Tomahawk #136

Tomahawk #136 (On Sale: July 6, 1971), has an amazing cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Hawk, Son of Tomahawk in "A Piece of Sky" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. Tomahawk and Hawk help two escaped slaves fight their master.

Next up is Firehair in "The Stallion" written and drawn by Joe Kubert. Firehair captures a wild stallion. Reprinted in Limited Collectors' Edition C-52 (1977).

This brings us to "Presidents' Firearms" written and drawn by Sam Glanzman. The weapons carried by two American Presidents.

We end with our only reprint featuring Tomahawk in "The Secrets of Sgt. Witch Doctor" by France Herron and Fred Ray and reprinted from Tomahawk #87 (1963). The British try to get Chief Mocking Bird's tribe to attack the American forces by telling them they can keep the evil mountain spirits from attacking the tribe.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Our Army at War #236

Our Army at War #236 (On Sale: July 1, 1971), has a Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Sgt. Rock in "Face the Devil" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath. An old man comes out of the fog, claiming that Billy Boy is his lost son. Is the man real, or a ghost? Reprinted in Sgt. Rock #19 (1991).

Next up is "22 Hrs. to San Francisco" by Mike Friedrich and John Severin. Alan Tomasz returns home from Vietnam. Reprinted in Sgt. Rock #21 (1992).

Our first reprint is "The Empty Cockpit" by Hank Chapman and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Capt. Storm #3 (1964). Lt. Danner, a new Spad pilot, wants to fill the empty cockpit of the squadron's hero Captain Kelly.

That brings us to another reprint: "The Third Enemy" by Bob Haney and Russ Heath and reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #45 (1959). During World War II a rookie Allied Ski Soldier learns that every mountain contains three types of enemies.

We end with "No Beginning -- No End" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. A look at war through the ages, from cavemen, through knights to WWI and WWII.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Tomahawk #135

Tomahawk #135 (On Sale: May 6, 1971), has a nice cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin this issue with Hawk, Son of Tomahawk in "Death on Ghost Mountain" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. When Hawk stops two men from attacking a traveling salesman, the man gives Hawk one of his catalogs as a reward. Seeing all the things in the catalog that he could buy, if he only had some money, Hawk decides to leave the ranch and seek his fortune. He heads into town to tell his friend Jess that he is leaving only to find Jess is off to seek his fortune as well, to win the heart of Tina. Jess has a map left to him by a dying prospector that points to a secret gold mine.

Jess and Hawk decide to find the gold together and Hawk is a little worried when he sees the gold might be on Indian land. They find the supposed gold mine by passing through a waterfall and taking a tunnel to the mountain beyond. The mountain is an old Indian burial mound and after seven days of digging, they strike gold. A few days later an Indian burial party arrives and tells them to leave. Jess wants to fight the Indians, but Hawk and he get into it instead. When the mound collapses, Jess is killed by a buried spear. Hawk returned the gold to the ground and promises not to return.

This is followed by a two-page spread of The Wild Frontier "Thunder Across the Plains" by Sam Glanzman.

We end this issue with "Spoilers" by Jerry DeFuccio and John Severin. It is 1865 and the Civil War is over when Captain Stanard Kirby returns to the ruins of his ancestral home in Virginia. By 1873, Kirby has moved on to Kansas where he has become the leader of a gang of robbers and assassins known as Kirby's Raiders. After the heat from lawmen becomes too much, Kirby and the gang split up for a few months to let the heat die down and Kirby takes the majority of their money and rides off to Colorado where he finds a ranch to work. He hides the money in a tree for safekeeping. When a plague of locust arrives the rancher and his neighbors burn a line between the locusts and his ranch. In the end, the money is all destroyed and Kirby never returns to his gang, only to be caught years later.

Edited by Joe Kubert.  

