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E.C. Archives: Two-Fisted Tales Volume 1

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    Ian Jane
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  • E.C. Archives: Two-Fisted Tales Volume 1



    E.C. Archives: Two-Fisted Tales Volume 1
    Released by: Dark Horse Comics
    Released on: September 9th, 2015.
    Written by: Various
    Illustrated by: Various
    Purchase From Amazon

    How much “HE-MAN ADVENTURE” can you handle? Check out the latest entry in Dark Horse Comics' The E.C. Archives Series, Two-Fisted Tales Volume 1, to find out! While E.C. will rightfully always be infamous for their horror comics, there was more to William Gaines' publishing empire than ghosts, ghouls and axe murderers. It's all too easy to forget that E.C. published plenty of times stories, romance comics, humor books and, in the case of this series, gritty tales of war and adventure!

    Collecting issues #18 through #23 (published in 1950 and 1951) of the legendary series, this is two hundred and sixteen pages of vintage war comics heaven digitally restored and presented by Dark Horse with the care and respect that this material really and truly deserves. Why does Volume 1 start with issue #18? Because the series took over for the Vault Of Fear run (meaning there is no first issue with a cover notation of #1).

    Let's take a look at what this hardcover collection (also available digitally, which is how it's being reviewed) offers up to the discerning war and adventure comics reader in your home…

    Issue #18:

    Conquest - This one takes us to the sixteenth century where Captain Juan Alvorado and his men voyage from Spain to Mexico where they pillage and plunder the natives in the name of their king. When the Indian King gets and audience with Alvorado, it goes quite poorly and before you know it, the Spaniards learn the error of their ways. No quarter is asked and no quarter is given! Written and illustrated by Harvey Kurtzman.

    Hong Kong Intrigue - Gregg King, an American visiting Hong Kong, is smoking 'an American cigarette' on his balcony when he spies while smoking 'an American cigarette' on his balcony a Chinese man with “evil, slanting eyes” wielding a knife. He leaps into action and saves the blonde damsel in distress and she tells him her story, how her father was kidnapped. Gregg decides to help her, because the future of Asia hangs in the balance! Written and illustrated by Al Feldstein, to whom political correctness or racial sensitivity was apparently of no concern!

    Revolution! - A professional solider named Clay Hill and a mercenary named Bullet Hunter are off to South America to deal with a fascist named Bovar out of power. Upon arrival the two men find themselves on opposite sides of the dispute. Bullet meets Bovar, who says things like “Thees ees our air force” and is less impressed by their planes than by their “gorls.” Soon, however, Bullet and Clay still need to settle things… the honorable way. Written and illustrated by Wally Wood.

    Mutiny! - In South Africa, sailors and seamen drink their troubles away at a dive bar. As they talk about 'a fortune in diamonds' on the way out of the bar, they're attacked by a guy with a hook for his arm who then finds their ship. He and his men board under the guise that they're looking for work, and the good Captain Steve Cutter takes them on, unaware that they inted to rob him blind or maybe worse! Written and illustrated by Johnny Craig.

    Issue #19:

    War Story! - Korea! June 1950. Things are bad, there's a war! A young rookie American G.I. comes to terms with his first kill and to help ease his mind, his Sarge tells him a story from his past, back when they were fighting “the Japs on Ponape Island” and how a solider named Duke sure 'hacked up these nips!” Ouch. From there we learn how Duke's love of killing went too far. Written by Harvey Kurtzman, illustrated by John Severin And Bill Elder.

    Jivaro Death! - Come along to South America, to the Amazon Basin, where Charlie and Garcia kill some guys and steal some important papers in an attempt to steal some diamonds. Slick Charlie, however, will double-cross anyone he needs to in order to get what he wants, even Garcia! But what will happen when he runs into Jivaro Tribesmen? Written and illustrated by Harvey Kurtzman.

    Flight From Danger! - Outside of Berlin an aging man named Professor Franck and his daughter Lisa hide from the Germans and wait for salvation from the good ol' U.S. of A! They meet up with Captain Jim Turner who helps them get out of the occupied zone to freedom but it won't be easy. And what if Franck happens to have the secret to the hydrogen bomb? Written and illustrated by Johnny Craig.

    Brutal Captain Bull! - In the 19th Century Jeremiah Pringle enlisted. He wound up under the command of the titular Bull, out to make men join the King's navy whether they wanted to or not! The two men soon come to blows and Pringle is punished, and afterwards he tells everyone he agrees to toe the line… but is he saying what he means or wil he rise up against Bull and beat him at his own game? Written by Harvey Kurtzman and illustrated by Wally Wood.

