Jack Kirby's The Losers

by Jack Kirby, Mike Royer (Illustrator/Letterer), D. Bruce Berry (Illustrator/Letterer)

In the 1970s, Jack "King" Kirby was hard at work at DC Comics on mind-bending epics including THE NEW GODS, THE FOREVER PEOPLE, OMAC, and THE DEMON. At the same time, Kirby also created a series of stories that drew on his own experiences in World War II.
Starring DC war heroes including Captain Storm, Johnny Cloud, Gunner and Sarge, this volume features inventive stories in which The Losers stop a German attack using a strategy found in a comic book, German and American athletes who faced each other at the 1936 Berlin Olympics meet again on the field of combat, and much more.

Genres: Comics, War, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Military Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2009

About the author

Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg) was one of the most influential, recognizable, and prolific artists in American comic books, and the co-creator of such enduring characters and popular culture icons as the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Hulk, Captain America, and hundreds of others stretching back to the earliest days of the medium. He was also a comic book writer and editor. His most common nickname is "The King."

Reviews

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another of the classic DC war series. Nice Kirby stories and art. fun read. Recommended

[Alexander Engel-Hodgkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The time is World War II. The soldiers are Captain Storm, Johnny Cloud, Gunner, and Sarge. The idea is that these guys are the Allies' proudest screw-ups who still manage to get the job done with a little bit of skill and a ridiculous fuckload of luck.

I saw the movie based on the rebooted comic cast of The Losers, and while it wasn't GREAT by any means, it was pretty entertaining, and sometimes I'll pop the DVD in when it springs back into my mind. It was also much better than The A-Team movie. Ugh.

Anyway, I was surprised when I saw this in my library. I didn't realize there were two different teams by different creators until I signed this out and looked it up online to discover that the original creator was comic legend Jack Kirby. Huh. You learn something new every day.

Our four American heroes seem human enough, characterized simply, but delicately. Kirby's legendary art is good--serviceable at its worst, and great at its best. All too often, the intense action scenes seem to come alive and explode off the page, and considering the mind and skillful hand behind this, that isn't surprising. Sometimes it's clever, and sometimes it's just silly (like blasting a missile out of the sky with an artillery gun before it can pick up speed toward its target). On the rare occasion, it's upbeat, but most of the time, it can be rather bleak.

Despite the series' bleakness (note: this volume contains the entire original series, to my knowledge), it's peppered with humour in the form of witty one-liners and sarcasm. It's good to read about soldiers with a good sense of humour despite their outrageously hopeless situation.

Still, if I were to complain, it's that with a few exceptions, the true horrors of war aren't really explored in detail. Most of the time, the series stays within the realm that other adventure stories like Indiana Jones or even James Bond, and of course, the original A-Team dwell. Which makes the issue featuring firing squads that much more surprising and a bit jarring when it appears. It's not quite as jarring as the supernatural themes that appear in the odd volume. One volume seemed to feature ghosts, and another had a giant tentacle monster in a British officer's nightmares. It just seemed out of place, but none of these flaws were enough to bring down the book.

I enjoyed it, and I'm glad I discovered such a gem in my library.

