Monsters Of War!

I stumbled across a very handsome trade collecting up all of the appearances of the exceedingly Bronze Age run of the Creature Commandos. For a short time, in an never-ending attempt to claw their back to the top, DC decided that all their comics needed an ongoing series, including their anthology ghost books. So in Ghosts we got "Dr.Thirteen Ghost Breaker", in House of Mystery we got "I, Vampire", and in Weird War Tales we got several with "The War the Time Forgot" and "G.I.Robot" alternating with the "Creature Commandos".

The Creature Commandos were comprised of Lt. Matthew Shrieve who was regular human soldier, Warren Griffith, a psychological lycanthrope who was transformed into a for-real furry werewolf, Sgt. Vincent Velcro, a prisoner who was chemically transformed into a vampire, the ironically named Pvt. Elliot "Lucky" Taylor who became a patchwork man or "Frankenstein Creature", and later Dr. Myrra Rhodes, a snake-headed gorgon. These doppleganger monsters were part of "Project M" which sought to bring the ultimate terror weapon to the battlefield.

Joe Kubert

The Creature Commandos debuted in the ninety-third issue of the run with a story by J.M. DeMatteis and some trim artwork by Pat Broderick and John Celardo. The idea of versions of the classic monsters fighting in WWII on the side of the Allies is supremely goofy and supremely attractive at the same time.

Ross Andru and Romeo Tanghal

They returned four issues later with Fred Carrillo taking on the art chores. Carrillo would become the main artist most identified with the series though he had lots of help.

Joe Kubert

But in issue one hundred the art on the feature which crossed over with "The War that Time Forgot", we have Bob Hall and Jerry Ordway handling things with a Mike Barr script.

Rich Buckler and Dick Giordano

Jim Aparo

 DeMatteis and Carrillo return for the next few issues.

Joe Staton and Bruce Patterson

Then Hall and Celardo return for a one-shot in the one hundred and eighth issue.

Rich Buckler and Frank Giacoia

Rich Buckler and Romeo Tanghal

Ross Andru and Frank Giacoia

Ross Andru and Romeo Tanghal

The next  four issues were written by DC veteran Robert Kanigher with the under-appreciated Dan Spiegle stepping for some very tasty artwork. The stories introduce a new member to the Commandos.

Ross Andru and Mike DeCarlo

Carrillo joins up with Kanigher in the hundred and fourteenth issue and this creative team finishes the run.

Gil Kane

Gil Kane

Rich Buckler and Romeo Tanghal

Gil Kane

Ross Andru and Mike DeCarlo

Trevor Von Eden

 As can be readily seen, the covers for this run were done by a veritable who's who of DC talent.

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