Wee War Comics (1 Viewer)

[King & Country]

Hi Guys,

This subject cropped up on another thread but I just had to put in my tuppence worth.

As a child of the 1950’s and 1960’s I loved British War Comics...Probably my favourites were the “WAR PICTURE LIBRARY”...They published about 4 a month and, when I started to collect them, they cost just ten pence each (in real old British money not this Decimal crap).

As I’m sure some of my fellow Brits will recall the stories did often have a familiar ring to them...plucky, cheerful “Tommies” fighting off hordes of dastardly “Huns”...“Squareheads”...“Nips” and other assorted foreigners. As in real life the comic heroes had a whole slew of reverses at the beginning before British pluck, humour and downright better fighting ability drove the enemy from the field.

Like some others on the forum I learned my first foreign language...comic book German...from these little square black and white masterpieces.

“Achtung Spitfeuer...Britischer Schweinhund...and...For you Tommy ze war is over”...and so on.

Believe it or not I’ve still got a whole bunch of these little comics in my collection. Here’s a few examples...

Best wishes and happy collecting!
Andy C.

 

[rws591]

Hi Guys,

This subject cropped up on another thread but I just had to put in my tuppence worth.

As a child of the 1950’s and 1960’s I loved British War Comics...Probably my favourites were the “WAR PICTURE LIBRARY”...They published about 4 a month and, when I started to collect them, they cost just ten pence each (in real old British money not this Decimal crap).

As I’m sure some of my fellow Brits will recall the stories did often have a familiar ring to them...plucky, cheerful “Tommies” fighting off hordes of dastardly “Huns”...“Squareheads”...“Nips” and other assorted foreigners. As in real life the comic heroes had a whole slew of reverses at the beginning before British pluck, humour and downright better fighting ability drove the enemy from the field.

Like some others on the forum I learned my first foreign language...comic book German...from these little square black and white masterpieces.

“Achtung Spitfeuer...Britischer Schweinhund...and...For you Tommy ze war is over”...and so on.

Believe it or not I’ve still got a whole bunch of these little comics in my collection. Here’s a few examples...

Best wishes and happy collecting!
Andy C.

So October Dispatch

 

[Harrytheheid]

Hi Guys,

This subject cropped up on another thread but I just had to put in my tuppence worth.

As a child of the 1950’s and 1960’s I loved British War Comics...Probably my favourites were the “WAR PICTURE LIBRARY”...They published about 4 a month and, when I started to collect them, they cost just ten pence each (in real old British money not this Decimal crap).

Absolutely love them Andy, what a trip down memory lane. I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on the compendiums that are shortly going to be released on Amazon.
"Achtung, Hande Hoch, Englander Schwinehund"....etc. etc.

 

[Capitolron]

Andy

Those are great ! In America in the late '60's and 70's we had Sgt. Rock, Werid War Tales and the Unknown Soldier.

They were great and I have several myself. You can find many of these comics on Ebay today !!

Ron

 

[Rob]

I hear you Andy! They were a happy memory of my childhood.We all collected them as kids (some of us still do!!!)and have loads in the loft.As you say the National steroetyping was awful but no one seemed to notice in those days.All the Italians were cowardly and all the Japs were evil.Commando and War picture libary along with Battle were all good,its what pocket money was for!

Rob

 

[Harrytheheid]

I hear you Andy! They were a happy memory of my childhood.We all collected them as kids (some of us still do!!!)and have loads in the loft.As you say the National steroetyping was awful but no one seemed to notice in those days.All the Italians were cowardly and all the Japs were evil.Commando and War picture libary along with Battle were all good,its what pocket money was for!

Rob

There was sometimes a "Good German" who'd save the Tommy's from the "Bad German"......But the GG was invariably a bit of a weed.....I actually prefered the BG cos he fitted my perception of the archetypical Evil Nazi.

 

[Rob]

There was sometimes a "Good German" who'd save the Tommy's from the "Bad German"......But the GG was invariably a bit of a weed.....I actually prefered the BG cos he fitted my perception of the archetypical Evil Nazi.

And the Tommy and Good German always remained firm friends after the War!

Rob

 

[Harrytheheid]

And the Tommy and Good German always remained firm friends after the War!

Rob

That's right. And they'd go into business together in the new Germany. But the GG wasn't above inappropriate business practices. When Interpol found out that the books had been cooked, the poor Tommy inevitably ended up in the Dickensian Workhouse while the GG got away with it scot-free.

 

[Rob]

That's right. And they'd go into business together in the new Germany. But the GG wasn't above inappropriate business practices. When Interpol found out that the books had been cooked, the poor Tommy inevitably ended up in the Dickensian Workhouse while the GG got away with it scot-free.

. Another classic story type were the two who hated each other to start with and then gradually mutual respect grew,and ended on the last page with something like 'Well Bill your not half the total Prat i thought you were'!.

Rob

 

[Harrytheheid]

. Another classic story type were the two who hated each other to start with and then gradually mutual respect grew,and ended on the last page with something like 'Well Bill your not half the total Prat i thought you were'!.