    Issue #20:

    Massacred! - The Korean War. A platoon of G.I.'s suffer losses and a gully runs red with the blood of their dead. Those who survive wonder why their comrades in arms have their hands tied back and the sole survivor of the assault tells them what happened. The man responsible for the killings? Colonel Jun and his rat commie bastards! But Jun's story is not only one of sadism, but of poetic justice. Written by Harvey Kurtzman, illustrated by John Severin And Bill Elder.

    Devils In Baggy Pants! - D-Day, June, 1944. American paratroopers head into France and many of them are killed. One man gets caught in a tree and for that reason survives, he's found by some ground troops. When he regains consciousness we learn his story, that his name is Purvis and that he served with a man that the other soldiers called Duck Butt! From there we learn firsthand the real difference between a man's bravery and his own cowardice. Written by Harvey Kurtzman and illustrated by Wally Wood.

    Colt Single Action Service Revolver! - Let's head back to the old west where we meet a gunslinger named Rufe and his pistol, a pistol he uses to shoot lots of folks in the back. In short, Rufe is a bad dude, but when he loses that gun in a poker game, well, we see how violence begets violence and the journey that the titular pistol takes over time. Written by Harvey Kurtzman and Jack Davis.

    Pirate Gold! - At the turn of the 18th century, pirates are running around messing up things for everybody! Two sailors, Sebastian and Deigo, come across a man hanging on to a piece of wood floating about in the open sea. They bring him aboard and save his life and when he awakes, it seems he has partial amnesia. But he remembers Thomas Tew and he remembers Spanish doubloons and he knows that he must find them and he requests that his saviors set their course for Galveston, whether they like it or not! Yes indeed, Captain Sawbucks is back from the dead and his cutlass is thirsty for blood! Written and illustrated by Harvey Kurtzman.

    Issue #21:

    Ambush! - The Korean War rages on, and the North Korean forces prepare to ambush the United Nations forces travelling near the border. A Jeep hits a mine and a firefight breaks out. The Captain gets hit but one of the soldiers, Lucky, he and a few others make it to temporary safety in a ditch. But they're outnumbered, outgunned and in very big trouble… will Lucky, so named because of his Kewpie Doll good luck charm, or any of the other men make it out alive? Written by Harvey Kurtzman and Jack Davis.

    Pigs Of The Roman Empire - In Carthage, in the years that would prove to be the last gasp of the Roman Empire, Decius and Brennus watch their gladiators compete for their lives while the Roman army deals with nearby Vandals. As the barbarian forces near, Decius puts on his armor, drinks more wine and heads out to assert his Roman superiority… or so he believes. Don't drink and command phalanxes, kids. Written by Harvey Kurtzman, illustrated by John Severin And Bill Elder.

    The Murmansk Run! - On a cold December night in 1940, an American tanker navigates the waters of the Arctic while World War II wages all around it. The S.S. Bunker Hill makes its way through the treacherous passage with a cargo of explosive aviation gas needed for the war effort under the watch of Uriah Bragg who is reprimanded for smoking on the boat. He throws fit but all he wants to do is stay warm… Written by Harvey Kurtzman and illustrated by Wally Wood.

    Search! - In 1943 American forces hit Sicily where Kid and Joe setup their guns and wait. They smoke, they talk, and they confess why they're there in the first place - it's not just the draft, see, Joe's looking for his brother Mario. But what will he do if he actually finds him? Will he even know if he does? Written and illustrated by Harvey Kurtzman.

    Issue #22:

    Enemy Contact! - We head back to the Korean War to witness machine gun fire lays waste to a horde of American soldiers. Those that aren't killed are pinned down hoping air support will arrive, but not counting on it. Making matters worse? The Kid, the youngest member of the group, gets appendicitis and is in dire need of medical attention. Written by Harvey Kurtzman and Jack Davis.

    Dying City! - Back to the Korean War. A man named Kim is blinded by an aerial bombing and is left dependent on his aging, but very wise, “grandfather” to help him. We learn of Kim's past, his former relationships with guns and violence, and for these reasons how he has always been blind to certain things. Only after losing his sight can he see this. Written by Harvey Kurtzman and illustrated by Harvey Kurtzman and Alex Toth.

