Customer Reviews

The Enemy Ace Archives, Vol. 2 (DC Archive Editions)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kubert's graphics and Kanigher's stories continue to be compelling. This second volume is a collection of stories published during the late 60's and early 70's as Vietnam became an ongoing point of contention. Kanigher's story lines manage to be both compelling as to the times and yet maintain their basis in WW1 reality. The Enemy Ace series, as originally produced, wisely refused to politicize and in that alone made a strong humanistic statement. The Hammer of Hell flies on with all his personal demons and in the end, both he and the war itself are interwoven,intriguing protagonists.

I used to read DC Comics war stories when I was kid. Sgt Rock, Gunner & Sarge, Johnny Cloud, Haunted Tank and an occasional Capt Storm. But my favorite was Enemy Ace, Hans Von Hammer. Now his exploits (not all of them though) are collected in a two volume set. Joe Kubert was THE artist for war comics, showing war to be the gritty business that it was. Resigned to the fact that he is a killer in the skies, and that war is hell, he does what he feels is his duty to his Fatherland. Kubert actually took great care to render the drawings of airplanes as accurately as possible (even if some of the color schemes added to them were sometimes off), which was a big plus. While he doesn't have his own book anymore, Von Hammer does pop up from time to time, showing that he survived the First World War, flew in the Second (in all red Messerschmidts, without a swastika), and retained his Fokker Triplane after the war for some adventures in the Far East. Now if they would collect all of the American World War One pilot Steve Savage's stories in a hardbound trade paperback, I'd be very happy!

Growing up, I was a big comics fan. As far as war comics go, aside from "Nick Fury and His Howling Commandos," all my favorites were DC titles: "Sgt. Rock," "Haunted Tank" and, of course, "Enemy Ace." The combination of Bob Kanigher's gritty stories and Joe Kubert's dramatic, evocative artwork had me hooked from day one. Coming across THE ENEMY ACE ARCHIVES was a delight, enabling me to revisit treasured moments from so long ago.

VOLUME TWO contains Hans Von Hammer stories from 1969 to 1976. Many of those stories ably demonstrate the appeal of the Enemy Ace stories - the conflicted German super-ace who performs his duty even as he realizes the pointless nature of all the death and destruction.

Yet they also show why I drifted away from the Hans Von Hammer material. When he was pitted against normal, flesh-and-blood opponents, the Enemy Aces stories rang true. But when he started fighting French or British pilots that flew into combat wearing a hangman's hood and noose or a skeleton costume, that smacked of gimmickry to me. The ultimate was the RAF nutcase who flew a Sopwith Camel into battle wearing a suit of armor and claiming to be "St. George!" Gimme a break, guys. Dramatic license is one thing but there are limits even in a teenager's mind.

In any case, the "Enemy Ace" stories were entertaining yet also an education to young minds. They showed war wasn't glamorous or grand but pitiless and cruel. Pilots on both sides coped as best they could but did their duty nevertheless. THE ENEMY ACE ARCHIVES, VOLUME TWO offers up a good sampling of the tales of one such pilot. Recommended.

World war one airial combat was brutal and few men survived it. The average lifespan was two weeks; so those who lived on past that were either on borrowed time or just plain lucky. (and of course by then very skilled) The second volume of this series is as good as the first with inventive stories and great writing and art. The great artists Joe Kubert, Neil Adams, Russ Heath and Frank Thorne all lend their talents here. As one reviewer said there are a few stories featuring more colorfully costumed fliers, but after all The red baron lead a 'flying circus" of aircraft. He didn't survive but Herman Goring did , (he was a brave ace who later became a depraved man in every since of the word as he lead the next wars airforce) the lead character here; the war weary Van Hammer is a stand in for the doomed Rictoven (red baron) he even flies the same type of plane. The planes in these stories are historically accurate and if you want a great book on this era read 'no parachute' that book tells the whole terrible story very well. One character that is interesting in this book is the american 'baloon buster" who does not try to be a 'knight of the air' which most pilots were back then. your out of ammo? people let you go. (the united states sorta did that on the road of death in 1991) but not the next world war they blasted you to death , and this character hates that type of honor. In reality the man who blasted the red baron had that same mentality. that war was a brutal slaughter and he was going to kill every enemy in sight. The late bob Kaninger wrote some really excellent stories in his career and enemy ace was among his finest works. I would say though that they could have reprint somemore enemy ace stories that were printed later because this book is only 200 pages long. most archives are 250 pages long. and enemy ace had at least 30 more appearances in two other magazines. Another good thing is that this NOT scans of old comics it looks really nice and clean and that's how I like it. I can't understand this obsession with scans some people have. I think that this series is worthy for any war reader or comic fan to enjoy.

I was extremely pleased with this archival edition of The Enemy Ace. Other reviews posted here discuss the stories contained within this edition, but I want to comment on the quality of the materials used. This edition is beautifully executed with top quality paper and inks. The colors are vibrant and really showcase the beautiful artwork that is a hallmark of this series. Considering that this series was printed on cheap comic book paper when originally issued, this is probably the first time that these stories have been executed the way that they deserve. The cover is made from a beautiful simulated leather and the volume contains a short forward by the artist, Joe Kubert.