Rob

Ha ha...That's right. Only Bob would be saying that through gritted teeth cos Bill was getting the medal.....

 

[Rob]

Ha ha...That's right. Only Bob would be saying that through gritted teeth cos Bill was getting the medal.....

Yes and the very last paragraph would read;

And although Bob deeply loathed,hated and despised Bill,they would always be friends!

Rob

 

[Eazy]

DONNER UND BLITZEN!

I have to get involved in this one!

Another classic situation was the one where you had a cowardly and stupid officer who had a great sergeant that would save the day.

Also there would be the one where a little guy who was bullied and picked on would turn out to be a deadly sniper or ace commando.

War and Battle picture library were superior to Commando comics. I always thought the art and stories were better.

My all time favourite is called Taken by Storm. It's set on D-Day and features a British Airborne regiment called the Sky Rats assaulting a German fortress. They use siege ladders and everything!
Again it has a hard as nails officer called Slade who has tough methods and who is despised by the Medic for pushing his men too hard.

But the Daddy of all war comics is Battle Picture Weekly. That had really gritty, violent and brutal stories in it and also had stories where the lead character was German.
My favourite was Kurt Slinger the Panzer G Man. But also good was Hellman of Hammer Force.
Top stories though were Darkie's Mob set in Burma, Johnny Red, a hurricane pilot flying with the Russians and Charley's War set in WW1.
Not forgetting my namesake Major Eazy of the LRDG who looked like a cross between James Coburn and Clint!

 

[Harrytheheid]

Yes and the very last paragraph would read;

And although Bob deeply loathed,hated and despised Bill,they would always be friends!

Rob

Spot on mate....LOL.

 

[Rob]

James,Harry,

Another thing that always made me smile was the things they said when they shot each other, the Brits would always say 'Eat lead Fritz' and the Germans would say 'Now die'!! the Japenese had a slight variation with 'Die Pig dog'!.Its amazing with all the talking done whilst in action the War was won at all!.I think James is right about the other comics being superior,however as a small kid i think the Commando front covers were more attractive.

Rob

 

[Eazy]

Hande Hoch Englander. Raus, Raus schweinhund.

Schnell!!!

 

[Eazy]

James,Harry,

Another thing that always made me smile was the things they said when they shot each other, the Brits would always say 'Eat lead Fritz' and the Germans would say 'Now die'!! the Japenese had a slight variation with 'Die Pig dog'!.Its amazing with all the talking done whilst in action the War was won at all!.I think James is right about the other comics being superior,however as a small kid i think the Commando front covers were more attractive.

Rob

LOL Rob yes the Japanes always said "Die Pig Dog"
other great Japanese phrases are "Banzai", "By Shinto" and "AIEEEEEEE"

 

[Rob]

LOL Rob yes the Japanes always said "Die Pig Dog"
other great Japanese phrases are "Banzai", "By Shinto" and "AIEEEEEEE"

Yeah, do think anyone ever actually said AIEEEEEEE!! When they were shot?.More like S*********t!!!

Rob

 

[Rob]

Hande Hoch Englander. Raus, Raus schweinhund.

Schnell!!!

Yeah that never went down well with my French teacher at primary school!!

 

[Harrytheheid]

DONNER UND BLITZEN!

I have to get involved in this one!

Another classic situation was the one where you had a cowardly and stupid officer who had a great sergeant that would save the day.

Also there would be the one where a little guy who was bullied and picked on would turn out to be a deadly sniper or ace commando.

War and Battle picture library were superior to Commando comics. I always thought the art and stories were better.

My all time favourite is called Taken by Storm. It's set on D-Day and features a British Airborne regiment called the Sky Rats assaulting a German fortress. They use siege ladders and everything!
Again it has a hard as nails officer called Slade who has tough methods and who is despised by the Medic for pushing his men too hard.

But the Daddy of all war comics is Battle Picture Weekly. That had really gritty, violent and brutal stories in it and also had stories where the lead character was German.
My favourite was Kurt Slinger the Panzer G Man. But also good was Hellman of Hammer Force.
Top stories though were Darkie's Mob set in Burma, Johnny Red, a hurricane pilot flying with the Russians and Charley's War set in WW1.
Not forgetting my namesake Major Eazy of the LRDG who looked like a cross between James Coburn and Clint!

This post is just so TRUE...!!! I also thought that WAR and Battle were superior to Commando, but the Commando front covers were great as well.
Battle Picture Weekly was exactly as you describe. Och, the nostagia's too much. Time to watch The Battle Of Britain AGAIN. Followed by Dunkirk, Cockellshell Heroes, In Which We Serve, Battle Of The River Plate, Sink The Bismark and think I'll round things up around 04:00AM with Benny Hill - The Naughty Collection.

 

[Rob]

Dunkirk is a very good film,also try 'Danger within' POW camp drama.Also Very good.But for home front action you need 'Went the day well'.

Rob