Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • Marvel 2003 - Prognostications and Ruminations

      Beau Smith
      November 25, 2002
      Ambidextrous
    Recent
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • Comictober 2020: DRACULA MOTHERF**KER

      Daniel Gehen
      October 27, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • Why Critics Matter: On The Omega Men, Animal Man, and Trusting a Creator

      Beau Smith
      January 27, 2016
      Big Two, Big Two Reviews, Columns, Comics Bulletin Soapbox, DC Comics
    Recent
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Stan Lee

      nguyen ly
      November 7, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • 3.0

      Review: Ryuko VOL. 1 Is At Odds With Itself

      Beau Smith
      July 16, 2019
      Indie, Manga, Reviews, Titan Comics
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 2.8

      Helix 1.04 "Single Strand" & 1.05 "The White Room"

      Beau Smith
      February 18, 2014
      Reviews
    Recent
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Nailed It!: David and Kyriazis on "Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency"

      Beau Smith
      March 8, 2016
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • Classic Interview: Murphy Anderson - A Silver Age Legend

      Beau Smith
      October 30, 2015
      Classic Interviews
    Recent
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • NYCC: Hiddleston's 'Loki' slithers through Avengers ensemble

      Beau Smith
      November 4, 2011
      News
    Recent
    • 2020 Ringo Awards Winners Announced

      Daniel Gehen
      October 26, 2020
    • BAD IDEA Announces 2021 Publishing Slate

      Daniel Gehen
      September 29, 2020
    • A Full Replay of NCSFest 2020 is now Available

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2020
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • Review: 'Bizarre Romance' Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Beau Smith
      July 10, 2018
      Books
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)
  • Collecting Profile: Batwoman
  • Collecting Profile: Daredevil
  • Collecting Profile: Floronic Man
  • Review of Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984
  • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Columns
Busted Knuckles

This Means WAR!

Beau Smith
June 25, 2009
Busted Knuckles, Columns

Between the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese and the one by terrorists on 9/11, there was another attack. An attack that didn’t limit itself to American soil, it was global. That attack was known as TOTAL WAR.

Total War took place within the printed pages of Gold Key Comics in 1965. There were 10 issues; the first three issues were illustrated by the legendary Wally Wood. The first two issues ran the title of Total War, after that the title was changed to M.A.R.S. Patrol: Total War. (Marine Attack Rescue Service) A majority of the issues had incredible painted covers that had the look of A-List movie posters of the time. The artist that painted the covers is unknown to me. That’s a shame. Perhaps one of you regular “Knuckleheads” out there knows who painted those covers and could share it with the rest of us. That’d be great.

The M.A.R.S. Patrol was made up of the most elite, covert team of commandos, paratroopers, and guerrillas that the United States had to offer. The main team in the series was made up of Lt. Cyrus Adams-Combat pilot, Corporal Russ Stacey-weapons expert and commando, Sgt. Joe Stryker-demolitions expert and paratrooper and Sgt. Ken Hiro-frogman and expert martial artist/hand to hand combat. M.A.R.S. Patrolwas the modern G.I. JOE before there was a modern G.I. JOE. 

The invaders that were attacking Earth weren’t your stereotypical “Aliens.” Their complete origin remained unknown during the series which is a large part of what made them scary and the series compelling. The reader’s imagination was left to fill in the gaps and as in my case, which was fun, because I had a head full of exotic and wild ideas just where these bad guys came from.

The bad guy invaders were often referred to as “The Baldies” because they had no hair on their bodies. They were very much humanoid, like us, but also were known to have different internal organs. Again, the mystery of these invaders is what made them so different and intriguing. They didn’t have to look scary, they were scary because of their mystery and the fact that their agenda was to take over Earth no matter what. They had no demands except for all humans or anything else in their path had to die. They were the most cold-blooded, ruthless killers in comics. No fancy, long drawn out speeches of world domination, no “Here is my plan before I kill you. ” dialogue. They were the grinder and you were the meat. Period.

The storytelling in the book was serious and fast paced. It’s not the long-winded stuff that you’re used to in today’s comics. Total War is Point A To Point B. It’s supposed to be that way. It’s filled with all the aggression, fears and attitudes of the 1950’s and early 60’s. That’s the beauty of the simplicity. As a kid I loved it for the balls to the wall good vs. evil. As an adult I enjoy it for not being weighed down by someone else’s political agenda and “blah blah” dialogue. 

Total War is loaded with tough guy talk and weapons that made any kid of the 60’s hands sweat with want and desire. It’s got bazookas, Flame throwers, Thompson machine guns, grenades, tanks, B.A.R’s, it also had slightly futuristic weapons from Gyrocoptors with bazookas to Bell Rocket Belts and hovercrafts. There was nothing too far out of sight, but just enough to make me draw them in my school notebook over and over instead of doing my math homework. This comic book inspired me to play out M.A.R.S Patrol over and over in the dirt of my front yard. I had my plastic army men, tanks and homemade buildings that I had cut out of old cardboard boxes and drew on with crayons. I had hours of fun out there making up my own stories. I’m sure I wasn’t the only kid that did that. (At least I hope not.)

