bronze johnny

Here's a question: Who is the greatest BA war character?

A solid 9.0 would be great! Thanks John. John

Fabulous! Now why am I having so much difficulty finding this book in HG? Got an extra that you might want to part with? bronzejohnny

Where are the War Threaders? Does anyone have a high grade copy of G.I. Combat 138 that they could scan and post? Thanks, bronzejohnny

Hedge: Thanks for the congrats. That might be the first reference to OAAW 168 as the 1st app of the Unknown Soldier. They were ahead of the OS people by a few years. Can you scan the page where this is indicated? bronzejohnny

Zonker: - If this character were known as AN Unknown Soldier, then sure, its generic. But the character described in OAAW 168 is referred to as THE Unknown Soldier (The one and only). Look at the caption on the cover: "I knew THE Unknown Soldier" not AN Unknown Soldier. - And just because the character is dressed differently and later follows a different modus operandi does not change the "concept" of the Unknown Soldier as a comic book character. And yes the concept, while in its "infancy," is clear enough to have a title (as Kubert and company aptly provided in OAAW #168). bronzejohnny

Zonker: Thanks for sharing your perspective. I'm not invalidating the significance of SSWS 151- Since when is the first "solo" appearance of a character (as indicated in the OSPG) insignificant? The issue here is clear: Which of these two books is the 1st app. of the Unknown Soldier?. We may never really know what the intentions were since there is no written history describing the intent of the people at DC at that particular time. Perhaps Kubert might have something to say about this? Nevertheless, the result of OAAW 168 is the 1st app. of a character called the Unknown Soldier. We may never really know whether the Unknown Soldier in OAAW 168 was really different from the Soldier in SSWS 151- particularly when there is no alter-ego/secret identity that would enable us to further define and distinguish these two Soldiers. Do you have any evidence to support your contention that it was meeting a deadline that resulted in the reference back to OAAW 168? SSWS 151 will always be a significant book in the history of the Unknown Soldier and comics. I'll go on record and say that it is the most significant Bronze Age War Book ever! That in itself is enough to qualify it as one of the Great ones! bronzejohnny

Weird: - I did not expect to get it at that price. Thought it would go for more. I've spent 6 years looking for this book in 9.2 or higher and came up with nothing! Searching for this book was the most challenging one I've ever experienced. - Jeffro, that's a fabulous copy! Get it slabbed. bronzejohnny

I can see your point on SSWS 151. I remember getting this book thinking that it was the the Soldier's 1st app. only to be disappointed later on after looking in the OSPG and discovering that it wasn't- and this was corrected by Overstreet earlier this decade. But OAAW 168 is the 1st app. of the Unknown Soldier and will surpass SSWS 151 in historical and monetary significance. Currently, OAAW 168 is one of the rarest Silver Age books to get in high grade if the CGC census is any indication of rarity. There are only 4 books graded at 9.0 or above! (Perhaps we might later find out that OAAW 168 is not the 1st app. of this awesome character- leading us to believe that the Soldier's 1st app. is unknown, a result that would only be appropriate for this "hero in bandages!") bronzejohnny

Weird: See SSWS #157 and you will see the reference it makes to OAAW 168- the pivatol connection and thus the reason why OAAW 168 is the first appearance of the Unknown Soldier. There is no doubt that OAAW 168 is the 1st app. of the Unknown Soldier. It took some time for the people at Overstreet to realize this. Your opinion is interesting nevertheless. bronzejohnny

If you look around, there are many sellers of this book (OAAW 168) who don't really know its significance. I've got to believe that many people still think that SSWS 151 is the 1st App, of the Unknown Soldier. It's interesting since this character has been around for more than 40 years and is one of the most significant war characters ever to come out of comics. bronzejohnny

Excellent point! I am amazed at the people at Overstreet- they continue to price SSWS 151 over OOAW 168. What's their rationale for this?

On another note BA War Forumites: It amazes me how I still see sellers advertising SSWS #151 as the 1st app. of the Unknown Soldier. Overstreet finally corrected this a few years back by crediting OAAW #168 as the 1st app. of the Unknown Soldier and SSWS #151 as the 1st Solo Unknown Soldier. Check out some of the sellers on ebay and you'll see how they fail to recognize this. bronzejohnny

Does anyone have a high grade copy of Our Fighting Forces #123 they could post? Thanks, bronzejohnny

Does anyone know who actually created the Unknown Soldier? Was it Kubert himself?

Were there any ever clues indicating who the Unknown Soldier was? Obviously, if we knew, he would then be the "Known Soldier." Does anyone remember ever seeing anything in the series?

Sterling, Good luck on your endeavors! John

Dominguez truly is one of the most underated artists ever!

Does anyone have a copy of the 1st appearance of the Creature Commandoes that they could scan and show here?

I'm sure DC will find a way to bring them back.

Thanks zonker. Definitely not the way for the Losers to go out.

What was the Losers last Bronze Age appearance?

Beautiful book! How's the back cover? bronzejohnny

Congrats! Look forward to seeing it. bronzejohnny

Does anyone know who has the only recorded CGC 9.8 SSWS #151?