Tomahawk #134

Tomahawk #134 (On Sale: March 9, 1971), has a nice Son of Tomahawk cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Hawk, Son of Tomahawk in "The Rusty Ranger" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. When the townspeople come to Tomahawk's ranch to ask for help fighting a band of thugs that has killed the sheriff and threatening the town, Tomahawk refuses to help, saying his time of fighting for others is over. That night Tomahawk sneaks away and rides into the gang's camp and is surprised to find the gang's leader is his old friend, Cannonball. 

Cannonball explains that after the war ended and Tomahawk left the Rangers, those remaining had a hard time finding work, Cannonball being told he was too old to be of much good. So he gathered a gang of younger men together and they were going to take what no one would give them.

When the two friends become chummy, the gang of young men begins to think Cannonball's loyalties might be changing, so they draw o the older men. The two old men head for the high ground putting the sun behind their backs. As dawn arises and the gang attacks the two old friends, they wipe them out to a man. Cannonball confesses that he had nothing to do with the murder of the sheriff and Tomahawk lets him go and then sneaks back into his house before his family wakes up. The next day, Hawk comes back from town with tales of the town's posse finding the gang murdered and nobody knowing who done it.

Next is a two-page "Wild Frontier" on the Cowboy and his Saddle by Sam Glanzman.

That is followed by Firehair in "Contest" written and drawn by Joe Kubert. When Firehair kills a bison, he brings the meat to a nearby village and shares what he has with the others. Still in need of more meat, Firehair and the village's braves go in search of more bison. When the drunk white men of a nearby town learn the braves are on the move they attack the village and kill the old men left there before having their way with the squaws left behind. 

Hearing gunshots from the village, the braves return and kill the white attackers. He offers to stay and help a little girl, whose mother was killed but is told that won't be necessary and in the morning he leaves the village.

The book ends with a reprint, "Pathway to Doom" drawn by Jim McArdle and reprinted from Tomahawk #27 (1954). When a brave is captured by the Seneca he must prepare to run their gauntlet of braves with hatchets and bows in the morning. That night he prays to a wooden carving for deliverance. In the morning the Seneca are surprised when the brave makes it through the gauntlet unharmed. It is then revealed that he wore the hollowed-out wooden carving as a suit of wooden armor.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Tomahawk #133

Tomahawk #133 (On Sale: January 5, 1971), has a Hawk, Son of Tomahawk cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Hawk, Son of Tomahawk in "Scalp Hunter" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. A bounty hunter who's family was killed by Indians has been mercilessly killing every Indian he can find and has his sights set on Hawk.

We end with Tomahawk in "The Way It Was" drawn by Fred Ray and reprinted from Tomahawk #26 (1954). Joe Kubert draws a new introduction to this story framing it as a tale he tells his children. During the Revolutionary War, Tomahawk and some native braves help to protect an armory from British attack.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Tomahawk #132

Tomahawk #132 (On Sale: November 3, 1970), has another cool Son of Tomahawk cover by Joe Kubert. 

We begin with Son of Tomahawk in "Small Eagle... Brother Hawk" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. On a trip into town, Small Eagle is assaulted by a bunch of ruffians led by Hard Rock. Small Eagle's mother attempt to protect her son and Hawk arrives to help his mother and brother. The men are about to pick Hawk off when Tomahawk arrives and forces the issue. He has Hawk tied to two of the gunmen and then they fight it out, with Hawk easily besting the two men. When they ride out of town, Hard Rock declares that he will bury Tomahawk and his whole half-breed family. 

Later that day, a wagon arrives in town carrying Stove Pipe and Big Anvil, two of Tomahawk's old rangers, Big Anvil's brain is not working as well as it used to since a cannonball creased his head. They say how they are looking for Tomahawk and have a priceless gift to give him from George Washington. A saloon girl tells them where to find Tomahawk and as they leave, Hard Rock says that they are going to take out Tomahawk's family and steal the treasure from Washington. 

