Last time, we explored the births of Sergeants Rock and Fury from DC and Marvel respectively.  This time around, we’re going to look at DC’s tremendous output of war comics in the Silver Age. Are you a Silver Age war comics collector? Then get comfy.

Mademoiselle Marie

All but unknown to super-hero comic collectors, Mademoiselle Marie holds a special place in the hearts of war comics collectors.  The French Resistance fighter, and only love interest of Sgt. Rock first appeared in Star Spangled War Stories #84, published in August 1959.

As with many DC Silver Age war comics, there are scant graded copies in the CGC census, only 89 in this case.  The last sale was of a 3.5 graded CBCS copy selling on January 24 for a slashed $480.  The highest price paid was $1,650 in March 2020 for a 7.5 graded copy in an eBay fixed-price sale.

The War That Time Forgot

DC began mixing dinosaurs with soldiers in the epic The War That Time Forgot series beginning in Star Spangled War Stories #90, published in April 1960.  The series would be the main feature of Star Spangled War Stories throughout most of the 1960s.

There are 83 copies in the CGC census.  The most recent sale occurred on April 14 when a 2.0 copy sold for $100 in an eBay auction.  The highest price paid was in a Heritage auction back in August 2014 in which an 8.0 graded copy sold for $3,107.

Haunted Tank

The Haunted Tank series first began publication in G.I. Combat #87, released in April 1961. It would stay in publication all the way until 1987.  The Haunted Tank tells tales of the ghost of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart as he protects Lieutenant Jeb Stuart and his M3 Stuart tank.  That’s a lot of Stuarts.

Of the 175 copies in the CGC census, the highest sale was of an 8.5 graded copy, which sold for $3,884 in a Heritage auction in November 2011.  The last sale was on July 6 when a 4.5 copy sold on eBay for $599.

Enemy Ace

A favorite of Joe Kubert fans, Enemy Ace began publication in Our Army At War #151, released in February 1965.  Loosely based on the Red Baron, Enemy Ace stories focused on Hans von Hammer, a World War I flying ace.

There are 164 copies in the CGC census.  The most recent sale occurred on January 30, when a 6.0 graded copy sold for $209 on eBay.  The highest price paid was for a 9.0 graded copy in a Heritage auction in February 2011.  The price was $1,016 and that was the only time any graded copies of this book sold for more than $1,000.

If you’re just starting out collecting war comics, this is an excellent book to target due to its affordability and its prominence.

Unknown Soldier

DC introduced the Unknown Soldier in Our Army at War #168, published in June 1966.  The character was a master of disguise whose secret identity was unknown.

There are only 104 copies registered in the CGC census.  The latest sale was of a 4.5 graded copy selling for a slashed $300 on eBay on April 16.  The biggest seller was a 9.4 graded copy, which went for $1,800 in a fixed price sale on eBay in April 2019.

Sgt. Rock Keys

Despite its long history of publication, nearly all of the Sgt. Rock keys are Silver Age books.  Among these are Our Army at War #84 – the second appearance of Sgt. Rock; Our Army at War #88 – the first Sgt. Rock cover; Our Army at War #89 – an issue containing panels swiped by pop artist Roy Lichtenstein; and, one of my personal favorites, Our Army at War #112, with its classic Roy Kubert Easy Company cover.

All of these comics have low census numbers but are very affordable, particularly in the mid grades, the exception being Our Army at War #112, which sells in the $350 to $500 range for mid grades.

Next Time: Silver Age War Comics – Part 3

Marvel still had some war comics to produce in the 1960s that we need to cover, as did other publishers.  Join us next time as we wrap up our journey back to Silver Age war comics.

Want more Silver Age coverage?

Do you collect war comics?  If so, what are some of your favorites?  Let us know below.

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.