War Picture Library 338 - Day of Judgement

This is the story of two men Captain Boswell and Lieutenant Cassidy. Cassidy is brave, astute and a leader of men. Boswell is a hopeless and calculating coward.

Boswell runs in the face of the enemy and Cassidy goes to retrieve him.

At a critical moment the two are discovered fighting and Boswell is quick and sly enough to accuse Cassidy of leaving his post. All witnesses to this event are dead except for a wounded German officer - Major Sturm.

This is another story that I really like.

Even though the ending is predictable it is a good piece of story telling. From the very start of the story you are told how it's going to end however there are some good twists and visuals in the story.

I always prefer it when the cover matches the story line but you can't have everything.

Unlike a lot of other pocket war comics the dead are shown

Cassidy's company all get killed while he is away pursuing Boswell. Cassidy really has Boswell to thank for being alive - but he doesn't see it that way.

Despite initial appearances Sturm really is a Nazi

War Picture Library 209 - Desert Duel

Err... not the best story around.

When the cover doesn't match the story the doubts set in - great cover though!

The story concerns the deadly contest between opposing secret services.

My doubts with the story start when the Arab agent announces the English Secret Service major is dead, allowing the Nazi agent to take his place. If it was that easy to knock off the English Secret Service officers then why bother with elaborate plans but then again elaboration and subterfuge seem to be the Nazi prerequisite.

The story is about the war of intelligence and the story is a war on the intelligence of the reader. The Nazi colonel is driven so much by rage that he is blind to what's happening. He's not the only one lacking intelligence.

The Nazis secret base is strangely bereft of any security. However the interior is also bereft of any competent interior design with Bauhaus competing with ornate bed furniture. The thought behind the location selection is best voiced by the German officer with the monocle "they'll never find us here..."

The story starts well with lots of bullets flying around but then the change in focus makes everything go Aaagh!

In the end...not the best story around but what a great cover.

So what happened to the old one?

Since the secret base is so well hidden we decided to not to spend any money on defenses and decided to get some really nice carved wooden doors and matching beds. The other rooms have their own themes too you know.

Why not just use an army of Arabs to fight your war? If one of them can knock off a Major in secret intelligence imagine what a whole lot of them could do! Hey hang on...does this guy also run a side business supplying furniture to secret bases?

So that's what AAAGH! is. An inarticulate cry!!