The back of the comics were the same as the covers except they didn’t have the logo and cover blurbs. They were called pin-ups and marked as such. All of my original Total War comics have the back covers removed. I would always cut them off and pin them on my bedroom wall. The pin ups are long gone, but I still have the issues in my collection. Yes, I’ve replaced most of the issues with ones that are complete during my years on the convention trail, but those semi-coverless issues still mean the world to me. A few years ago, Dark Horse Comics did the world a favor by reprinting the first three issues of Total War: M.A.R.S. Patrol into an archive trade paperback. I highly suggest that book for your collection. I also suggest you check your local comic book retailer, EBay, or the long boxes at the next convention to get the remaining issues of this truly manly series. 

The series is filled with devastation and terror. 

The steamrolling evil of these unknown invaders gives the reader a constant feeling of impending doom. The members of the M.A.R.S. Patrol really make you feel that they are your last hope against the hairless killers in the purple uniforms. Even if you’ve grown up on today’s comics, I think you’ll still get that strong sense of danger and edge of your seat panic that the writers of Total War went for. I’m guessing you could probably get the entire series for under $20.00. Trust me, it would be $20.00 well spent on entertainment. 

Come, join me. Enlist in The M.A.R.S. Patrol.

(and yes….I would LOVE to bring this series back and write it.)

 


 


Busted Knuckles Manly Cover Of The Week: M.A.R.S. Patrol: Total War #6
Gold Key Comics
1968

It’s only right that this week’s Busted Knuckles Manly Cover should be one of the action-packed “Kill Covers” from M.A.R.S. Patrol/Total War. It was a really hard choice to make since all the covers were amazing. I think I did right in picking the cover to issue #6. It pretty much describes the series complete with all of its destruction, carnage, flame throwin’ and fryin’ the bad guys mayhem. Join the ranks ofM.A.R.S. Patrol today! Bash a Baldie!


 


 


Busted Knuckles Babe Of The Week: Jane Badler
Actress

To keep with my “It’s only fitting theme.”, I declare that this week’s Busted Knuckles Babe Of The Week is Jane Badler, star of the legendary TV sci-fi series V. Jane Badler put the “Bad” into Bad Girl. She was the original deadly diva of alien invasions. You can see why she filled men with interplanetary lust and made rodents really nervous. Beauty is only
skin deep, then it gets scaly.



 


 


The Round Up

Shirley Smith
1935-2009

The reason you haven’t seen a new Busted Knuckles in a few weeks is because on June 10th my mom, Shirley Smith, passed away after an eight week battle with D.I.C. (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation.) 


Mom’s health took a downturn 4 years ago when she had a HUGE thoracic aneurysm (over nine centimeters) removed. Fifty-five years of smoking didn’t help her cause either. I want to thank all of you that threw support, thoughts and prayers our way four years ago. It really helped. Doctors thought then that she would never make it, but she happily proved them wrong many times over. In the last four years she continued to live on her own, baby sit her great grand kids, and bark off marching orders to the rest of us. She had to haul her oxygen tank around, but as I’ve always said, she didn’t think of it so much as a burden, but as a new weapon to thump people in the head with. (That would be me.) 

My mom was a very colorful character. Colorful in the language she used and heavy with character. You’ve no doubt heard the phrase “Cusses like a sailor”? Well, that was wrong. It was “Cusses like Shirley.”, the Navy just stole the credit.

Underneath all her roughness,, toughness and gruffness was the heart of a loving mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend. Where my dad was a physically intimidating man, my mom had an intimidating mind. If faced with my mom, Doctor Doom would be in the fetal position crying like a school girl and begging for diplomatic immunity.

My mom wasn’t perfect, but she made you feel like the life you had with her was pretty darn close to it. My mom didn’t care softly, she cared hard, you knew it, you felt it and you remembered it. We will always remember her.

Thanks goes out to all of you that have sent emails and letters. Your support, thoughts and prayers have meant a lot to me as well as my family. 

Your amigo,

Beau Smith
The Flying Fist Ranch
www.flyingfistranch.com

 



Beau SmithBusted Knuckles

Share On:
Tweet
Mike Carey: The “________” Explored, A Look at Tommy Taylor
Christos Gage: The Question of Moral Obligation

About The Author

<a href="http://comicsbulletin.com/byline/beau-smith/" rel="tag">Beau Smith</a>
Beau Smith

Beau Smith is a writer for Comics Bulletin

Related Posts

  • What We Said Then: Five Manly Questions With… Mark Millar

    Beau Smith
    March 22, 2015
  • Batman or Superman, Betty or Veronica, Ginger or Mary Ann?

    Beau Smith
    April 23, 2013
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders