Semper Fi #1

I really like this series and haven't really read it since it came out in the late 80's. It follows the history of the U.S. Marines through the lives of one family. Through the years the men of the Whittier family have served in the Marines. The first issue tells the story Cpl. Miles Whittier in Vietnam but through flashbacks as he attends a reunion. It's a real gut wrenching story where one of his platoon mates accuses him of abandoning them. The story ends with Miles and his daughter at the war memorial in Washington D.C.

There's also a backup story set in WW2 1943. A young marine makes his mark on the war while his comrades are falling around him. He learns quickly to set aside his fear and fight.

Great issue at an even better price. Scored from the 50 cent bins at the Motor City Comic Con.

Vietnam Journal #3

This is only the second issue of this series from Apple Comics that I own, and honestly I can't seem to remember the story or reading the other issue.
Written and drawn by Don Lomax this book does have a 70's underground comic feel to it. The story seems to follow an embedded print reporter with a platoon in Vietnam, and is written like a journal or diary, following day to day or couple days happenings around the base. It's hard to tell what is true to life or embellishment but it does compel you to want to read more.
Also the last page has a story of a real missing American soldier in Vietnam. It tells of how his family is still writing letters to him via the government of Laos. It makes you think "what if" there are still POW's being held there. It also tells how you can get involved. I'm not sure how current the addresses and information is as the book was printed in 1988.
I think i'm going to try and track these issues down as I go to comic conventions.

G.I. Combat #1 (2012)

The first issue of the new series. I was hoping for something big from this title since most issues of Men Of War from DC's new 52 left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I wasn't disappointed. The War That Time Forgot is drawn by one of my favourite artists Ariel Olivetti and the story was well written too. If you can get past the point that the soldiers are fighting giant dinosaurs, there is a great military story.
The second story in the book is a re-telling/re-introduction to the Unknown Soldier. Holy crap did I love this one! Nicely updated for current real life wars being fought in the middle east.
This book is awesome and I find myself on pins and needles waiting for the next issue!

Combat #30

Once I saw this issue in the bin at a comic book convention I knew I just had to have it. First off I love the covers Combat has on their issues. The art of the full face or combat scenes is amazing. This issue is the story of John F. Kennedy. Not being an American I knew he was in the military at some point in his life, but I had no idea what he had did.
As the story goes he was a Lieutenant in the Navy serving in the Pacific. His PT boat was run over by a Japanese ship and him and eleven of his comrades clung to the remains and eventually swam to a nearby island. It goes on to tell how he swam from neighbouring island to island looking to either find an American patrol or some form of help. Eventually they receive help from natives of the islands and then the New Zealand Navy and make their way back to the American Navy.
It was a really interesting story and the artist really got his likeness down pat. There is also a one page biography General Buckner, the highest ranking American killed in the Pacific Theater. A four page Roman story about the Fall Of Palmyra is at the end of the book.

Fury : Peacemaker

This is the collected edition of the six comics by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. With those two creators you know that nothing is held back. I've never really been a fan of the Sgt. Fury comics but this re-telling of his origin/history is really really good. There's no Howling Commandos in this book, just Fury and a small band of international soldiers.
The story first takes place in North Africa where Fury's entire group is killed by German soldiers, leaving Fury alone to survive. He runs across a small group of British soldiers who are fighting their own war against the Germans. Fighting "a war without the army". Eventually they win their battle in Africa and head back to the European theater and are put on a mission to take down a German Field Marshall. Not wanting to give away the ending but it does also explain Fury's distinctive eye patch.
This book is filled with gore and body parts flying everywhere, exactly what I look for in a combat comic. All the covers for the individual issues are included in here as well and feature some really great artwork by some very talented artists. I highly suggest this book as it's one of the best I've read in a while.

Men Of War #17

This is my first issue of the old Men Of War series from the 70's. It's an alright book, but nothing too amazing about this title. It stars a black soldier who goes by the codename Gravedigger (i'll give you one guess what his military profession is). For some unknown (at least to me) reason, it's up to him to find these secret German plans. Gravedigger is aided by three British soldiers and attacks a German mini-sub in the Nile River. After fighting with the mini-sub, armed only with a knife and a rope, he wins the secret plans. Thanks though to the water of the river they are forever ruined and not good to either side now. Twist ending.....
There's also a back up story in this issue starring Rosa a spy from the 1800's. It's all a very far fetched story and not very believable in any sense, it's not even a war story so i'm not even going to write any more about it.
All in all the best thing about this book is the cover done by Joe Kubert.

Men Of War #7

I'm sure if this title was as good as this issue was then this wouldn't be the second last issue of the series. This easily has to be my favourite of the series. It contains more "war" stories than any of the rest, and no super powers!
The issue starts off with a new character, I've never heard of before, George Saint, S.A.S. A modern story taking place in Afghanistan George Saint tracks down a Taliban leader called the Leopard. There's plenty of fire fights, but the best is saved for last when it comes down to man vs. man as George fights the Leopard. I hope this writing and action style carry over into the new series.
The second story is Survival Mode. It's a different kind of story that deals with the hardships of returning home after your tour is done. It flashes between past battles and dealing with current civilian life. A very current story considering whats been happening in the news with returning vets from both Iraq and Afghanistan.
I highly recommend this issue, but it's coming a little late as issue #8 will be the final before the title is replaced with G.I. Combat in May.