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The Hidden S in Phone Booth
The Haunted Tank Gets an Overhaul Courtesy of Vertigo...
The Haunted Tank was a comic book feature created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Russ Heath; the series began in 1961 and ran through 1987. Most of DC’s war comics/characters of that era like Sgt. Rock and Johnny Cloud were rooted in some kind of realistic sense of warfare. The Haunted Tank was a notable exception to this.
The series concerned the ghost of the real life 19th century swashbuckling Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart who is dispatched by the spirit of Alexander the Great to act as guardian to one of Stuart’s present day family members, Lt. Jeb Stuart. Lt. Stuart happens to be a tank commander in the United States Army who commands a Stuart tank company fighting with the Allies in the North African Campaign during WWII. Initially, the dead General does not care for his task, but in time he comes to admire the courage of his descendent and his crew.
The living Lt. Stuart is the only one who can see or hear his ancestor (which results in Lt. Stuart’s crew thinking he is mentally ill). Despite this, the men recognize that Lt. Stuart is being guided by something which is allowing them a tactical advantage in the many dangerous situations that the crew encounter throughout the series. In the ultimate tribute, the men hoist the Confedertate flag to honor the spirit of Stuart’s dashing, supernatural leadership.
The series was very imaginative and combined the war comic with the supernatural comic (both genres of which were particularly popular in the 60s and 70s). Interestingly enough, the series died off in the eighties when the image of the US military was most definitiely on the upswing. The characters were occassionally revived in short guest appearances, but have mostly been absent from the DC scene for over 20 years. The series has also influenced other series including Garth Ennis' Preacher (which has the Spirit of John Wayne act as the protagonist's guide).
There has been a slight resurgence of war comics at DC in the latter part of this decade. Billy Tucci’s recent work on Sgt. Rock has been a high profile project at DC. At present, another strange war hero/superhero, the Unknown Soldier, has been rebooted by Joshua Dysart.
With this, the Haunted Tank has been revived and brought up to the minute with a storyline that revolves around US military involvement in Iraq. The original concept, however, is much the same; J.E.B. Stuart is compelled to protect his ancestor from the grave. In this case, the ancestor is Jamal Stuart, a tank commander who happens to be African-American. Predictably, this stuns the dyed in the wool Confederate Stuart.
The series, a 5 issue arc by writer Frank Marraffino and artist Henry Flint is one of the most provocative and politically incorrect series in mainstream comics in recent memory. The Confederate Stuart's racism is casually on display and played as dark humor (he talks affectionalely of his "Mulatto servant Bob" and wonders if the African-American Stuart minds being called "Darky"). Needless to say, having a heroic figure spout this kind of politically incorrect dialogue makes for an edgy, complicated work and it is to Marraffino's credit that he doesn't try to sugar-coat this aspect of Stuart's character. The tank company even raises the Confederate flag as in the old series from the 60s and 70s.
In my mind, this kind of thing is the essence of what a hip comic should be; topical, with a sense of humor and a willingness to deal with some interesting philosophical issues combined with an old fashioned sense of heroism. Vertigo has always been willing to explore the thorny issues in comic form. This is just the latest interesting example. It is hoped that Vertigo/DC will find some way to continue the adventures of the men of The Haunted Tank...
The Hidden S...
The Haunted Tank Gets an Overhaul Courtesy of Vertigo...
The Haunted Tank was a comic book feature created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Russ Heath; the series began in 1961 and ran through 1987. Most of DC’s war comics/characters of that era like Sgt. Rock and Johnny Cloud were rooted in some kind of realistic sense of warfare. The Haunted Tank was a notable exception to this.
The series concerned the ghost of the real life 19th century swashbuckling Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart who is dispatched by the spirit of Alexander the Great to act as guardian to one of Stuart’s present day family members, Lt. Jeb Stuart. Lt. Stuart happens to be a tank commander in the United States Army who commands a Stuart tank company fighting with the Allies in the North African Campaign during WWII. Initially, the dead General does not care for his task, but in time he comes to admire the courage of his descendent and his crew.
The living Lt. Stuart is the only one who can see or hear his ancestor (which results in Lt. Stuart’s crew thinking he is mentally ill). Despite this, the men recognize that Lt. Stuart is being guided by something which is allowing them a tactical advantage in the many dangerous situations that the crew encounter throughout the series. In the ultimate tribute, the men hoist the Confedertate flag to honor the spirit of Stuart’s dashing, supernatural leadership.
The series was very imaginative and combined the war comic with the supernatural comic (both genres of which were particularly popular in the 60s and 70s). Interestingly enough, the series died off in the eighties when the image of the US military was most definitiely on the upswing. The characters were occassionally revived in short guest appearances, but have mostly been absent from the DC scene for over 20 years. The series has also influenced other series including Garth Ennis' Preacher (which has the Spirit of John Wayne act as the protagonist's guide).
There has been a slight resurgence of war comics at DC in the latter part of this decade. Billy Tucci’s recent work on Sgt. Rock has been a high profile project at DC. At present, another strange war hero/superhero, the Unknown Soldier, has been rebooted by Joshua Dysart.
With this, the Haunted Tank has been revived and brought up to the minute with a storyline that revolves around US military involvement in Iraq. The original concept, however, is much the same; J.E.B. Stuart is compelled to protect his ancestor from the grave. In this case, the ancestor is Jamal Stuart, a tank commander who happens to be African-American. Predictably, this stuns the dyed in the wool Confederate Stuart.
The series, a 5 issue arc by writer Frank Marraffino and artist Henry Flint is one of the most provocative and politically incorrect series in mainstream comics in recent memory. The Confederate Stuart's racism is casually on display and played as dark humor (he talks affectionalely of his "Mulatto servant Bob" and wonders if the African-American Stuart minds being called "Darky"). Needless to say, having a heroic figure spout this kind of politically incorrect dialogue makes for an edgy, complicated work and it is to Marraffino's credit that he doesn't try to sugar-coat this aspect of Stuart's character. The tank company even raises the Confederate flag as in the old series from the 60s and 70s.
In my mind, this kind of thing is the essence of what a hip comic should be; topical, with a sense of humor and a willingness to deal with some interesting philosophical issues combined with an old fashioned sense of heroism. Vertigo has always been willing to explore the thorny issues in comic form. This is just the latest interesting example. It is hoped that Vertigo/DC will find some way to continue the adventures of the men of The Haunted Tank...
The Hidden S...
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