That night, after a tearful reunion between rangers, Tomahawk's house is inundated with bullets as Hard Rock and his men attack. Big anvil is wounded after taking out two of Hard Rock's men. Hawk and his dad escape through a secret tunnel and come at the goons from behind riding in Stove Pipe's wagon and soon overwhelm the gang. Stove Pipe retrieves the priceless gift from the ruins of his wagon and gives to Tomahawk the goose quill pen Thomas Jefferson used to write the Declaration of Independence. Tomahawk gives the pen to his young son Small Eagle, who wears it in his headband, like any other feather.

Next is a "Warrior, History of the Mightiest Men of Combat" on George Washington by Sam Glanzman and a two-page text feature on "Indian Picture-Writing You Can Understand." 

These are followed by Firehair in "Brothers" by Joe Kubert. In California, Firehair rescues Rico, a Spanish boy, from a grizzly bear and is welcomed by Rico's father, the Don, at his ranch.  The Don invites Firehair to stay awhile and he and Rico become fast friends. Weeks go by and then one day Rico tells Firehair of the fiesta to be had that night. Rico gives Firehair some fancy clothes to wear, but he feels out of place. A group of young men begins to make fun of him and Rico does nothing to defend his friend. Eventually, it comes to blows and Firehair bests them all. He then faces Rico, who is too ashamed of his inaction to even look him in the face. The next morning, Firehair leaves, never to return.

We end with a two-page filler "Indian Album" on making an Indian bead ring and deciphering Indian picture writing.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Our Army at War #227

Our Army at War #227 (On Sale: November 3, 1970), has another cool Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert. 

We begin with Sgt. Rock in "Traitor's Blood" written by Joe Kubert and drawn by Russ Heath. When a patrol is sent to visit a North African sheik is found slaughtered and stripped for supplies, After fighting off a Nazi ambush, Easy Company heads to Sidi El Bar to meet the sheik themselves and Sgt. Rock leads his men to the sheik's tent. The sheik offers entertainment, but Rock is suspicious. Taking a walk through the camp, one of the sheik's dancers shows Rock the supplies taken from the ambushed patrol and tells him that the sheik has already sent word to the Nazis. At gunpoint, Rock forces the sheik and his men to switch clothes with Easy Company. When the Nazis arrive, they shoot the sheik and his men, and Rock and Easy mop up the Nazis Once again, a seemingly innocuous book hides some brilliant artwork by Russ Heath.

Next is  "The War Is Over" by Mike Friedrich and Frank Thorne. It is Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, and Deacon is bringing the good news to his friend Jackie in the trenches of the front, but Jackie wants to hear none of it. He is worried about his friend, Billy, who has not returned from the last raid. They find Billy, wounded and unconscious, but before they can bring him back, they are shelled and Billy is killed.  

Despite Deacon telling him to "let it go" Jackie sneaks forward across the and shoots a Nazi in the back. Deacon cold cocks Jackie before he can do any more damage and then bandages the wounded Nazi. As he walks away chanting, "The war is over!" the wounded Nazi revives and shoots Deacon in the back. Though the war is over, the violence of war is not so easily ended. The artwork by Thorne is top-notch. This story was reprinted in Sgt. Rock #384 (1984).

We have a two-page comedic interlude, "Private Buck's Army!" by John Costanza. During a practice emergency drill, Private Buck accidentally drops a dory off the ship and is forced to scrub the decks as punishment. What no one knows is that the dory dropped on top of a Japanese submarine stopping their attack.

We end with the U.S.S. Stevens in "Death of a Ship" by Sam Glanzman. When a Japanese submarine fires torpedoes at their convoy, the U.S.S. Shelton is hit. Depth charges take out the sub, and the crew of the Shelton is transferred to the Stevens. They attempt to tow the wounded ship to port but when a storm fires up, they are forced to cut the Shelton loose and sink it with shells. Like the other artist this issue, Glanzman knocks this one out of the park.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Tomahawk #131

Tomahawk #131  (On Sale: September 1, 1970) has a Hawk, Son of Tomahawk cover by Joe Kubert.

