In the very first four parts of this series on war comics, we’ve delved into the depths of the golden as well as Atomic Ages to showcase the essential books you ought to focus on if you’re thinking about collecting comics featuring combating men. All have been simple preludes up until now, however, for bursting into the Silver Age come the mightiest of the war comics. join us for the dawn of the sergeants!
Sgt. rock as well as simple Company
Despite their success updating their super-heroes beginning with the Flash in showcase #4, DC was still extremely much in the war comics game. While the new versions of old heroes would show to be popular, war comics were the bread as well as butter of the business – solid sellers with proven track records. This was proven beginning in June 1959 when Sgt. rock made his debut in Our army at war #83, written by Bob Kanigher as well as penciled by Joe Kubert.
The character, together with simple Company, would be so successful that DC would ultimately modification the name of the title to show its star beginning with Sgt. rock #302. In fact, the title would continue for one more 120 problems before lastly shutting down with Sgt. rock #422 in July 1988, long after many war comics had sounded their last taps.
Our army at war #83
For collectors of DC war titles, there is no higher grail than Our army at war #83. This is not an simple comic to find, especially in higher grades. There are only 200 copies in the CGC census. Of those, only one is available in at the greatest grade, a 9.0 that has never sold.
There are three copies in the next greatest grade: 8.0. Of those three, two copies have offered – one for $16,730 in a Heritage auction in November 2011, as well as the other for the precise exact same cost in a Heritage auction in August 2015. No 8.0 graded copy has offered since. the most recent sale was of a 2.5 graded copy which offered for $3,120 in a Heritage auction on March 15, as well as it’s that grade where we’ll look for any type of trends.
The previous high cost paid for a 2.5 graded copy of Our army at war #83 was $1,500 method back in August 2013. While the cost waxed as well as waned over the ensuing nine years, its floor would never autumn below $900 as well as its top would never increase above that $1,500 threshold – up until this year. It’s an strange thing in a year of comic costs correcting from highs in 2021 to see a comic reach its greatest selling point – much more than double its previous high – as well as in a low grade as well. Yet, right here we have Our army at war #83.
Only time will tell if this cost is an anomaly or if we’ll see this reflecting upward into the higher grades. If you gather war comics, or you’re looking into collecting war comics, this is one of the excellent treasures, one of the mighty keys. You’ll pay handsomely for it, however it will be a deserving book in your collection.
Sgt. rock Prototypes
Before we get to our next top-selling sarge, it ought to be noted that there were a few problems with prototypes of Sgt. rock prior to his very first appearance in Our army at war #83. G.I. battle #68, published in January 1959, featured “The Rock.” This problem was likewise produced by the Kanigher/Kubert team as well as was, for numerous years, thought about the very first appearance of Sgt. Rock, in spite of not being the exact same character.
Our army at war #81 as well as Our army at war #82 both featured prototypes of Sgt. Rock, one even coming so close as to be named Sgt. Rocky. Neither was created by the Kanigher/Kubert innovative team, however. While of historical note, these prototype problems are less sought-after by collectors.
Sgt. Fury as well as His groaning Commandos
Just since they’d altered their name from Atlas to marvel as well as had success with their own superheroes, didn’t imply that Stan Lee as well as business weren’t still major mimics of others’ success. beginning with Sgt. Fury as well as His groaning Commandos #1, published in may 1963, marvel would introduce their own sergeant into comic book lore, in addition to his own company, understood as the groaning Commandos, as well as produced by the Lee/Kirby team that was accountable for so much of Marvel’s Silver Age output.
As with Sgt. Rock, the character would show to be incredibly popular, with his very first series long lasting up until Sgt. Fury as well as His groaning Commandos #167, released in December 1981. Sgt. Fury would go on to ended up being Nick Fury, leader of S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as would ultimately show up in the MCU, albeit in a different guise.
Sgt. Fury as well as His groaning Commandos #1
The very first thing you notice when taking a look at Sgt. Fury as well as His groaning Commandos #1 as a collector as well as financier is exactly how numerous much more copies there are of this book in the CGC census than Our army at war #83null