Easy Company (comics)
Encyclopedia
Easy Company is a fictional comic book
World War II
US Army
infantry
unit led by Sgt. Rock
in stories published by DC Comics
. The group first appeared in Our Army at War
#81 (April 1959), and were created by Bob Haney
and Ross Andru
.
. Unlike actual units, the unit has at least one African-American member, which was in defiance of racial segregation
policy of the Army at the time.
In the graphic novel Between Hell and a Hard Place, Sgt. Rock explained that he gave nicknames to Easy Company men because during battle, they would be required to do things their civilian identities might not be able to live with; once the war was over, the nicknames could be left behind once the soldiers resumed their civilian lives. This accounts for the proliferation of unusual character names in Easy Company over the years.
While the characters of Sergeant Rock and Easy Company no longer appear in a monthly book, they from time to time appear in other DC publications with stories that take place during World War II. Most recently, Easy has appeared in two comic book miniseries: Between Hell and a Hard Place (2003), The Prophecy (2005), and The Lost Battalion (2008–2009).
This does not include anonymous replacements and one-time characters who are frequently killed off in the stories. Easy Company's Lieutenants, when they appear at all, are frequently killed off within the first few pages. Letters columns in the 1980s included a roster of all characters introduced into the series; several dozen character names were listed, including some anonymous soldiers.
entitled "The Savage Time." Vandal Savage
was rewriting history, utilizing futuristic weapons sent by his future-self, and the Justice League
went back in time to stop his conquest. When Green Lantern
John Stewart
became separated from the rest of the team and his ring ran out of energy, he met up with the Easy Company, which was made up of four members (Sgt. Rock, Bulldozer, Wildman, and Ice Cream Soldier). After telling the unit that he had military experience as a U.S. Marine and proving his valor against Bulldozer, Sgt. Rock allowed Stewart to temporarily join the unit, complete with standard uniform and weapon. The Easy Company eventually found the hangar where Savage kept the Jet-Engine ships and provided cover for Stewart as he boarded the ship where Savage was. Sgt. Rock was voiced by Fred Dryer
and Bulldozer was voiced by Ted Levine
.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
unit led by Sgt. Rock
Sgt. Rock (comics)
Sgt. Frank Rock is a fictional infantry non-commissioned officer during World War II in the . He first appeared in Our Army at War #83 , and was created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert.-Publication history:...
in stories published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. The group first appeared in Our Army at War
Our Army at War
Our Army at War was the title for a comic book published by DC Comics that featured war themed stories and was the first appearance for popular heroes such like Sgt. Rock and Enemy Ace. The series started in August 1952 and ended in February 1977....
#81 (April 1959), and were created by Bob Haney
Bob Haney
Robert G. "Bob" Haney was a US comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics. He co-created the Teen Titans as well as characters such as Metamorpho, Eclipso, Cain, and the Super-Sons.- Early life and career :...
and Ross Andru
Ross Andru
Ross Andru was an American comic book artist and editor. He is best known for his work on Amazing Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Flash and Metal Men....
.
Publication history
In the stories, the unit saw action in every combat zone in the European TheatreEuropean Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
. Unlike actual units, the unit has at least one African-American member, which was in defiance of racial segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
policy of the Army at the time.
In the graphic novel Between Hell and a Hard Place, Sgt. Rock explained that he gave nicknames to Easy Company men because during battle, they would be required to do things their civilian identities might not be able to live with; once the war was over, the nicknames could be left behind once the soldiers resumed their civilian lives. This accounts for the proliferation of unusual character names in Easy Company over the years.
While the characters of Sergeant Rock and Easy Company no longer appear in a monthly book, they from time to time appear in other DC publications with stories that take place during World War II. Most recently, Easy has appeared in two comic book miniseries: Between Hell and a Hard Place (2003), The Prophecy (2005), and The Lost Battalion (2008–2009).
"The Combat-Happy Joes"
Core members of Easy Company included:- The Skipper - Easy was always commanded by an officer, usually referred to by Rock as "the skipper" and holding the rank of captain or lieutenant. At least one company commander, a "retread," was shown in the rank of major.
