Discourse Chronicle

Sgt. Rock was introduced to readers in “Our Army At War” No. 81 in 1959. Although he was called “Rocky” in this story, the template had been set. Later stories written by Robert Kanigher and drawn by Joe Kubert fleshed out these humble beginnings and turned Rock into comics’ longest running and most prominent war comics character. The good sergeant became so popular that, by the late ’70s, “Our Army At War” was retitled “Sgt. Rock.” The letters page of any given issue carried missives sent in by enlisted men as well as the usual comics fans.

[…]

Today the fictional sergeant is starring in a brand new mini-series titled “Sgt. Rock: The Prophecy.” Written and drawn by Kubert, the new mission takes Easy Company into Nazi-occupied Lithuania to retrieve a hidden treasure that must be returned to the United States by any means necessary. The first issue is on sale now with the remaining five hitting stores on a monthly basis. Check your local comic shop for details. Also available is the graphic novel “Sgt. Rock: Between Hell and a Hard Place” by Brian Azzarello and once again drawn by Kubert.

[General Rock appeared in Superman comics a few years ago as President Luthor’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During the “Our Worlds at War!” story arc of 2001, he gives Strange Visitor / Kismet / Sharon Vance a speech about true bravery and unselfish sacrifice, which she understands and demonstrates by rescuing Superman from Imperiex. BK]

category: Comics, Politics, Popular Culture