Fightin' Marines
Encyclopedia
Fightin' Marines was a bimonthly war comic published by St. John Publications
from 1951–1953
, and Charlton Comics
from 1955
–1984
, although it was primarily a reprint title from 1978 to the end of its run. Telling fictional stories of the United States Marine Corps
, it was a sister title of the other Charlton war comics Fightin' Air Force
, Fightin' Army
, and Fightin' Navy
.
Fightin' Marines was the home of the long-running Vietnam War feature Shotgun Harker and Chicken, written by Joe Gill
. Gill wrote the majority of stories for the title during its entire run. Other notable contributors to Fightin' Marines included Pat Boyette
, Sam Glanzman
, Jack Keller
, Sanho Kim
, Fran Matera
, and Warren Sattler
.
series originally called The Texan, which published one issue in August 1951. St. John published issues #2–12 of Fightin' Marines from Oct. 1951 - Mar. 1953.
Charlton took over the series in May 1955 with issue #14 (no issue #13 was published). Early issues of Fightin' Marines sported such tagline
s as "Breathtaking Action Stories," "Leatherneck
s in Combat," and "Rip-Snortin' Action Tales." Issues #121 – #130 (Mar. 1975 – July 1976) featured painted covers. (Issue #122 was called Fightin' Marines Presents War, which was a tryout issue for the new Charlton title War, which ran from July 1975 – October 1984.) From issue #131 (Sept. 1976) onward, the cover of each issue featured a head shot
of a Marine in dress uniform
in the upper left hand corner, next to the title.
Like much of the Charlton line, Fightin' Marines went on a publishing hiatus between November 1976 and October 1977 (issues #132 and 133). From issue #136 (Apr. 1978) onward, Fightin' Marines was primarily a reprint title, mostly using material from earlier issues. The series ran through issue #176; Charlton published a total of 163 issues.
' Phantom Lady
.
Among the characters featured in early issues of Fightin' Marines is Canteen Kate, who appeared in issues #2-9 and #14–15. (The character starred in three issues of her own title in 1952.) Another recurring character from early issues of Fightin' Marines is Leatherneck Jack, who appeared in issues #2–15.
A topic addressed in Fightin' Marines #42 is Communist intrigue in Europe
. The writer's opinion left no doubt that Communists were the enemy and needed to be eradicated. The bulk of the stories in Fightin' Marines take place during World War II
, but as the series moved along, more were set during the Korean War
, the better to show the menace of Communism.
feature Shotgun Harker and Chicken ran in Fightin' Marines issues #78–108, from Jan. 1968 – Jan. 1973. Created by writer Joe Gill
and artists Bill Montes and Ernie Bache, the series starred Sgt. Arkie "Shotgun" Harker and PFC
"Chicken" Smith of Alpha Company. Harker is the gung-ho, hard-bitten Marine, while the bespectacled, blond
-haired Chicken is more reserved — though not actually a coward. Perhaps reflecting 1960s counterculture
and the antiwar movement, Chicken was occasionally portrayed with flowers on his helmet.
Shotgun Harker and Chicken stories were reprinted in ''Fightin' Army issues #140, 141, 146, 148, 156, 163, 167, 168, 172, 173, and 175 (as well as the Charlton titles War #45 and Battlefield Action #69 and #81).
St. John Publications
St. John Publications was an American publisher of magazines and comic books. During its short existence , St. John's comic books established several industry firsts. Founded by Archer St. John , the firm was located in Manhattan at 545 Fifth Avenue. After the St...
from 1951–1953
1953 in comics
*Battle Brady #10 renamed from Men in Action - Marvel Comics*Bible Tales for Young Folk #1 - Marvel Comics*Bible Tales for Young People #3 renamed from Bible Tales for Young Folk - Marvel Comics*Buck Duck #1 - Marvel Comics...
