Weird Warriors always have my vote. If you are going to tell a war story, why not a weird one? I suppose this is because I grew up with DC’s Weird War Tales. (We always called it Weird War. Somehow that “tales” never registered.) As I graduated away from just reading comic books, I was always attracted to fiction like David Drake’s “Best of Luck” (Years’ Best Horror Stories VI, 1978). If you going to fight in Viet Nam, why not with werewolves? Robert R. McCammon hit the mark in novel form with The Wolf’s Hour (1989). When I finally got to see all the re-runs of The Twilight Zone, I gravitated to “Still Valley” a Manly Wade Wellman Civil War tale, or “The Quality of Mercy“, a Rod Serling script featuring Leonard Nimoy, Dale Ishimoto and Dean Stockwell. Even more recent history appeals. Jack Mackenzie’s “The Clatter of Dry Bones” is a Cthulhu Mythos tale set in the Iraq War.
Weird War Tales began in September-October 1971. It was intended to be hybrid of its sister comics, The House of Mystery, and the war comics of Joe Kubert, like Sgt. Rock. Changes in the Comics Code allowed more violence and horror elements. Editor, Joe Orlando, included diverse genres including Science Fiction. In amongst those largely WWII settings, occasionally a more remote setting would be used. As a Sword & Sorcery fan, tales of Samurai or Babylonians appealed more than the usual ‘Jerries and the Yanks’ scenarios.
Ancient Times
Issue 12 (March 1973) featured “God of Vengeance” set in ancient Egypt. It was written by Robert Kanigher and drawn by Gerry Talaoc. Circa 1000 BC, the Egyptian Hassup defies the god Anubis then fights the Persian Xeno. Hassup is victorious but a sandstorm strikes after the battle. He is buried up to the neck in sand and the jackels of Anubis strike!
Issue 59 (January 1978) “Death God” was written by Robert Kanigher with art by Russ Heath. In ancient Babylon, in the year 605 BC, a flying saucer appears during a battle. The ship releases a robot, which captures a beautiful maid. A shepherd fights and destroys the robot. The spaceship is lost in the desert sand. Von Danikan’s Chariot of the Gods must have inspired this one.
Issue 75 (May 1979) “Fire of the Gods” was written by Paul Kupperberg with art by Don Heck and John Celardo. In 334 BC, Alexander the Great and his army arrive in China. Alexander disregards the warnings of the local wise men, desiring their powerful weapon. A great explosion destroys his army. The Chinese knew that saltpepper and charcoal of the mountain could be used to make gunpowder.
Issue 12 (March 1973) “The Warrior and the Witch Doctors” was written by Arnold Drake with art by Don Perlin. 43 AD sees Claudius of Rome fighting the Britons. Druids capture him and send him into the future, where he suffers a mugger, cops chasing him, and finally sees a movie. From the film, he learns thousands of Celts wait in ambush at Keltford. The druids had meant to send him to hell but instead made him a great victor. Marvel would use this idea to send Conan into modern times (twice) in their What If comic.
Middle Ages
Issue 91 (September 1980) “Conquer or Die” was written by Bob Haney with art by Tom Sutton. Things go badly for King Harald on October 14, 1066, when comets mark his ill luck.
Issue 15 (July 1973) had “The Ultimate Weapon” written by Jack Oleck with art by Alfred Alcala. In 1190, during the Third Crusade, Sir Harry Anders cuts his way across the Middle East. When offered a magical weapon, he kills the wizard who offers it. Later he begins to notice a skull-shaped mark on his cheek. He is doomed. His companions also have the mark. He dies screaming mad. Another wizard explains the weapon he turned down. It is illusion. Anders died not by the sword, but suggestion.
Issue 103 (September 1981) had “The White Knight”, written by Paul S. Newman with art by Tom Yeates. In 1191, Crusaders face off against Saladin. Among them is a white knight who fights no matter what limbs are cut off. (It’s only a flesh wound!) The Arabs capture a young Englishman who tells them the white knight is only an illusion. Or is it?
Issue 92 (October 1980) “The Ravaging Raiders of Ruin” was written by Cary Burkett with art by Tom Sutton During the Third Crusade, Sir Edward the Crusader and his Saracen rival, Shazibak, see the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse before being transported to a magical realm of Prestor John. Armed with holy relics, the two men return to face the four riders individually, defeating them one at a time.
Issue 87 (May 1980) “The Hundred Year Curse” was written by Bill Kelley with art by Tom Sutton. In 1320 AD, a changeling named Jon is taken to a village in France. He grows up to be a strong and wily fighter, a man with a dark power aiding him. He fights during the time of Joan of Arc and the conflicts with England. His end comes while fleeing the British. He rides into Arnsworth Forest, not knowing it is filled with plague victims.
15th Century
“Old Samurai Never Die” in Issue 13 (April 1973) was written by Arnold Drake and has great art by Alex Nino. A Japanese lord chases Baron Saburo. His troops have not been paid in years, so looting is allowed. Next he has an actor pretend to be the ghost of Basutu, prince of the Samurai, to drive his troops on. When Saburo is surrounded, the lord dresses as a peasant to gain entry to Saburo’s castle. His own men hang him when they follow his orders–no mercy.
Issue 46 (May-June 1976) had “The Voodoo Warrior” written by George Kashdan with art by Jess Jodloman. Colonel Nunez and his conquistadors put down a revolt in the New World. The local shaman uses a voodoo doll to kill him. His zombie body returns to the Spanish to lead them to victory. His body laughs as his men are surrounded and slaughtered.
Issue 53 (May 1977) had “Something to Die For” written by Jack Oleck with art by Ernie Chan and Wayne Howard. In 1532, Conquistador Perez kills and lies for the wealth of the New World. The ghost of Santiago chases him until his ghostly horse kicks Perez in the head, leaving him dead with a horseshoe-shaped mark.
Issue 69 (November 1978) “The Soldiers From Heaven” was written by Arnold Drake with art by Bill Draut and Bob Smith. Spanish conquistadors come to the land of Metuka, the golden god. The natives believe the Spanish are servants of their giant god. The Spanish kill and rob the locals but Metuka takes revenge in the end.
16th Century
Issue 100 (June 1981) “The Scavengers” was written by John Warner with art by Vic Catan. Farmers Tenaka and Kojo meet Death, who leads an army for a great finale battle between Lord Takahara and his foes. In the end, only the farmers serve to live a life without war. This one is obviously inspired by the films of Akira Kurusawa.
17th Century
Issue 76 (June 1979) “The Wreck of the Ophelie” was written by Martin Pasko with art by Gerry Talaoc. Captain Gonfort and his ship, The Ophelie, are harassing the Hugenots. They capture one of them that proves to be a werewolf. The beast doesn’t attack Gonfort, because he heard the man pray. He, to, is a man of God. The captain releases all his prisoners and turns away from a life of evil.
The Big Finish
Issue 124 (June 1983) featured a full length tale called “Old Enemies Never Die”, which begins Part 1 in 453 AD with Europeans fighting against the Attila and the Huns. Part 2 goes to 1190 AD and knights. Later parts follow through modern wars and then into space and future wars. The human race destroys itself only to be reborn again, to fight once more. The story was written by Robert Kanigher with art by Topper Helmers.
I suppose this tale of eternal struggle with rebirth was a way of suggesting that the comic might be reborn at some later date. Hasn’t happened so far. 1983 saw the end of the DC anthology comics, the talents of the original artists, like Alex Nino, Alfred Alcala, E. R. Cruz. Vicente Alcazar and many others, long fled.