- Sergeant Frank Rock - the "topkick" or senior NCO of "Easy Company", with the Rank of "Master Sergeant". Rock was a steelworker from Pennsylvania who enlisted in the US Army the day after the attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl HarborThe attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
. He was later promoted to sergeant after the Battle of Three Stripe Hill, in which he held off a German attack single-handed after they killed everyone else in his unit, earning him the nickname "the Rock of Easy Company". He was usually depicted carrying a belt of .50-caliber bullets.50 BMGThe .50 Browning Machine Gun or 12.7×99mm NATO is a cartridge developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910s. Entering service officially in 1921, the round is based on a greatly scaled-up .30-06 cartridge...
over his shoulders despite the company's lack of heavy machineguns. Rock supposedly died "from the last bullet fired in the last battle on the last day" of World War Two, but retconned continuities have him survive the war to later become a General. - Bulldozer - Rock's second-in-command, holding the rank of Corporal. Notably large and strong. Real name: Horace Eustace Canfield. (An earlier character named Sergeant Nichols first had the nickname "Bulldozer.") Bulldozer is usually seen using a machinegunM1919 Browning machine gunThe M1919 Browning is a .30 caliber medium machine gun that was widely used during the 20th century. It was used as a light infantry, coaxial, mounted, aircraft, and anti-aircraft machine gun by the U.S. and many other countries, especially during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War...
or an automatic rifle - Wildman - A history professor from Colorado before the war, noted for his bright red full beardBeardA beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsutism may develop a beard...
. His nickname derives from turning into a "Wildman" when engaged in battle. Real name: Joseph Shapiro. - Jackie Johnson- an African-American trooper and ex-heavyweight boxing champion, whose character was an amalgamation of Jackie RobinsonJackie RobinsonJack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
and Joe LouisJoe LouisJoseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
. Notable as one of the first non-stereotypical African-American characters in comics. - Little Sure Shot - An ApacheApacheApache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
sniper who always decorates his helmet with feathers. Real name: Louis Kiyahani. - Ice Cream Soldier - A small soldier whose nicknames derive in part from being at his best in combat during cold weather, and in always being "cool in combat". Real name: Phil Mason. In stories post-2000, his nickname is further shortened to "Ice."
- Four Eyes - A bespectacled soldier and ironically, one of Easy's best sharpshooters.
- Zack - Easy's original bazookaBazookaBazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...
man. He lost one arm in combat, but returned for a final mission. - Long Round and Short Round. Zack's replacements on the bazooka, always working as a team.
- Canary - A soldier known for always whistling in any circumstances not requiring silence.
- Worry Wart - A solid soldier, constantly worrying about whether his number was almost up.
- Hot-Head - a flamethrower operator, nicknamed "Hot-Head" because of his temper, his red hair and his weapon. Real Name: Sean O'Grady
This does not include anonymous replacements and one-time characters who are frequently killed off in the stories. Easy Company's Lieutenants, when they appear at all, are frequently killed off within the first few pages. Letters columns in the 1980s included a roster of all characters introduced into the series; several dozen character names were listed, including some anonymous soldiers.
In other media
The Easy Company have appeared in the episode of Justice LeagueJustice League (TV series)
Justice League is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. The show was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is based on the Justice League of America and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics...
entitled "The Savage Time." Vandal Savage
Vandal Savage
Vandal Savage is a fictional character, a supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 1 #10 , and was created by Alfred Bester and Martin Nodell....
was rewriting history, utilizing futuristic weapons sent by his future-self, and the Justice League
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
went back in time to stop his conquest. When Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
John Stewart
John Stewart (comics)
John Stewart is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 2, #87 , and was created by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams.-Publication history:...
became separated from the rest of the team and his ring ran out of energy, he met up with the Easy Company, which was made up of four members (Sgt. Rock, Bulldozer, Wildman, and Ice Cream Soldier). After telling the unit that he had military experience as a U.S. Marine and proving his valor against Bulldozer, Sgt. Rock allowed Stewart to temporarily join the unit, complete with standard uniform and weapon. The Easy Company eventually found the hangar where Savage kept the Jet-Engine ships and provided cover for Stewart as he boarded the ship where Savage was. Sgt. Rock was voiced by Fred Dryer
Fred Dryer
John Frederick "Fred" Dryer is an American actor and former football defensive end in the National Football League . Dryer played 13 years in the NFL, playing 176 games, starting 166, and recording 104 career sacks with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams...
and Bulldozer was voiced by Ted Levine
Ted Levine
Frank Theodore "Ted" Levine is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs and Captain Leland Stottlemeyer in the television series Monk.-Early life and career:...
.