, and Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
from 1955
1955 in comics
- July :* Crime Does Not Pay #147 cancelled by Lev Gleason Publications.- Initial appearance by character name :* Detective Comics # 225 - DC Comics - first appearance of the Martian Manhunter.-First issue by title:...
–1984
1984 in comics
-Year overall:* The independent publishing boom continues, as Antarctic Press, Continuity Comics, Deluxe Comics, Matrix Graphic Series, and Renegade Press all enter the arena...
, although it was primarily a reprint title from 1978 to the end of its run. Telling fictional stories of the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, it was a sister title of the other Charlton war comics Fightin' Air Force
Fightin' Air Force
Fightin' Air Force was a bimonthly war comic published by Charlton Comics from 1956–1966. Telling fictional stories of American military pilots, it was a sister title of the other Charlton war comics Fightin' Army, Fightin' Marines, and Fightin' Navy.Regular contributors to Fightin' Air Force...
, Fightin' Army
Fightin' Army
Fightin' Army was a bimonthly war comic published by Charlton Comics from 1956–1984...
, and Fightin' Navy
Fightin' Navy
Fightin' Navy was a bimonthly war comic published by Charlton Comics from 1956–1966, and then again from 1983–1984...
.
Fightin' Marines was the home of the long-running Vietnam War feature Shotgun Harker and Chicken, written by Joe Gill
Joe Gill
Joseph Gill was an American magazine writer and highly prolific comic book scripter. Most of his work was for Charlton Comics, where he co-created the superheroes Captain Atom, Peacemaker, and Judomaster, among others. Comics historians consider Gill a top contender as the comic-book field's most...
. Gill wrote the majority of stories for the title during its entire run. Other notable contributors to Fightin' Marines included Pat Boyette
Pat Boyette
Pat Boyette Pat Boyette Pat Boyette (July 27, 1923, San Antonio, Texas – January 14, 2000, was an American broadcasting personality and news producer, and later a comic book artist best known for two decades of work for Charlton Comics, where he co-created the character The Peacemaker...
, Sam Glanzman
Sam Glanzman
Sam J. Glanzman is an American comic-book artist, best known for his Charlton Comics series Hercules, about the mythological Greek demigod; his biographical war stories about his service aboard the U.S.S...
, Jack Keller
Jack Keller (comics)
Jack R. Keller was an American comic book artist best known for his 1950s and '60s work on the Marvel Comics Western character Kid Colt, and for his later hot rod and racecar series at Charlton Comics.-Early life and career:...
, Sanho Kim
Sanho Kim
Sanho Kim is a Korean comic book artist, considered the first artist working in a manhwa style to be published regularly in the United States...
, Fran Matera
Fran Matera
Francis "Fran" Matera is an American comic strip artist best known for his King Features Syndicate adventure strip Steve Roper and Mike Nomad from 1984 to 2004. In addition to his extensive experience in newspaper strips, Matera also spent many years in the comic book industry, particularly for...
, and Warren Sattler
Warren Sattler
Warren Sattler is an American artist and cartoonist, who contributed work to many popular publications from the early 1960s through the 1990s....
.
Publication history
As with many comic book titles published at the time, Fightin' Marines did not start with issue number one; it was a renaming of a St. John PublicationsSt. John Publications
St. John Publications was an American publisher of magazines and comic books. During its short existence , St. John's comic books established several industry firsts. Founded by Archer St. John , the firm was located in Manhattan at 545 Fifth Avenue. After the St...
series originally called The Texan, which published one issue in August 1951. St. John published issues #2–12 of Fightin' Marines from Oct. 1951 - Mar. 1953.