[Devero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davvero è un peccato che in Italia queste storie non siano mai arrivate.
Le storie per "The Losers" di Jack kirby sono alquanto strane.
Sono storie, quasi tutte indipendenti una dall'altra, dove il Re riversa alcune delle sue esperienze di guerra. Lui che la WW 2 l'ha vissuta in prima linea, che ha perso coscritti, anche amici, e che altri colleghi ha ascoltato degli orrori della guerra.
La prima storia "Kill me with Wagner" ironizza con certe manie naziste che han completamente traviato il senso delle leggende e della lirica, nonché della bellezza delle musiciste. Il senso di realtà che pervade alcune tavole dove la cittadina viene bombardata e distrutta è notevole.
Nella successiva, "A Small place in Hell" si combatte casa per casa contro i tedeschi, nella città devastata, e l'incontro, nelle due tavole finali, con il Gen. Patton sa tanto di autobiografia.
Poi c'è "Devastator vs Big Max" dove al di là degli stupendi disegni c'è del metafumetto quando i Losers costruiscono un falso bersaglio tipo mezzo supereroistico di cartapesta per localizzare Big Max, il supercannone nazista, e permettere la sua distruzione. La storia in se è folle, ma anche profonda.
Con la successiva "Bushido" ci spostiamo sul fronte del Pacifico dove usando un trucco che sfrutta il senso dell'onore del comandante nipponico i Losers hanno la meglio, non tanto sul nemico, quanto per il fatto di permettere alle forze aeree americane di completare la missione. Mi ha ricordato molto la critica di Il ritorno di Beorhtnoth figlio di Beorhthelm di Tolkien.
Poi viene "The Partisans" ambientata nella Jugoslavia di Tito; una storia di fantasmi, una missione vista in tanti film di guerra ma senza quell'atmosfera weird che qui pervade tutto.
Quindi in "Good by Broadway, Hello Death" i Losers tornano in patria e si narra una storia di spie e sottomarini all'attacco dei porti nordamericani come nel 1941-1942 accadeva davvero.
La successiva è la storia doppia di "Panama Fattie" dove questa obesa americana assassina a sangue freddo e spia vende informazioni e armi per permettere ai nippo di bombardare il canale di Panama. La storia è tragica con risvolti comici.
In "Mile a Minute Jones" vediamo un omaggio alle olimpiadi del '36 e al grande velocista nero che batté tutti i rappresentanti della "razza" ariana, Jessie Owens. Anche qui c'è humor nero, perchè il nazi che vuole la rivincita l'avrà, e vincendo perderà.
La successiva "Ivan" ci porta sul fronte russo, tra quei russi che si vendettero ai nazisti, e si apre con una doppia splash page di impatto grandissimo: la fucilazione di persone inermi come rappresaglia. vecchi, donne, bambini e uomini di fronte a un loro compatriota russo che li falcia con la mitragliatrice. Non per credo, ma per convenienza materiale. Ma pagherà, il contrappasso sarà ugualmente forte.
"The Major's Dream" parla della follia a cui la mente degli uomini, anche quelli più saldi, può essere trascinata dai fatti di guerra.
Infine in "Gung-Ho" vediamo la guerra dei più giovani, l'esaltazione del corpo dei Marines e quanto questa possa costare.
Nel complesso, grandi storie sebbene nelle ultime due si veda già come Kirby stia lasciando la testata.
Sono storie amare nonostante tutto, e di grande impatto. Storie che anche oggi dicono molto. Qualcuno affermerà che la violenza forse è eccessiva per presentarle ai ragazzi di oggi; io controbatto che non è affatto vero e che per Jack, come per molti altri oltre a me, anche oggi vale il detto "Never Stop Punching Nazies".

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must be feeling generous because the first three stories and one near the end lack the luster of the others, so a third of this book is subpar. The other eight, however, are amongst the best war comics Jack Kirby ever produced. Kirby's hardcore fans will like the book even more than I.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of energy. Stories (and locations) are all over the place. So much action is crammed into a panel and the page sometimes only had 4 panels! But that would be followed by a wild splash page. And then there's a random scene with an old cook that took a whole page. Fast n fun.
Loved seeing Kubert covers next to Kirbys.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following the 1973 cancellation of his Fourth World titles ( New Gods , Forever People , Mister Miracle , and Jimmy Olsen ), Jack Kirby created several new titles for DC ( Kamandi , The Demon , and OMAC ). In 1974, he also assumed the mantle on one existing title: Our Fighting Forces. Beginning with issue #151, Kirby rendered the chronicles of a dysfunctional WWII fighting troop, code-named the Losers.

In 1969, famed war comics creator Robert Kanigher ( Sgt. Rock , Enemy Ace ) cobbled together this band of archetypes from four existing DC characters that formerly headlined their own titles. Navajo air ace Captain Johnny Cloud, the fighting infantry duo of Gunner and Sarge, and Navy man Captain Storm compromised the Special Forces quartet. The Losers, who always drew the short end of the stick, primarily tackled the seemingly impossible missions.

No stranger to war, Jack Kirby served as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army on the European front during World War II. Throughout his storied career, he called upon on those experiences to inspire numerous comics most notably Boy Commandos, Foxhole, and Sgt Fury . The Losers were far more ordinary than Kirby's usual characterizations -- no super deeds nor powers. Therefore, his portrayals of the four lacked his usual originality and flair.

On the other hand, Kirby's art promised a series that would soar past the limitations of a typical 70s comic. His use of outlandish illustrations and innovative storytelling revitalized the title and resulted in a memorable and unusual war comic.

[T:]he Losers are Kirby at his best. Distilled essence of Kirby, if you will. No gigantic, world crushing machines (well, if you ignore Big Max and the Devastastor). No superheroics. Just ordinary people, with the whole of the Second World War as a playing field.
—Neil Gaiman, from his introduction to Jack Kirby's The Losers.

This review originally appeared in "War on Two Fronts", Nexus Graphica May 1 2009.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the Fourth World stuff, but still pretty good. It's Jack Kirby after all. How can you go wrong?

