the title published 51 issues.
Beginning in June 1966, Charlton created a new war title, War and Attack, which took over the numbering of Fightin' Air Force. War and Attack mostly featured infantry stories based during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; it published ten issues before it was cancelled with issue #63 (Dec. 1967).
Features
Most of the stories in Fightin' Air Force take place during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, telling tales of American pilots battling the Japanese and the Germans. (Despite the title of the comic, the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
wasn't formed as a separate branch of the military until 1947, after the conclusion of World War II; before that it was part of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.) Some issues featured Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
stories, and a few went back to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
for material.
Regular text features told true stories of notable aircraft and famous aviation missions.
The title's last four issues (#50–53) hosted a recurring feature called "American Eagle," with art by Charles Nicholas and Vince Alascia
Vince Alascia
Vincent Alascia , also known as Nicholas Alascia, was an American comic book artist known for his work on Captain America during the Golden Age of comics, and for his 23-year run as inker on a single creative team, with penciler Charles Nicholas Wojtkowski and writer Joe Gill at Charlton Comics...
. The Eagles — a trio of flyers named "Reb" Folsom, "Hotrock" Hutchins, and "Ugly" Harrison Clymes — battled Baron von Kesselein, the "Flaming Sabre of Hitler," and other World War II villains.