So, big changes this issue. Murray Boltinoff is out and Joe Kubert is in as editor, Tomahawk is out and Hawk, Son of Tomahawk is in. This series takes place years after the previous issue. Tomahawk is an older man now, married with children, one of them being, you guessed it, Hawk. We are introduced to this new character in "Hang Him High" a 14-page tale by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. A young woman is being chased by men on horseback though a narrow canyon. A young man on horseback appears and scoops the woman up taking her to safety, or so it seems. The riders follow, shoot the lad's horse and knock him out. He awakens to find himself about to be hanged by the leader of the men, known as "the Judge" unless the young woman tells him the location of her secret gold mine. The woman says there is no gold mine and the Judge shouts for his men to hang the young-un. 

Suddenly bullets fly from the bushes and the man is cut lose from the noose, the men hanging him are removed from their guns and the grizzly old Tomahawk appears, saying, "For a son of mine, Hawk, you sure look like you got your wings clipped." Hawk and his dad take care of the Judge's men and the Judge is forced to retreat, promising that he will return to hold a new trial. An hour later the girl, Angela Addams, is brought to the ranch of Tomahawk and introduced to his wife and Hawk's mother, Moon Fawn and Hawk's kid brother, Young Eagle.

The next morning Hawk rides off to confront the Judge, but Angela rides out to join him. They ride through town getting the notice of the Judge and his men then ride out to the Addams' gold mine, followed by the Judge and his men. As night falls they attack, but Hawk has weakened the supports on a sluice and a few well-placed shots sends it down on the Judge and his men. The Judge hurls dynamite at the shack Hawk and Angela are in and then rushes in to finish them off, only to find that Hawk is very much still alive and deadly. As Hawk finishes off the gang, we see Tomahawk on a nearby hill deciding that his son has everything under control.  

Next is "The Moccasins That Won a War," a six-page reprint from All Star Western #84. This one features the character Strong Bow and is by France Herron and Jerry Grandenetti. Strong Bow was a Native American warrior who traveled across Pre-Columbian era North America and helping the continent's many native tribes in times of trouble. An enigmatic man, Strong Bow said that he hailed from "beyond the Misty Mountains" and he was the last member of his tribe, which was tragically wiped out in a massacre. He first appeared in All-Star Western #58 and his last story appeared in All-Star Western #99. He made a brief appearance in All-Star Squadron Vol #55 during the Crisis on Infinite Earths.

This story features the mid-1950s Grandenetti who is a much more controlled artist than the guy we know and love from the current DC horror books. While visiting the village of Chief Kyana, Strong Bow learns that Running Buffalo has attacked some of the village's warriors and has the village surrounded. Strong Bow strikes out on his own to break through Running Buffalo's lines and get help from a nearby village. Attaching one of his moccasins to an arrow shaft, Strong Bow is able to create a footprints in a direction he did not go, throwing Running Buffalo's warriors off his trail. Later, when he is once again surrounded by hostile warriors, Strong Bow scrawls a message in his mud-filled moccasin and sends it down a stream to the nearby village, bringing their warriors into the fight and defeating Running Buffalo.

Next is a two-page text piece on "Arapaho Names" illustrated by Joe Kubert. 

That is followed by "Botalye -- Immortal Indian Warrior," yet another reprint, this one from Jimmy Wakely #7. I know, I always felt cheated when I paid new money for old stories, but I really did not mind that much this time as it featured the writing of Gardner Fox! OK, what I meant to say is it features the artwork of Frank Frazetta. This is the 1950 Frazetta, around the same time he did his long stint on White Indian. It is only three pages, but it contains some very nice figures and almost no backgrounds at all. The story tells the tale of Botalye, a young Kiowa brave who, after being called a coward by another warrior, charged the guns of a surrounded supply train four times totally unarmed.

