What ever happened to war comics?

**Winston001** · 22nd August 2008, 23:22

In my callow youth I learnt all of my German from these graphic epics known as War Comics. It stood me in good stead when I later hitch-hiked through Germany.

A car would roll up and I'd cheerily announce myself as a Gott Damn New Zealander Sweinhund. I knew I was on the right track at the startled reaction frpm the driver. The Continentals just love it when you speak their lingo.

Then I'd suggest they open the door with "Schnell Schnell", which kept their attention. Speaking of which, introducting a few "Actungs" helped too. Still, the results were mixed and maybe it was an accent problem.

I quickly found that "Hande Hoch" wasn't helpful because usually the car disappeared with a screech and haze of blue smoke. Then a kind policeman would show up and give me a ride to the nearest border which was bloody decent of him.

Great people the Jerries.

**Ocean1** · 22nd August 2008, 23:33

Ever see the German versions?

Their heros invariably end up being betrayed by some nasty insider blackhat.

**Drum** · 22nd August 2008, 23:37

I recently saw a hardcover compilation of "Commando" comics at the Ware Whare.

Included was a colonial war story where a tribe of Maori get mowed down by British machine gun fire whilst the pommies make particularly un-pc comments regarding their ancestry. You couldn't get away with that these days!

When I was at intermediate we used to go to the second hand book shop every Friday on the way home from school and pick up a war comic or two. They used to range from 5c to 20c each at the time.

**Sanx** · 23rd August 2008, 02:37

Originally Posted by Drum

I recently saw a hardcover compilation of "Commando" comics at the Ware Whare.

Included was a colonial war story where a tribe of Maori get mowed down by British machine gun fire whilst the pommies make particularly un-pc comments regarding their ancestry. You couldn't get away with that these days!

When I was at intermediate we used to go to the second hand book shop every Friday on the way home from school and pick up a war comic or two. They used to range from 5c to 20c each at the time.

And that's the reason you don't see such comics any more.

No - nothing to do with the un-PC-ness of it, but the Maori claimed all the comics as part of their cultural heritage and now no-one can read them without being culturally insensitive.

**awayatc** · 23rd August 2008, 03:13

What Ever Happened To War Comics?

Isn't the latest one still in The Hague...?

**portokiwi** · 23rd August 2008, 07:15

They still have comando but in bulk hard cuver at most whitcalls, and paper plus stores. I think I saw them at Dimmioks as well.

I was addicted to commando I think thats why I day dreamed through out my school days ans joined the Army.
saw a lot of the world though.

**James Deuce** · 23rd August 2008, 08:06

Aieeeeeee!

Arghhhhhh!

Gott in Himmel!

Sacre Bleu!

**barty5** · 23rd August 2008, 08:33

dont think the new bigger versions of commado are quite the same ( same storys etc etc) just lack what the smaller paper back ones had use to have a huge cllection of them use to hunt round all the second hand book stores to find all the low numbered ones ended up with some reall low 100s at one point.

**gijoe1313** · 23rd August 2008, 08:37

Heck them was the days when you had 2000AD, Battle, Action and Eagle comics (along with Whizzer and Chips, Beano and Dandy).

I still got a passle load of them stashed in a box somewhere, glorious they were, all sorts of stories with the usual mish mash of retreaded plots and the good guys coming through, invariably the Sarge would be killed doing a heroic action and the plucky hero steps up to singlehandely defeat the ruinous Axis powers

Italian : "Avanti!
German : "Feur!"
Japanese : "Banzai!"
British : "Tally ho chaps!"
American : "USA! USA! USA!"

My faves were the ones with tanks and planes in them, I loved how they would focus on the good qualities and how they had advantages in combat. Tiger tanks would blow up as if they had cheeseboard for armour and enemy pilots needed to have a 3:1 ratio to have a hope in hell against the main character!

Good times!

**McJim** · 23rd August 2008, 08:39

Mein Gott!

Gott in himmel!

Hande hoche!

As for war comics....don't they send comedians out to war zones to entertain the troops any more?

**Swoop** · 23rd August 2008, 16:03

Englander Swein!!!!!

**Dooly** · 23rd August 2008, 16:55

The nips used to scream really high pitched when they died, I recall. Almost girlyish.

Commando and Battle were my favs.

Saw a huge hardcover Commando compilation in Dymocks the other day.
Was 64 bucks.

I used to wonder if you could travel thru Germany armed with a few Commandos and make do language wise.

**Timber020** · 23rd August 2008, 23:26

Dont forget

If a Brit dies its "AAAGGGHHH!"

if a jap eats hot lead its "AAAIIIIIEEEEE!!!!!"

Actung, britsher kommados!

Mein Gott Spitfuers!

Banzi white devils!

hande hocke tommy or you Kaput!