Haunted Tank TPB, by Frank Marrafino & Henry Flint Created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Russ Heath, the original The Haunted Tank premiered in DC’s G.I. Combat #87(May 1961), and ran continually until 1987. The feature chronicled the exploits of an American tank commander during World War II, Lieutenant Jeb Stuart, who is aided in his missions by the ghost of his ancestor, a Confederate general, J.E.B. Stuart. The Haunted Tank was second only to Sgt Rock as DC Comics’ longest-running war series.
DC revisited the concept in 2008, through their Vertigo imprint mini-series Haunted Tank. Writer Frank Marrafino and artist Henry Flint update the series to 2003, taking place during the US invasion of Iraq. As before, Confederate General Stuart returns from the spirit world to fight alongside a tank squad, this time led by his modern descendent, African-American Sergeant Jamal Stuart. Sparks soon fly as both soldiers are taken aback by each other’s presences.
Though the bickering, mostly about race, between the two Stuarts can get a bit tiresome, Marrafino’s script is entertaining and at times hilarious. Henry Flint’s highly detailed artwork is just great, simultaneously capturing the ugliness of war, as well as its sometime morbid absurdity. Haunted Tank is a well-made and thought-provoking book, commenting not just on racial politics and the Iraq War, but also on the concepts of honor and glory, and how they are viewed and sometimes exploited during times of war.
Currently available through your local comic retailer, DCBS, or Amazon.com.
SUGGESTED FOR MATURE READERS
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