The book ends with a two-page spread ad for next issue when Joe Kubert's Firehair returns as the back up feature in this book. I was a big fan of the Firehair tryout issues of Showcase and so was really looking forward to the saga continuing.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Tomahawk #130

Tomahawk #130 (On Sale: July 2, 1970) has a cover by Neal Adams.

Well, the great run on Neal Adams' covers and the superior artwork by Frank Thorne could not quite save Tomahawk. This is the last issue to go by that name, at least on the cover, as next issue is known as Hawk, Son of Tomahawk as Joe Kubert takes over the editorial reigns from Murray Boltinoff. We begin this last true Tomahawk issue with "Deathwatch at Desolation Valley" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne.

The back-up Tomahawk story is "A Bullet for My Brother" by George Kashdan and Frank Thorne.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Tomahawk #129

Tomahawk #129 (On Sale: April 30, 1970) has another cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with Tomahawk in  "Treachery at Thunder Ridge" by Carl Wessler and Frank Thorne. Despite Frank Thorne's wonderful artwork, I just find it hard to reread these books. I think the real problem with this title is that the characters never grabbed me.

The back-up strip is "General Tomahawk" drawn by Bob Brown and reprinted from Tomahawk #51.

Edited by Murry Boltinoff.

Tomahawk #128

Tomahawk #128 (On Sale: March 5, 1970) has cover by Neal Adams. The layout of this one seems forced; the medicine man and the archers too squeezed into the picture and the coloring somewhat off-putting.

This issue begins with Tomahawk in "Rangers -- Your 9 Lives for Mine" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. The back-up Tomahawk story is "Stovepipe's Secret Skirmish" by George Kashdan and Frank Thorne.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Tomahawk #127

Tomahawk #127 (On Sale: January 3, 1970) has a cover by Neal Adams. This may be the weakest of the Adams' Tomahawk covers.

This issue begins with "The Devil is Waiting" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. The back-up "Big Anvil's Big Lie" is also by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Tomahawk #126

Tomahawk #126 (On Sale: November 4, 1969) has a nice cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with Tomahawk in "The Baron of Gallows Hill" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. The back-up is "Raids of the Invisible Braves," a Tomahawk reprint from Tomahawk #62 drawn by Bob Brown.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Tomahawk #125

Tomahawk #125 (On Sale: September 4, 1969) has a cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with "A Chief's Feather for Little Bear" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. The back-up Tomahawk story is "Village of Death" by Howard Liss and Frank Thorne.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Tomahawk #124

Tomahawk #124 (On Sale: July 3, 1969) has another beautiful cover by Neal Adams. It is hard to believe this book was not selling well.

We begin with "The Valley of No Return" by Robert Kanigher, Frank Thorne and Joe Kubert. As Tomahawk and his Rangers march through the thick snow back into Echo Valley, they are faced with three lines of warriors under the guidance of Buffalo Horn, waiting for the Rangers to get into range of their riffles and bows. Behind Tomahawk stands the wagons of the Smith family, steadfastly refusing to go back into the valley. As Tomahawk and his men move forward they are attacked from all sides and Tomahawk thinks back to the first time he entered Echo Valley.

It was warmer days and Tomahawk and his men found the beautiful valley and thought it would be the perfect spot for the Smith family to settle. But Buffalo Horn and his warriors had other ideas and attacked the Rangers. The fight was heavy and brutal, but in the end only Buffalo Horn remained, awaiting Tomahawk's knife. But Hawk surprised him by showing mercy and letting him go, Buffalo Horn remarking that it was a weakness he would not have shown if the roles were reversed.

Tomahawk and his men get to the business of felling trees and getting the place ready for a settlement. Frenchie comment that Big Anvil smells like a bear and that pretty ladies are coming, but Anvil replies that he took a bath last spring and besides, "No gal ever looked at me!" However, when the Smith wagons arrive, Big Anvil meets Liza Smith and his life is changed forever. When the house and barn are completed a party is in order and Liza says she will save her first dance for Big Anvil. Smitten with each other it is only a matter of time before they profess their mutual love and Big Anvil tells Tomahawk that he plans on coming back to the valley and marrying Liza. The Rangers stayed till fall and then headed back to the fort, Big Anvil promising to return to be with Liza.

