Fightin' Army
Encyclopedia
Fightin' Army was a bimonthly war comic published by Charlton Comics
from 1956
–1984
(though it was primarily a reprint title from 1978 to the end of its run). Telling fictional stories of the United States Army
, it was a sister title of the other Charlton war comics Fightin' Air Force
, Fightin' Marines
, and Fightin' Navy
.
In the late 1960s, Fightin' Army was the host of the ongoing feature "The Lonely War of Willy Schultz," written by Will Franz
and illustrated by Sam Glanzman
. Other notable contributors to Fightin' Army included Jon D'Agostino
, Sanho Kim
, Jack Keller
, Rocke Mastroserio
, and Warren Sattler
. Don Perlin
drew a majority of covers in 1972–1973. Editors Pat Masulli
(1957–1966) and George Wildman
(1971–1984) both had long tenures in charge of the title.
The title became Fightin' Army with issue #16, published in January 1956. Early issues of Fightin' Army sported such tagline
s as "Breathtaking Action Stories," "Action Packed Battle Stories," "Thrill Packed Combat," and "Rip-Snorting Combat Tales." Issues #120 – #126 (Sept. 1975 – Oct. 1976) featured painted covers.
Like the entire Charlton line, Fightin' Army went on a publishing hiatus between January and August 1977, issues #126 and #127. From issue #132 (Apr. 1978) onward, Fightin' Army was primarily a reprint title, mostly using material from earlier issues, as well as the 1963–1970 Charlton title Army War Heroes. Fightin' Army ran through issue #171, publishing a total of 157 issues.
was called "Weapons, Wars, and Wisdom." Reader letters were answered by the fictional "General Knowett."
The bulk of the stories in Fightin' Army take place during World War II
, but as the series moved along, more were set during the Korean War
. The Vietnam War
was only rarely featured, and only made the cover of two issues, #65 (Dec. 1965) and #135 (Nov. 1978).
feature called "The Lonely War of Willy Schultz," written by Will Franz
and illustrated by Sam Glanzman
. "Willy Schultz" was a departure from most other combat features of this time, with its conflicted hero caught between loyalties, in part because of his German heritage. During combat in the European Theater, U.S. Army captain Schultz is falsely accused and convicted of murder; he escapes and blends into the German Army
while seeking a way to clear his name and retain his Allied allegiance. The feature, reprinted as late as 1999, was serialized in Charlton's Fightin' Army #76-92 (Oct. 1967 - July 1970), skipping only issue #81.
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...
–1984
1984 in comics
-Year overall:* The independent publishing boom continues, as Antarctic Press, Continuity Comics, Deluxe Comics, Matrix Graphic Series, and Renegade Press all enter the arena...
(though it was primarily a reprint title from 1978 to the end of its run). Telling fictional stories 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...
, it was a sister title of the other Charlton war comics Fightin' Air Force
Fightin' Air Force
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...
, 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...
.
In the late 1960s, Fightin' Army was the host of the ongoing feature "The Lonely War of Willy Schultz," written by Will Franz
Will Franz
William "Willi" Franz is an American comic-book writer and occasional penciler, best known for his Charlton Comics war stories, mostly published during the period 1967–1970. Franz is particularly remembered for the ongoing feature "The Lonely War of Willy Schultz", a Vietnam War-era serial about a...
and illustrated by 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...
. Other notable contributors to Fightin' Army included Jon D'Agostino
Jon D'Agostino
John P. D'Agostino Sr., generally credited as Jon D'Agostino was an Italian-American comic-book artist best known for his Archie Comics work...
, Sanho Kim
Sanho Kim
Sanho Kim is a Korean comic book artist, considered the first artist working in a manhwa style to be published regularly in the United States...
, 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:...
, and Warren Sattler
Warren Sattler
Warren Sattler is an American artist and cartoonist, who contributed work to many popular publications from the early 1960s through the 1990s....
. Don Perlin
Don Perlin
Don Perlin is an American comic book artist and occasional writer best known for Marvel Comics' Werewolf by Night, The Defenders, and Ghost Rider...
drew a majority of covers in 1972–1973. Editors 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...
(1957–1966) and George Wildman
George Wildman
George Wildman , is an American cartoonist most noted for his work in the comic books industry. He was a top editor at Charlton Comics from 1971–1985, where he also became the long-time regular artist on Popeye comic books....
(1971–1984) both had long tenures in charge of the title.
Publication history
As with many comic book titles published at the time, Fightin' Army did not start with issue number one; it was a renaming of a series called Soldier and Marine Comics, which published five issues, numbered #11–15, from Dec. 1954 - Aug. 1955.The title became Fightin' Army with issue #16, published in January 1956. Early issues of Fightin' Army sported such 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...
s as "Breathtaking Action Stories," "Action Packed Battle Stories," "Thrill Packed Combat," and "Rip-Snorting Combat Tales." Issues #120 – #126 (Sept. 1975 – Oct. 1976) featured painted covers.
Like the entire Charlton line, Fightin' Army went on a publishing hiatus between January and August 1977, issues #126 and #127. From issue #132 (Apr. 1978) onward, Fightin' Army was primarily a reprint title, mostly using material from earlier issues, as well as the 1963–1970 Charlton title Army War Heroes. Fightin' Army ran through issue #171, publishing a total of 157 issues.
Features
The Fightin' Army letter columnComic book letter column
A comic book letter column is a section of a comic book where readers' letters to the publisher appear. Comic book letter columns are also commonly referred to as letter columns , letter pages, letters of comment , or simply letters to the editor...
was called "Weapons, Wars, and Wisdom." Reader letters were answered by the fictional "General Knowett."
The bulk of the stories in Fightin' Army take place 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...
, but as the series moved along, more were set during the 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...
. The Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
was only rarely featured, and only made the cover of two issues, #65 (Dec. 1965) and #135 (Nov. 1978).
"The Lonely War of Willy Schultz"
From 1967–1970, Fightin' Army ran an ongoing 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...
feature called "The Lonely War of Willy Schultz," written by Will Franz
Will Franz
William "Willi" Franz is an American comic-book writer and occasional penciler, best known for his Charlton Comics war stories, mostly published during the period 1967–1970. Franz is particularly remembered for the ongoing feature "The Lonely War of Willy Schultz", a Vietnam War-era serial about a...
and illustrated by 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...
. "Willy Schultz" was a departure from most other combat features of this time, with its conflicted hero caught between loyalties, in part because of his German heritage. During combat in the European Theater, U.S. Army captain Schultz is falsely accused and convicted of murder; he escapes and blends into the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
while seeking a way to clear his name and retain his Allied allegiance. The feature, reprinted as late as 1999, was serialized in Charlton's Fightin' Army #76-92 (Oct. 1967 - July 1970), skipping only issue #81.