by Emmanuel Guibert, with Alan Cope
When Alan Cope was eighteen, he joined the army and went off to fight in World War II. Like every American, he felt a patriotic fervor burning in him after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. But he had little idea what he was getting into by enlisting. This graphic memoir tells the story of his life during wartime, of his journey from his home on the west coast to basic training in Kentucky to leave in New York City, to the battlefields of France, to the terrors of the Bulge and General Patton's drive on Germany and Prague. Told with poignant intimacy and matchless artistry, Alan's War was born from a friendship between Alan and the graphic novel creator Emmanuel Guibert, who created a deeply personal and moving graphic novel from the stories Alan told him of his wartime experiences. An award-winner when it was serialized in Guibert's native France, this moving story of an American's experiences during the Second World War now finds its audience in his homeland.

By the time it was launched in 1961, "Battle Picture Library" already had two stablemates at Fleetway Publications - "War Picture Library" and "Air Ace Picture Library". To avoid any conflicts with its sister magazines, Battle concentrated solely on stories based on land, although the authors and artists had plenty of scope when deciding on settings for their tales of action and adventure.Stories such as "Fort Blood" or "The Fire-Eater" pit our fighting men against their bitter enemies in the heat and dust of the desert while "The Flame and the Fury" or "The Island of Guilt" see them slogging their way through the intense tropical humidity of the darkest jungles."The Let 'Em Have It" collection features some of the finest stories ever to appear in the "Battle Picture Library" series, providing hours of entertainment for fans of fighting yarns whether they be revisiting the classic comic book series they remember from their youth, or whether they are going into Battle for the first time!

Written by Archie Goodwin and drawn by such luminaries as Frank Frazetta, Wally Wood, John Severin, Alex Toth, Al Williamson, Russ Heath, Reed Crandall, and Gene Colan, Blazing Combat was originally published by independent comics publisher James Warren in 1965 and ’66. Following in the tradition of Harvey Kurtzman’s Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat, Goodwin’s stories reflected the human realities and personal costs of war rather than exploiting the clichés of the traditional men’s adventure genre. They were among the best comics stories about war ever published.

Blazing Combat ended after its fourth issue when military post exchanges refused to sell the title due to their perception that it was an anti-war comic. Their hostility was fueled by the depiction of the then-current Vietnam War, especially a story entitled “Landscape,” which follows the thoughts of a simple Vietnamese peasant rice-farmer who pays the ultimate price simply for living where he does - and which was considered anti-war agitprop by the more hawkish members of the business community.

Writer Archie Goodwin and the original publisher James Warren discuss the death of Blazing Combat and market censorship as well as the creative gestation of the series in exclusive interviews.

Writre: Pat Mills Artist Joe Colquhoun
In 1916, Charley Bourne lies about his age to enlist and fight on the battlefields of France. But thoughts of glory and patriotism are swept aside by the bloody artillery barrage of horror and needless sacrifice amidst the trenches of the First World War.
Rich in the detailed minutiae of the terror-punctuated existence of a ‘Tommy’, Charley’s War features a brand new introduction and ‘director’s commentary’ by Pat Mills, a cultural history of the comic, and an essay on the Battle of the Somme.

Writer: Pat Mills
Artist: Joe Colquhoun
The second volume of the universally popular First World War comic strip arrives! It is now the late summer of 1916. Though Charley has survived the early days of the Somme, treachery on both sides of the wire means tragedy lies in store for him as he desperately tries to survive... Rich in the terror-punctuated existence of a 'Tommy', this new volume of Charley's War features a brand new introduction and 'director's commentary' by Pat Mills, plus exclusive extra content!

Writer: Pat Mills
Artist: Joe Colquhoun
Collects episodes #60-83 of the classic British war tale, originally published in Battle. Charley is caught in a desperate fight for survival against the ‘Judgment Troopers’. Injured in battle, he returns home to convalesce ... only to discover that the Germans have brought the war to London!
Features a brand new introduction and ‘director’s commentary’ by Brit comics legend Pat Mills, plus a feature on WWI air-raids. Unusually for the time, this series avoids the usually jingoistic, Boy’s Own adventure type descriptions of war, being much more realistic and gritty; one of the best war strips to come out of British comics.

