War Picture Library 270 At Bayonet Point

Take one ancient blade. Find it, lose it and then find it again somewhere in the desert. Throw in a bit of greed, a bit of ambition and a little bit of misunderstanding. Bring it all together in a world wide event happening locally and you have the essence of War Picture Library 270 At Bayonet Point.

It's good to see a bit of sword on shield action with the story opening occurring during the crusades. It is here where we meet the blade that when in the hands of Englishmen drives them insane with blood lust. It doesn't have the same effect on Arabs but they are happy to be rid of it when it turns up in their possession.

Just to make things interesting there's also a war on and when the blade ends up, as a bayonet, in Private Ritchie's possession he becomes a cold blooded reckless killer. Ritchie becomes a virtual one man army intent on winning the war with cold steel. However when he learns that a potential promotion might be blocked his thoughts turn from killing the enemy to killing anyone who stands in his way.

Also to spice things up from time to time the ghost of the Crusader who fell under the spell of the blade when it was a sword at the begining of the story pops up from time to time. The ghost crusader feels bad about his legacy and he does what he can to try and protect Ritchie from being gunned down by the Germans. 

I don't know why I have a soft spot for supernatural artifacts in pocket war comics when they turn up.

Yes I know it's all very stupid but I really like this story.

The old baleful influence that spans centuries! That would explain a lot of things.

If you think about how long it takes to swing your aggressive manner, as if you were holding a sword, would really have the time to say all of that?

I really like the worried look on the horses face.

You're just making that up to make me feel bad!

A change of style from crusading times.

Don't worry ugly dude. If it makes you feel better I think you and your friends are the most honest bunch of cutthroats I have ever met.

Shouldn't that be "Vorwaerts! Vipe out ze Englanders". Honestly! They speak perfect English one moment and the next moment you can't understand a word they're saying.

Nice tank.

He's talking about your teeth sand man.

Beefy, muscular Germans shooting off their big guns.

It's only a war. You'll get over it. I know you'd do the same for me...











Ya Otto you are right! We don't stand a chance. Here are the three of us, well hidden and with the element of surprise against only ein Englander. Should we surrender now or just get it over and done with and get ourselves killed?







It appears that tenacity is not enough against a pair of English knees.

War Picture Library 135 The Big Arena

Shirts off and Australians. Why do the two always go together? Without fail Australian war picture comic troops are always keen to throw off their kit and show off their chests. The other typical traits of Australians in these stories are their disregard for authority and their fearless fighting ability and spirit.

War Picture Library 135 The Big Arena follows a pair of battle hardened and battle weary Aussie blokes who decide they need a rest from fighting and decide to go absent without leave. Even the officers understand and allow them to skip off for a short break. However  the spit and polish by the book just out from Australia provost sergeant major doesn't understand how things really work in the shooting war and he is determined to bring the two battle weary malingerers into line even if has to cross enemy lines to do it.

Naturally, through a series of adventures, the sergeant comes to fully understand the two heroes and it is only a matter of time before he is brought under the spell of the bromance. Finally he learns how things work in a shooting army.

Australians in pocket war comics never fail to impress. They're always smiling, always shooting and willing to give it a go. They also tend to be larger than mortal men and this is certainly true in The Big Arena where two of the main characters are easily breaking 6'6'' if not bigger.

This is a big story of men from a big country in another big country during a big war.

You're about to eat my cold steal you accursed Australier! And don't laugh at my skinny legs.

When most Spandau teams go out of business they usually have a sale first.

Ginger Meggs grows up and goes to war.

This is a great plan. I can see how this is going to work.

This tank crew looks like the right age for tank crew - a bunch of young punks.

You know you're a part of the Commonwealth because everybody has got different hats.











You don't see a lot of blokes from India in these things - but it's good to see two of them relaxing.

This sergeant is big enough to play lock for the Wallabies.

Passes? Passes? We don't need no stinkin' passes.

Oh the desperation.

Good degree of concern, dread and anticipation in this panel.

Australians will always create an opportunity to take off their shirts.

You think? I thought it was a lost tribe of Mongolians on their final stretch home. Boy did I get that one wrong.

The desert is a big place.

When things go bad...

...they go really bad.

Under the Southern Cross I stand. A sprig of wattle in my hand. 'Stralya! You Bloody Beauty!

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!!