Cover of the Week Air Ace Picture Library 261 Pacific Invasion!

You could be forgiven for believing that World War 2 in the Pacific only involved 2 combatant nations. However the cover of Air Ace Picture Library 267 Pacific Invasion leaves little doubt on who they were and what was involved.

A lone British fighter appears to be taking on the might of the Imperial Japanese Navy during an invasion. The awkwardly placed and politically incorrect cutaway says it all "As the Japanese hordes swarmed ashore, the Warhawks dived - to destroy".

The water is a beautiful blue - it doesn't look right. However I have seen the turquoise blue of the Coral Sea and I can only say that the artist may have got it right.

On the down side those landing craft look a little bit clumsy and those big ships look a little too close to the shore for my liking. As stated before the cutaway doesn't do too much either.

However I love the smoke trails from those guns (or rockets) and that beautiful blue water. 7/10

War Picture Library 280 The Last Stand

What an ending! Finally a last page with an open and worthy ending.

Take one sleepy tropical island, a mysterious beachcomber, an unbending police chief, a bunch of happy natives and a number of harsh Japanese racial stereotypes and believe it or not you have the ingredients for a good story.

Fraser (the beachcomber) is the kind of guy who likes to get around with his shirt off and keep fit by swimming out to reefs and hiking through swamps. He makes friends with the natives and picks fights with plantation owners at the Hibiscus Bar.

There is an air of mystery about him and in a triumph of story telling his past is not fully revealed nor is it the reason (or justification) for his actions. This is a sophisticated bit of writing.

When war comes to the island Fraser pulls together a desperate defence using the natives, the police and a handful of Aussie stragglers. This adhoc force manages to fiercely and comprehensively destroy an unsuspecting Japanese landing force.

The Japanese realise they now have to fight for the island and set about it in the appropriate manner by using bombers to soften up the island's defenders in preparation for a full assault landing.

A British destroyer arrives with orders to evacuate all the white men from the island. Fraser argues in vain with the destroyer captain to evacuate the islanders as well - but the orders are "whites only". He then turns to the islanders to have their women and children evacuated - but the islanders flatly refuse him. The island is their home and they will stay and defend it, no matter what the odds or consequences.

The final panel of The Last Stand shows Fraser and the islanders waiting the onslaught of a fresh Japanese invasion.

 Why are there no women in the Hibiscus Club?









It's one thing for a character to be racist - but the narrator as well?

What's with the hat? Also what's the purpose of that control panel?

Nice panel. The guys getting slowly sucked to the bottom of the swamp look uncomfortable.











That's a bit harsh.

Yeah Aussie! We didn't start the fire...

Look at those shoulders!

This panel really makes the story.











Quick! Back to the Hibiscus Club!!














That got him! Good perspective.

What a final panel!

War Picture Library 361 The Full Treatment

What more Americans!? It's rare for a British war comic to cough up a story about Yanks - but here is another one - and a good one too.

A story of two guys and guess what? One of them doesn't make it!

At the very start of  The Full Treatment your mind races ahead to figure out how the writer is going to pull the story together.

Lowery and Suchak are both big fisted, fit  and can fight but they are, of course, from different worlds. One is a drifter who is always looking for the next challenge and lives for hard work. The other is football star and college man from a wealthy family and a life of privilege.

Naturally they come into conflict and then part ways. You know from the very beginning that they are going to come back together, endure more conflict and then come to a reconciliation through some heroic action.

Lowery (the rich one) also has an internal conflict as he is determined to make it though life on his own and is continually frustrated by the long reach of his father's influence and expectations. Suchak creates his own destiny, is his own man and this is the source of conflict between the two.

A good read with one small Aaaghh and an absolute bonus when only one of the two main characters remains at the end of the story.

The stance of the boss man is fantastic. But what is that guy doing up in that tree?

Them dirty yellow buzzards! I've never liked them!

You have to love Americans. Soon they'll be facing death and destruction but there's always time for a game of cards.

That's a nice tidy AAAAGH!

Hey I've got wood...

Look into my eyes look into my eyes. Not around the eyes...

You'll be laughing out of the other side of those Buddy Holly glasses fella when I get through with you...

It's gone all dark and moody. One of them's gonna get it...