The Lonely War of Capt Willy Schultz

[Richard Willis]

Some time back (I can't find the thread) some of us discussed the Twomorrows publication Our Artists at War, which is a comprehensive (AFAIK) collection of commentary on the war comics of the 60s and 70s. One of the highlights of this genre was the recurring Charlton series The Lonely War of Capt Willy Schultz, which was in the title Fightin' Army. The protagonist is an ethnic German in the U.S. Army who is falsely accused of killing his superior officer. He grew up in the U.S. speaking German at home and therefore was able to pass as a German soldier when he decided to flee (he refuses to kill Americans). I discovered the series in 1969 when I was waiting for the Marvel and DC books to not be three months behind. Except for the extreme situation of Willy Schultz, this series resonated with me (and apparently others) as more realistic than the Sgt Fury and Sgt Rock titles. After sixteen installments the series was abruptly cancelled.

The series was reprinted in a hardcover book published by Dark Horse in February 2023, last month as I write this. For some reason it didn't show up in Cap's solicitations, but it was on Amazon. It includes a final chapter wrapping up Willy's story with what happened to him at the end of WWII and later up until 1969. The original sixteen chapters were written by Will Franz and illustrated by the great Sam Glanzman, who passed away in 2017. The final chapter was written by Will Franz and illustrated by Wayne Vansant (The 'Nam)*.

*I recently acquired all issues of The 'Nam prior to its pollution by The Punisher. There is a French Foreign Legion connection between a chapter of The 'Nam and this final Willy Schultz chapter.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

I remember seeing this volume solicited but I didn't pre-order it. I don't generally like war comics (although there are exceptions). I can't discuss the Lonely War of Capt. Willy Schultz because I haven't read it, but I can recommend a series (three volumes) I think you might like: Charley's War. 

[Captain Comics]

I ordered Lonely War when it became available at In Stock Trades, and it's in my to-read pile. It did appear in my weekly Comics Guide in January, which is why I knew to watch for it. But if it didn't show up in your neck of the woods until February, that might have been too soon to do you any good.

My wife read it, and while she said some parts stretched her suspension of disbelief, it was a good read overall. I'm looking forward to it.

[Richard Willis]

I looked at your Comics Guide posts back to early February, so I didn't see it, and initially missed it. According to Amazon it wasn't available until February.

I don't generally read war comics, Jeff. Lonely War doesn't at all glorify war and could be called as anti-war comic. As a matter of fact, when I came home unscathed from the real war I was drafted for, I took my almost-complete Sgt Fury collection to the dumpster.

Captain Comics said:

I ordered Lonely War when it became available at In Stock Trades, and it's in my to-read pile. It did appear in my weekly Comics Guide in January, which is why I knew to watch for it. But if it didn't show up in your neck of the woods until February, that might have been too soon to do you any good.

My wife read it, and while she said some parts stretched her suspension of disbelief, it was a good read overall. I'm looking forward to it.