They find the fort under attack and it only survives due to the extra fire-power of the Rangers. Tomahawk tells Big Anvil that maybe he should slip back to Liza, but the big man says he will stay, that as long as "the Injuns are attackin' this fort -- Liza an' her kin must be safe!" One night while on patrol the Rangers see the warriors sneaking up on the fort with torches and in silence they attack them, fighting them till morning when the "Indians fade away like shadows."

The Rangers head back to Echo Valley only to find the cabin on fire and the Smiths leaving, saying they don't want to stay in the place where Liza was murdered. A shaken Big Anvil charges into the valley with the rest of the Rangers facing off the warriors gunfire. All of a sudden it becomes quiet as the gunfire stops and the whistle of arrows begins. Tomahawk thinks he understands why and has his men fire their guns off in rapid succession, firing everything they have. The gunfire starts an avalanche which buries Buffalo Horn and his men. In the end only Buffalo Horn emerges from the mountain of snow, saying he has had enough of fighting a white man who fights like an Indian.

The Smiths decide to stay on in the valley and as the Rangers leave a weeping Big Anvil kneels down in front of Liza's grave and places a flower. I can't let this one go without mentioning the wonderful art. Frank Thorne and Joe Kubert made a great team and the styles of both men survive the team-up. It's too bad that Kubert could not ink Thorne more as the results were a great treat.

The back-up story is "The Man Who Posed as Tomahawk" a reprint from Tomahawk #31 drawn by Bruno Premiani and Ray Burnley.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Tomahawk #123

Tomahawk #123 (On Sale: May 6, 1969) has another absolutely stunning cover by Neal Adams. This is just a thing of beauty.

This issue contains two Tomahawk stories. the first is "The Stallions of Death" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. The second is, "The Unknown Warrior" drawn by Bob Brown and a reprint from Tomahawk #49.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Tomahawk #122

Tomahawk #122 (On Sale: March 6, 1969) has a cover by Irv Novick as Neal Adams takes the month off another cover he usually creates. Novick does an admirable job by giving us a dramatic angle and an exciting action sequence.

Inside we have two Tomahawk stories: "Must the Brave Die" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne and "Brass Buttons' Double War" by George Kashdan and Frank Thorne. The Thorne art throughout is just classic good story-telling.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Tomahawk #121

Tomahawk #121 (On Sale: January 7, 1969) features another stunning cover by Neal Adams. Nobody else did anything even remotely close to this quality in 1969.

This issue sported two Tomahawk stories. "To Kill a Ranger" is by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne began the book. "Aim Your Cannons at Me" by Howard Liss and Frank Thorne came next. It was reprinted in Sgt. Rock Special #7.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Our Fighting Forces #117

Our Fighting Forces #117 (On Sale: November 12, 1968) has a Lt. Hunter's Hellcats cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Lt. Hunter's Hellcats in "Colder Than Death" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. Next is "The Three GIs" from Star Spangled War Stories #62 by Bill Finger and Russ Heath. Lastly we have "Medal in the Mud" written and drawn by Fred Ray.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Tomahawk #120

Tomahawk #120 (On Sale: November 7, 1968) has a cover by Nick Cardy. I think the coloring pretty much destroys this nicely-drawn Cardy cover..

We begin with "The Coward Who Lived Forever" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. The back-up story is "A Bullet Meant for Me" by Bill Finger and Bob Brown.

Bill Finger was pretty much fired by DC with this issue. He would sale a couple of mystery stories in 1974 and 1976, but for all intents and purposes, Finger's career ended here. His career begin 30 years prior in a book called Detective Comics. The 27th issue of Detective Comics to be exact. In a little story called "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate." Maybe you've heard of it; it introduced a character called, oh, what was his name? Oh yeah, the Batman.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.