    Massacre At Agincourt - In 1415 A.D., Henry V marches his troops through France back to England. In his way, spread out along the channel, are French forces and these French cannot wait to soil their weapons with English blood, Edouard Rene de Gascony in particular! What he doesn't count on are the arrows of the English longbows. Written by Harvey Kurtzman and illustrated by Wally Wood.

    Chicken! - Pwing! Spang! Bweee! These are the sounds of the bullets fired by the Japanese at the Americans out to clear them off of Okinawa. An American soldier on the front lines questions his orders from an arrogant Captain more concerned with having his men do what they are told than with saving their lives, the very same lives that have been entrusted to his command! CRUMP! BRUM! WHAM! BAM! These are the sounds of the explosions he sends them in to contend with. Written by Harvey Kurtzman, illustrated by John Severin And Bill Elder.

    Issue #23:

    Death Stand! - Back in Korea, a G.I. named Joe Hill smokes a smoke while he and his pals watch an American pilot bail out of his jet. As the pilot drifts towards the North, the guys figure they've got to go save him before he's captured. They get there in time to grab him but come under enemy fire - but Joe? He's calm under pressure, he figures when his time comes it comes and there's nothin' he can do about it. And when he volunteers to go take out that tank… maybe his time has come. Written by Harvey Kurtzman and illustrated by Jack Davis.

    Old Soldiers Never Die - In August if 1918, a German Pfalz flies low over the worn torn ground surveying the trenches below. In those same trenches an old soldier named Pappy Davidson feeds a stray cat and then explains to a younger soldier named Caruso why he always says 'old soldiers never die.' A few examples from Pappy's past prove his point… Written by Harvey Kurtzman and illustrated by Wally Wood.

    Kill! - A year after the start of the Korean War, a previously ambushed patrol of Americans makes its way back to base exhausted all but for Abner who can't stop sharpening his knife. It weirds his fellow troopers out a bit but they're later distracted when overheard they see American jets head towards the combat zone. To their north, a Korean soldier named Li can't stop cleaning his gun… even if it weirds out his fellow troops a bit. Written and illustrated by Harvey Kurtzman.

    Dog Fight! - In 1942, American planes take on Japanese Zeros over the South Pacific Seas. A USMC pilot named Jacob Strange put another notch on his belt and flies back to base. When he lands, all he wants is a letter from home but there's never anything waiting for him. The next time siren goes off, he hops in his plane but is told before he takes off that there was a mix-up and that there is, in fact, a letter waiting for him when he gets back. But those Zeros, those enemy pilots, they're out to kill… kill… kill and those open skies are a big, big place. Written by Harvey Kurtzman, illustrated by John Severin And Bill Elder.

    While each and every story here is as gritty and as violent and as tough as you could hope for, there's a very clear anti-war message running throughout. Case in point?

    “And so, men marched off to kill me! And isn't it strange! While one instinct makes man move heaven and earth to save a life… makes man give his all to his fellow man… another, less noble, instinct, makes man a cold, brutal, dispassionate monster… lets him tear other men to bits without mercy! This paradox, this puzzle marches on forever, but here is where our story stops.”

    That dialogue, from issue #22's Enemy Contact, makes this series' anti-war sentiment pretty obvious, which is rare for a war comic from the 1950s where post WWII patriotism was running at what was probably an all-time high. Kurtzman and company, however, rarely opted to romanticize violence even while they were all too happy to exploit it to make a point or move copies (the covers of each and every issue of this series made it clear that nasty stuff was going to happen inside - it was, after all, an E.C. Comics publication!). This slant gives the stories a bit more depth and meaning than a lot of other war comics - these are smart, literate and thought provoking.

    At the same time, the stories are wonderfully illustrated by some of the finest artist to ever grace E.C.'s amazing roster of talent. Kurtzman's stuff is a bit more cartoonish than a lot of his counterparts but he makes it work while Feldstein and Craig turn in hyper detailed work, the kind your eyes like to pour over time and again. Throw in equally impressive work from legends like Alex Toth, the fantastic team of John Severin and Bill Elder, and the consistently superb Wally Wood and this a fifties comic art geek's dream come true.

    Aside from the six issues collected here, this hardcover also contains an introduction by Grant Geissman that gives a nice rundown of what makes E.C.'s material so timelessly enduring and a forward by Stephan A. Geppi that talks about the importance of preserving this material. The original front and back covers are reprinted here along with the stories as are the original advertisements, letter columns and other bits and pieces that were included with the comics in their original fifties run.







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