War is still hell, and hell, there is a lot of war in Dark Horse’s EC Archive Frontline Combat Volume 2.
This collection gathers up issues 7-11 of the 1950s title and fires them at us with crisp reproduction and bright colour. The list of artists who illustrate these war stories is a Who’s Who of the times: Alex Toth, Wally Wood, John Severin, Bill Elder, George Evans, Jack Davis, and Ric Estrada. Beautifully done.
The stories by Harvey Kurtzman are a bit similar to later writings of Robert Kanigher of DC war comics: the story of one soldier and his experiences. A small troupe of men, dealing with hardship. Depictions of famous battles that illuminate the drama better than a history book.
Dark Horse, EC Archives Frontline Combat volume 2, $49.99 for 184 pages, hardcover. Rated 14 years
Newsdesk