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a blast from the past. I had only read a couple of these Jack Kirby "Losers" comics when they were published, but one, Our Fighting Forces #152 "A Small Place in Hell," is one of the most memorable comics from my childhood. I loved The Losers comics, especially those drawn by John Severin's, whose realistic artwork I appreciated, but this one by Jack Kirby had a great cover, a realistic storyline (no crazy mission--just survival), and an unexpected encounter with a real historical figure (no spoilers--read it and find out). Ironically, John Severin guest-drew one of my favorite Sgt. Rock comics.

[Brannigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the Losers by accident and then to find out Kirby worked on it for about a dozen issues put me in Heaven. The art is top notch but I was a little disappointed that he gave all the side characters the best development. I’m excited to search out the last twenty or so issues and hope it ends well.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Jack's finest hour, but it looks great and has some verve. I wouldn't recommend it unless you really love Jack, though.

[Darth Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Classic Kirby.

[Jack T · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Emily Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Kirby’s The Losers is a compilation of Jack Kirby’s run on a World War II comic called The Losers, which features four men from different branches of the armed services. As Neil Gaiman notes in his introduction, Captain Storm, Johnny Cloud, Gunner, and Sarge are practically the same character, and the comic is not about character development or even making clear differentiations of stereotypical personalities. No, the comics are pure plot with a little commentary on the war.

In this volume, each issue begins a completely separate mission from the one before, no plots being carried over and no additional characters developed. The Losers might be in France in one issue and the U.S. the next. One of the few running jokes is that they never actually get to enjoy any time off, because everywhere they go leads to a mission.

Even though the comics are primarily plot based, they do examine the morality and choices made during war. For example, in “Gung-Ho,” the soldiers argue the wisdom in training young French orphans to fight. Will training them give them an opportunity to feel useful and work out some of their anger at losing their families, or will it put them in senseless danger that will end their bloodline all together?

The Losers are good at getting out of scrapes, at tricking people and getting just lucky enough not to step on the landmine. They are a mix of serious and silly, as their name implies—The Losers. The last ditch effort to get a mission done, when you cannot risk experts because of the danger but you need a bit of luck to get it done. The volume is an interesting peek at a kind of comic I am not used to reading.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your average war comic, Kirby's The LOSERS are twelve self-contained stories that highlight the particular situations the Losers find themselves in, rather than the team members themselves. And it's ok. Delving into the supporting cast allows Kirby to present the other side of war. Partisans, enemies, allies haunted by mysterious dreams - Kirby weaves tales that bring the reader into another place beyond the battlefield. These stories do not get the respect or acclaim of his Fourth World works, or wacky inventions of OMAC or Kamandi, but they should. The excellent introduction by Neil Gaiman also offers superlatives that may be surprising for those familiar with his work, but is, really, further proof of the magnificence of this volume.

[Pranay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This hardcover volume chronicles the adventures of 4 American soldiers - Captain Cloud, Storm, Sarge and Gunner during World War 2 as they fulfill one precarious mission after another. Written and illustrated by Jack Kirby the initial stories are a bit dry but slowly grow with some colourful characters added like Panama Fatty and Evan. I found the art to be a bit out of perspective in some panels and the dialogues too long (most of the 70's and 80's comics have lots of dialogues and explanations). The later chapters become more diverse and the book also covers one chapter (story) which has some supernatural tone to it.

[Ruz El · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kirby takes on the war with DC's THE LOSERS. This was one of the last wave of books he worked on at DC in the 70's, and one he didn't want to do. You'd never know if from the work though. Dead solid in art, action and story. Kirby was the King.

This hardcover edition looks fantastic to, with a nice intro by Neil Gaiman and some nice pencil art as a supplement. The knock would be that's it's pretty short (nothing to be done there) and a quick read. A good read though, and worth checking out if you're a Kirby fan.

[Acton Northrop · Rating 5 out of 5]

If WWII had taken place on Apokolips it might look like this. Kirby's at his funniest and strangest here. The fact that each ish is followed up by diagrammatic guides of military apparel and weapons only underscores how bananas the proceedings are. Anxious to check out the rest of The King's post-NEW GODS DC tenure after reading this and OMAC.

i just read it again in September and it kicks so much ass. oh my GOD this is a weird comic.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is much better than most of Kirby's seventies work, probably because he can't use magic tech to solve problems the way he does in OMAC. These stories of DC's WWII Spec-ops team include a couple of outstanding ones and a couple more good ones, but mostly it's just average.

[Jamil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really great, action packed war comics by the King.

[Karl Kindt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun Kirby action, but really sad and silly compared to the Fourth World stuff. Kirby and attempted realism do not mesh well.

[Greg Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

PURE ADRENALINE. And in a lovely hardcover package too.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

War! What is it good for? Comics! (Say it again - HUMPF!)

[Neil Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I burn with either hate or indifference to old-timey "fun" DC war comics, but the The King's stuff from Our Fighting Forces is some of his best

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Veterans Day