Writer: Pat Mills Artist: Joe Colquhoun
Renowned UK comics writer Pat Mills (Marshal Law, Slaine) and legendary artist Joe Colquhoun (Johnny Red) continue the thrilling, humorous and horrifying story of World War One soldier Charley Bourne. Home from the war thanks to an injury, Charley escapes from a terrifying air-raid, only to run into a deserter from the Foreign Legion - who tells him of the awful siege of Fort Vaux, even as both men run for their lives from the Military Police! Rich in the detailed minutiae of the terror-punctuated existence of a Tommy, this fourth volume of Charley's War features a brand new introduction by Tariq Goddard and director's commentary by Pat Mills, plus exclusive bonus content.

by Pat Mills & Joe Colquhoun
Renowned UK comics writer Pat Mills (Marshal Law, Sláine) and legendary artist Joe Colquhoun (Johnny Red) continue the thrilling, humorous and horrifying story of World War One soldier Charley Bourne. Returning to the front, Charley is reunited with old comrades Weeper and Old Bill - and, unfortunately, bully Grogan and the vile Lieutenant Snell. As the bullets fly and bombs fall, Charley faces as much danger from his own ranks as from the enemy's! Rich in the detailed minutiae of the terror-punctuated existence of a Tommy, this fifth volume of Charley's War features a brand new introduction and director's commentary by Pat Mills, plus exclusive bonus content.

'Achtung!', 'Gott in Himmel!', 'Donner und Blitzen!' For the generations of men whose obsession with military history was triggered by reading war comics in their youth, here at last, is Commando's ultimate collection of Second World War stories. The Dirty Dozen showcases the best of the best - and 25 per cent bigger than the originals, so old guys can read the strips without their glasses! Chosen by current Editor George Low, the brilliantly drawn stories in this classic collection range from backs-to-the-wall heroics at Dunkirk and Battle of Britain dogfights, through desert warfare in North Africa and daring commando raids behind enemy lines, to tough battles across Europe from D-Day to VE Day. For everyone whose comic-book battle lust has ever been stirred by Nazi cries of 'Die! Englischer schweinhund', The Dirty Dozen will transport them right back into fictional combat situations they'd forgotten were so much fun. Aaarrghh!

'Achtung!', 'Banzai!', 'Donner und Blitzen!' For the generations of men whose obsession with military history was triggered by reading war comics in their youth, here at last, is Commando's toughest-ever collection of Second World War stories. "True Brit" showcases the best fighting action - on land, sea and air - from over 40 years of Commando comics - and 25 per cent bigger than the originals, for high-explosive impact! Chosen by current Editor George Low, the brilliantly drawn stories in this classic collection range from daring bomber raids over Germany, through close-combat jungle fighting against hard-as-nails Japanese, and depth-charge blasted submarine warfare, to hard-hitting battles across North Africa, Italy and northern Europe. For everyone whose comic-book battle lust has ever been stirred by Nazi cries of 'Englander schweinhund', "True Brit" will transport them right back into fictional combat situations they'd forgotten were so entertaining, and a whole new generation can discover how Commando turns ordinary men into heroes. Aaarrghh!
more Commando action here

No collection of Commando war stories, the very best in action and adventure, although born and bred in Britain, would be complete without plenty of issues resounding to phrases like 'cobber', 'drongo' or 'pom'. Yes, the Aussies and Kiwis are here, and they're about to put in a two-fisted, explosive performance. You'd expect no less from these larger-than-life characters that are guaranteed to bring out the best in any action-packed Commando yarn. For everyone whose comic-book battle lust has ever been stirred by Nazi cries of 'Auslander schweinhund!' or Japanese shrieks of 'Banzai!' "Anzacs at War" will transport them right back into fictional combat situations they'd forgotten were so entertaining, and a whole new generation can discover how Commando turns ordinary men into heroes.

