Getting towed...

...past midnight. Is not an easy task to accomplish. As if the waiting isn't bad enough don't even think about the fees. Those guys really know how to charge. You would think, given the way they talk that it's only just a job - but somebody must be making a dollar or two from it and most of it is profit. Just make sure you read the paperwork before you get in the front with the driver.

War Picture Library 222 Road to Berlin

Have you ever been passed over for promotion? Should you be leading and not following? Why have you missed out?  Is the system against you? Is the old boys club not working in your favour? Is the affirmative action programme failing you? Or perhaps...just maybe you're not good enough. Could it be that the job went to the better (sorry ladies) man? That, pretty much, is the story behind War Picture Library 222 Road to Berlin.

This is actually a pretty good story for a number of reasons.
First there's the bonehead at the centre of the Road to Berlin who goes through most of the story needing to drink a cup of cement. Don't worry he comes good in the end.

Also most pocket war comics tend to pay lip service to the real events in World War Two however this one has a reasonable account of the Battle for Arnhem. Also for the tread heads there are some great panels of British armour. I got the feeling that this story may have been completed by at least two artists because the style seems to change from panel to panel. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, or that I'm right, it's just my observation.

So get your orders, get in your tank, harden up and hit the road!

When too many riding pants are not enough.

 He thought a rude word!

 Nice tank.

...and let that be a lesson to you.

Route-Taping! Arrrghh! I've not heard that phrase in many years...

 Anything in war is fair - particularly if you have the biggest pants.

What a great looking panel.

Not to be outdone the Germans had big pants of their own. However their grip of tactics was fatally flawed. Wouldn't it have been better to block the path with the enemy's dead?

Able-One has a tash that means business.

...are you sure that Aaagh! is not coming from inside the Tardis.

Nice panel. Nice detail.

Another nice panel.

Proving yet again that a wrought iron balustrade is no protection against a 95mm howitzer.

Great panel for those who like to swan about.

Cover of the Week. Air Ace Picture Library 67 Silent Wings

This is good looking cover! Just look at how the title and image come together perfectly to create an introduction for the action inside.
Everything about the cover, from the way the troops are rushing out of glider 316 to the way the lead figure is standing in the forefront with his Sten gun, just spell drama and action!  The expression and stance of the man with the Sten are particularly well animated and provide every indication that challenges lie ahead. 'The hell of Arnhem...' described by the slightly ill-worded splash cut out in the bottom left hand corner goes to highlight the drama that's sure to unfold in this Air Ace Picture Library.

Silent Wings has come to me with only a slight bit of damage - the long lost previous owner applying a thin strip of sticky tape that was then coloured in with black pen.

This is not a bad thing.

I've never been one for collecting only pristine pocket war comics. My collection includes a number of comics that have led just as hard a life as some of the characters contained with them.

I'm yet to review Silent Wings but already the cover, with it's wonderful sense of urgency has my mind racing on what's going to happen on the pages that follow.

This cover deserves a high score. Easily 9/10!

Please leave a comment if you agree or disagree with my score.