Cover of the Week Air Ace Picture Library 109 Ace of Cowards

So much to like here. There's no escape for the Ace of Cowards. He's been caught out. He's even hemmed in by two broad borders of white space. Also the lighting is perfect, could the source be flames or should they be flames?! There's no mistaking the fear in his eyes. Also the detail in his sleeve with its folds and fabric seam are outstanding. Very easy to award this 10/10, so I will. 

Air Ace Picture Library 470 Double Image

Spanning both world wars, Double Image is the classic pocket war comic story of parental disgrace reaching across generations. John Carter is wrongly accused (and very wrongly accused I must add) of being a coward. As he is dead at the time of the accusation he is denied the opportunity to defend himself. He is dead as a result of attacking a Zeppelin during a raid over England. The direct cause of his death is from a pistol flung at him and hitting him in the head. Usually pistols are used to fire bullets - but in this instance the pistol was thrown as the weapon of last choice - as all other options failed in dissuading John Carter in pressing home his attack. The flung gun becomes the very obvious link to later in the story.

Anyway Carter's accuser survives the mission, destroys the Zeppelin (or so he thinks) and ends up commanding a squadron in WW2 where, you guessed it, the son of John Carter turns up.

Look we all know where this Air Ace Picture Library story is going. As stupid as it sounds this one actually works out OK. There are several reasons why Double Image escapes from being just plain horrible. To start with your expectations aren't set very high from the beginning. Next, more than a third of the action is set during the First World War. Also, and perhaps most importantly, it's all in the artwork. Look at the panel below with the officer calling in the Zeppelin raid or the one with the spitfire pilots scrambling to their aircraft. These panels are beautifully drawn and it is their animation, detail and style that get this story off the ground.

You can see why he is an admiral.

You keep your hands on your own butt. By the way good work on the facial hair, Herr Oberleutnant.

The only way to provide advance warning - with a nice mug of tea and a cucumber sandwich.

I really like this panel. Must be the flying goggles and the scarf.

Let's put things in context here. Von Zarnoff is standing a Zeppelin...

Sticks and stones may break my bones...oh and guns thrown at my head.

That's not a nice thing to say.

Here we go! Here we go! Here we go!

Besides being a great panel...makes you think why didn't he begin a career as a brick layer so he wouldn't have to put up with the cross generational embarrassment?

Another day at the office.

Zum timz zey speak English, ozzer timz zey zro in foreign verds.

So that explains everything...

War Picture Library 269 Ghost Platoon

This is a very tidy story about seeking redemption and accepting repentance with a touch of the supernatural thrown in to make things interesting.

As Eight Platoon prepares for their assault on Chateau de Ruhl on old Shepard greats the platoon with a premonition that there will only be one survivor from the ensuing battle. The local villagers dismiss the old boy as being crazy but Eight Platoon’s morale is shaken by his comments.

The platoon’s morale is already in trouble as their new officer, Second Lieutenant Mark Nichols, panicked in his first action during an artillery barrage and lost both his own confidence and the confidence of his men.

The platoon was only saved during the subsequent battle by the leadership of the veteran Sergeant Burke and a gutsy display by private “Rusty” Grant. The sergeant is ready to report Nichols’ cowardice to company command but he is persuaded by Grant to give Nichols a second chance.

Soon enough the platoon is ordered to occupy a chateau where they are promptly surrounded and cut-off by the enemy.

So when Nichols formulates a plan to save the platoon by volunteering to go through enemy lines to get help it is met with cynicism. What follows is a dangerous escapade as Nichols and “Rusty” Grant (a fluent German speaker) work their way through enemy lines.

The story ends as it starts with the old Shepard witnessing the eerie spectacle of ghostly British troops marching towards the front.

This is a nicely crafted story. Action sequences contribute to the narrative the whole way through and there’s no need for superfluous exploding trucks, trains, boats, buildings, bridges or tanks. A lot could have gone wrong with the introduction of the ghostly element but thankfully it is used well. There’s strong pathos to this story as even though the good guys are heroic it is not enough to enable their survival.

Fear. I'll show you fear if you can catch me!

Here's a man who loves his job! There's also one of those rare dead guys you find in wars - with blood!

A damn good aaagh!

An even better aaagh!

The classic short aaagh!

Where's the side order of fries?

A great looking panel.

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 336 - Deed of Valour

Deed of Valour is an iconic issue and an iconic story. This is a story of redemption.

The main character Joe Burns is a coward. He manages to save his own skin many times at the expense of the lives of his comrades. He becomes adept at survivng and uses his status as the last man standing to gain promotion and notoriety as tough veteran. Only the young officer, Bob Leefe, who shared his first action and the same overwhelming fear and disgrace in front of the enemy knows the truth about Burns. However while Leefe carries the shame of that event, Burns congratulates himself for not getting caught out. The two men are soon seperated but inevitably their paths cross again.

I love this story as it screams redemption from the very begining. You know how it's going to end - but that's not the point. It's Burns' lack of moral fibre and arrogance that see the story through.

In later editions this cover image was also used to advertise upcoming issues and encourage subscriptions. I consider it a bonus that it also contains a great story.

 Burns is craven coward! Why don't you fight man!

I like the AAGH!

Don't worry it's not Burns - he's hiding somewhere.

Burns is a Sargent now - but where did he go?

Don't say you're suprised it ends this way...