Shellshock

Despite the emotionally-charged, sensationalisitc cover, Shellshock provides some thought-provoking fodder for discourse on war and warfare.

"Scorched Earth" - Afghanistan, 2002. The story follows a short-timer, with five days left on her tour. Then, something happens on her last day she will have to live with the rest of her life.
"Christmas" - World War I trench warfare; a Christmas truce. I was expecting a twist, just not the one we were actually given.
"Blowback" - A CIA scientist in 1964. The end of the story is screamed at the bottom of page two, but I kept reading in hope the story may have a different twist than the obvious one. It didn't.
"World of Wars" - In the year 12604 AE, after Enlightenment, the "Spulchre of Peace" ordains that all future conflicts will be resolved on neutral ground. The "neutral ground" is Earth (or an Earth-like planet). The captions tell one story, but the pictures tell another.

In addition, there is a story by William Gaines, Al Feldstein and Jack Davis from Shock SuspenStories #1.

"Yellow" - You may not know the story by its title, but if you've read it before, you'll remember it.

I also loved and still miss George Carlin.

I never heard the Korean War term before. The WW1 and WW2 versions may have sounded better, but the way the people were treated was worse. They were thought to be cowards and faking it.

My choice not to extend my commitment of active duty years from 2 to 3 could have killed me. Without extending, I could have been in the Infantry, but the Army chose to make me a clerk.

I didn’t serve with them, but four men I knew as a civilian had untimely deaths: one from Infantry combat and three from cancer due to Agent Orange. When I got there, I was already aware of Agent Orange. Our entire large camp didn’t have a solitary blade of grass because of the herbicide.

Since my job didn’t take me out in the field, I dodged that bullet. The weekly (imprecise) rocket attacks also missed me. My fun and games with the rats caused me to have a tiny touch of PTSD in that I have a mild alarmed reaction to seeing rats, mice and even chinchillas in pet shops. If I had been assigned to actual combat, including herbicide spraying, I wouldn’t be here today.

DC’s choice to name a character Agent Orange was completely wrong.

Replies

Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod) August 20, 2026 at 1:30pm

I'm glad this one got a good review from you, Jeff! If it's still around on my next trip to the comic shop, I'll probably pick it up.
- JD DeLuzio > Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod) August 20, 2026 at 2:27pm
  
  Likewise.
Jeff of Earth-J August 20, 2026 at 1:56pm

George Carlin on "SHELL SHOCK."

(God I miss him.)
- Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod) > Jeff of Earth-J August 20, 2026 at 2:59pm
  
  I think of him whenever I hear that phrase!
- Richard Willis > Jeff of Earth-J August 20, 2026 at 3:41pm
  
  I also loved and still miss George Carlin.
  
  I never heard the Korean War term before. The WW1 and WW2 versions may have sounded better, but the way the people were treated was worse. They were thought to be cowards and faking it.
  
  My choice not to extend my commitment of active duty years from 2 to 3 could have killed me. Without extending, I could have been in the Infantry, but the Army chose to make me a clerk.
  
  I didn’t serve with them, but four men I knew as a civilian had untimely deaths: one from Infantry combat and three from cancer due to Agent Orange. When I got there, I was already aware of Agent Orange. Our entire large camp didn’t have a solitary blade of grass because of the herbicide.
  
  Since my job didn’t take me out in the field, I dodged that bullet. The weekly (imprecise) rocket attacks also missed me. My fun and games with the rats caused me to have a tiny touch of PTSD in that I have a mild alarmed reaction to seeing rats, mice and even chinchillas in pet shops. If I had been assigned to actual combat, including herbicide spraying, I wouldn’t be here today.
  
  DC’s choice to name a character Agent Orange was completely wrong.

This reply was deleted.