Charlton took over the series in May 1955 with issue #14 (no issue #13 was published). Early issues of Fightin' Marines sported such tagline
Tagline
A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product , or to reinforce the audience's memory of a product...
s as "Breathtaking Action Stories," "Leatherneck
Leatherneck
Leatherneck is a military slang term for a member of the United States Marine Corps. Now accepted by Webster as a synonym for Marine, the term "Leatherneck" was derived from a leather stock once worn around the neck by both American and British Marines—and soldiers also. Beginning in 1798, "one...
s in Combat," and "Rip-Snortin' Action Tales." Issues #121 – #130 (Mar. 1975 – July 1976) featured painted covers. (Issue #122 was called Fightin' Marines Presents War, which was a tryout issue for the new Charlton title War, which ran from July 1975 – October 1984.) From issue #131 (Sept. 1976) onward, the cover of each issue featured a head shot
Head shot
A head shot is a photographic technique where the focus of the photograph is a person's face. Headshot is essentially the same as portrait. However, headshot is an image that portrays people as they are and is more of a "mug shot", however simple or stylized it might be. Whereas, a portrait will...
of a Marine in dress uniform
Dress uniform
Dress uniform , is the most formal military uniform, typically worn at ceremonies, official receptions, and other special occasions; with order insignias and full size medals...
in the upper left hand corner, next to the title.
Like much of the Charlton line, Fightin' Marines went on a publishing hiatus between November 1976 and October 1977 (issues #132 and 133). From issue #136 (Apr. 1978) onward, Fightin' Marines was primarily a reprint title, mostly using material from earlier issues. The series ran through issue #176; Charlton published a total of 163 issues.
Features
The cover art for Fightin' Marines #5 is by Matt Baker, best known for his work on Quality ComicsQuality Comics
Quality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books....
' Phantom Lady
Phantom Lady
Phantom Lady is a fictional superheroine, one of the first female superhero characters to debut in the 1940s Golden Age of Comic Books. Originally published by Quality Comics, the character was subsequently published by a series of now-defunct comic book companies, and a new version of the...
.
Among the characters featured in early issues of Fightin' Marines is Canteen Kate, who appeared in issues #2-9 and #14–15. (The character starred in three issues of her own title in 1952.) Another recurring character from early issues of Fightin' Marines is Leatherneck Jack, who appeared in issues #2–15.
A topic addressed in Fightin' Marines #42 is Communist intrigue in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The writer's opinion left no doubt that Communists were the enemy and needed to be eradicated. The bulk of the stories in Fightin' Marines take place during 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...
, but as the series moved along, more were set during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, the better to show the menace of Communism.
Shotgun Harker and Chicken
The ongoing Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
feature Shotgun Harker and Chicken ran in Fightin' Marines issues #78–108, from Jan. 1968 – Jan. 1973. Created by writer Joe Gill
Joe Gill
Joseph Gill was an American magazine writer and highly prolific comic book scripter. Most of his work was for Charlton Comics, where he co-created the superheroes Captain Atom, Peacemaker, and Judomaster, among others. Comics historians consider Gill a top contender as the comic-book field's most...
and artists Bill Montes and Ernie Bache, the series starred Sgt. Arkie "Shotgun" Harker and PFC
Private First Class
Private First Class is a military rank held by junior enlisted persons.- Singapore :The rank of Private First Class in the Singapore Armed Forces lies between the ranks of Private and Lance-Corporal . It is usually held by conscript soldiers midway through their national service term...
"Chicken" Smith of Alpha Company. Harker is the gung-ho, hard-bitten Marine, while the bespectacled, blond
Blond
Blond or blonde or fair-hair is a hair color characterized by low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin. The resultant visible hue depends on various factors, but always has some sort of yellowish color...
-haired Chicken is more reserved — though not actually a coward. Perhaps reflecting 1960s counterculture
Counterculture
Counterculture is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. Counterculture can also be described as a group whose behavior...
and the antiwar movement, Chicken was occasionally portrayed with flowers on his helmet.
Shotgun Harker and Chicken stories were reprinted in ''Fightin' Army issues #140, 141, 146, 148, 156, 163, 167, 168, 172, 173, and 175 (as well as the Charlton titles War #45 and Battlefield Action #69 and #81).