Everybody who has ever turned a page of a "Commando" war library has a favourite air story. The first thing to catch the attention are the names...Spitfire, Hurricane, Typhoon, Tempest, Whirlwind, Mosquito. Who wouldn't want to read a story with aircraft like that twisting and turning through the pages, machine guns or cannon flaming?And then there are the men who flew the fighters, bombers, seaplanes, flying boats and transport aircraft into combat. These pilots of every nationality had one aim...to make sure that they won their deadly duels high in the sky."Commando: Bandits at 12 O'Clock" is a collection of some of the finest and most exciting air adventures ever published by "Commando", so strap in, buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Written by Garth Ennis and Robert Kanigher; art by Chris Weston, Russ Heath, Christian Alamy and JoeKubert; From 1914 to 1918, Hans Von Hammer earned the nickname "The Hammer of Hell" in the bloody skies of World War I. Now it's World War II, and blood rains from the skies once again! Von Hammer, the finest pilot Germany has ever known, is now a 46-year-old man with plenty of enemies in the Nazi regime. This edition also includes a classic World War One Enemy Ace tale by creators Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert reprinted from STAR-SPANGLED WAR STORIES #139!

Written by DOUG MURRAY
Penciled by MIKE GOLDEN & WAYNE VANSANT
Cover by MICHAEL GOLDEN
Don't worry about choosing sides, because this far into the heart of darkness, things get pretty gray. Follow Private Ed Marks and his fellow soldiers through a jungle of blood, lies, betrayal and valor. It's the war that defined a generation, where the heroes may not be super, but they're all too human. Collecting THE 'NAM #1-10.

(w) Doug Murray

It's 1967, and you are there but how long will the men of the 23rd Infantry Division be able to say the same? Marvel's groundbreaking saga of the Vietnam War continues with flashbacks on the front, worries in the world (a.k.a. back home) and murder in the ranks. Plus: the first appearance of Mike Ice, Phillips, one of the few soldiers who stayed with the series until nearly its end. Collecting THE 'NAM #11-20.

Written by Robert Kanigher; Art by Joe Kubert, Jerry Grandenetti, Irv Novick and Russ Heath;
A digest-sized collection reprinting SGT. ROCK'S PRIZE BATTLE TALES, plus stories from the pages of G.I. COMBAT and OUR ARMY AT WAR! It's 10 classic stories featuring nonstop action direct from the Silver Age of comics!

more info

STAFF PICK!
Writer: David Axe
Artist: Steve Olexa
War can be addictive. So testifies journalist David Axe who’s been there, in the middle of the action in Iraq. The high is potent no matter how much you know how dangerous it is... Here’s Axe’s journal of dealing with his addiction, the high, the sheer excitement of being in there, in the battle, the cost to his life, never mind the threat. A new form of visceral self-analyzing comics journalism starts with this book... An allegory for the US? A graphic novel sure to fascinate with a talented artist to watch for!

Writer Garth Ennis
Pencils Howard Chaykin
Cover By John Cassaday
Set against the grim backdrop of Word War I, mysterious aviator Karl Kaufmann arrives on the western front dressed outlandishly and at the controls of his own plane. Overconfident and full of romantic ideals, he has come to fight and kill the Hun. But soon Kaufmann confronts staggering loss and witnesses violence on a scale he has never imagined. In the process, he learns the harsh truth of conflict: war is hell. Collecting War Is Hell: The First Flight Of The Phantom Eagle #1-5.

Written by Garth Ennis; art by Dave Gibbons, John Higgins, David Lloyd, Chris Weston and Gary Erskine; Collecting the first four 56-page one-shots from writer Garth Ennis' acclaimed WAR STORY run at VERTIGO, this 240-page collection features some of the finest war comics ever to see print in the modern age. A labor of love by Ennis , WAR STORIES VOL. 1 tells four very different stories from four of the countless viewpoints on World War II. WAR STORIES VOL. 1 also includes a new afterword by Ennis.
Reprints the first 4 original one shots: JOHANN'S TIGER, D-DAY DODGERS, SCREAMING EAGLES & NIGHTINGALE.

Written by Garth Ennis; Art by Cam Kennedy, David Lloyd, Carlos Ezquerra and Gary Erskine; Design cover
Reprinting the second quartet of WAR STORY one-shots from acclaimed writer Garth Ennis. This collection showcases tales of a world at war from the North African desert, the skies over Germany, the battlefields of Spain and the waters of the North Atlantic, with a new afterword by Ennis.
Vertigo | 240pg. | Color | Mature Readers