Who doesn't love The Losers? Well I guess lots of people or they wouldn't be the Losers, a truly ragtag ensemble of characters who fought together in World War II after losing their own individual features. Captain Storm (a sailor), Captain Johnny Cloud (a flyer) and Gunner and Sarge (two grunts) are a quartet who find danger in all the theaters of the war eventually as their series tumbled along between the covers of Our Fighting Forces. Even the great Jack Kirby took a stab a the book at one point. But here the great John Severin is the artist and Robert Kanigher was the writer of a tale which hooked the Losers up with some fighters from the Jewish Brigade. This was a special team of fighters put together to not only fight in the name of those who were defenseless behind the Nazi lines, but would go on to for the basis for the Israeli army.
This story follows the Losers and the Jewish soldiers who take time to practice the faith which was being persecuted and at the same time blowing up a Nazi weapons depot. Seeing those Stars of David representing not just two brave warriors but also the millions who were expunged by the evil of the Third Reich.
Note: This post originally appeared at Rip Jagger's Other Dojo.
I'd love to have seen John Severin inking Jack Kirby's run on the mag. Now that really would've been something.
ReplyDeleteKirby had a powerful style that was largely impervious to inking. While the trend in his later years was to cleave to his pencils more like Royer did with panache, I liked the effect of powerful inkers like Romita, Everett, Sinnott, and Colletta on his work. His layouts could withstand strong inking and Severin would've done that. Didn't Severin work over Kirby layouts on some early issues of Nick Fury in Strange Tales? I might be remembering that wrongly.
DeleteYes, you're right, and they were truly excellent. That's why I'd have liked to see Severin ink The Losers - and also Thor, even if just the issues that Everett inked.
DeleteThose Everett issues of Thor are among my absolute favorite Kirby comics. I thought Everett really brought a lush sparkle to the pencils, not unlike what Royer would do soon thereafter. Kirby's pencils were strong enough to support lots of different styles.
DeleteWhereas I thought Everett made Kirby's art far too cartoony. Ah well, 'you pays your money and you takes your choice', eh?
DeleteI loved the Losers and it was and it was perhaps my favourite war comic although that was largely due to John Severins wonderful art. This is one of the few 1970s issues I don't have. When I first saw this advertised in DC comics at the time I was sure was a Sgt Rock comic. I also liked Kirbys run on the Losers but I'm not sure how Severins inks would have looked on Kirbys pencils , though but would have been interesting to see that.
ReplyDeleteSeverin's inks looked great on anybody's pencils, McS.
DeleteJohn Severin was a fantastic artist. But I have a review coming up later in the month in which he is the third best artist of three great talents on a classic series.
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