Espesyal Komiks #206 (1960), story page 2 by Alcala
Artists: Alfredo Alcala (Penciller) , Alfredo Alcala (Inker) , Alfredo Alcala (Letterer)
101 Views - 11 Comments - 9 Likes
Additional Images:
U-47 Captain Gunther Prien
U-47 first watch officer Engelbert Endrass
U-47
HMS Royal Oak
U-47 welcome after sinking Royal Oak
Artwork Details
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Description"U-47 vs. Royal Oak" by Alfredo Alcala, Ace Publications. Cover date is probably August 29, 1960. I haven't found a physical or digital copy of the issue or its cover."U-47 vs. Royal Oak" ran in Espesyal Komiks #206-#209 as part of the Book of Heroism series (Aklat Ng Kabayanihan). Translation of Filipino text: "Not long after, U-47 managed to escape her grounding... 'Thankfully no one found us!' About twenty minutes after midnight... 'Why have all the English warships disappeared? Where have they gone? Best if we went to the north...' Later... Lieutenant Prien! It looks like this is what we were looking for earlier!' 'Immediately Prien looked through binoculars... And Prien opened the book and... 'The "battleship" we saw was the Royal Sovereign "class" weighing 31,000 tons...there were five of this type, first, the Royal Sovereign, Royal Oak, Resolution, Revenge, and Ramillies. But I think it's the Royal Oak here now...'" Historical note: U-47 sunk HMS Royal Oak in October 1939 while anchored at Scapa Flow in Scotland. 835 of her 1,234 crew were killed or died of their wounds. Built during World War I, the battleship was too slow and no longer fit for frontline service when World War II started. (Wikipedia) Torpedoing the Royal Oak made the sub's commander Gunther Prien famous. He and his crew were flown to Berlin aboard Hitler's personal aircraft where Hitler awarded him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Nazi propaganda exploited the success and gloated over damaged British morale. (Wikipedia) U-47 sank 31 enemy vessels and damaged nine others, making it the thirteenth most successful U-boat of the war based on tonnage sunk. The sub disappeared in March 1941 on its tenth patrol with Captain Prien and his crew of 44. (Wikipedia) Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Marcus Wai 
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 11/2/2025
Rare art to find in good shape with all the humidity issues these usually exhibit. Nice sharp corners that Matt Kennedy would appreciate. 2nd panel is great Alcala! I would think they would have focused more on the Pacific theater rather than the war in the Europe.
Peter Roe
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 11/2/2025
Marcus Wai wrote:
Rare art to find in good shape with all the humidity issues these usually exhibit. Nice sharp corners that Matt Kennedy would appreciate. 2nd panel is great Alcala! I would think they would have focused more on the Pacific theater rather than the war in the Europe.
Thanks, Marcus! Cut corners indeed! Naval battles were the dominant subjects of Alcala's pre-DC war stories. His stories include battles in the Atlantic such as Graf Spee, HMS Prince of Wales, and Battle of Jutland, I would love to see his depiction of John F. Kennedy in the Pacific PT-109 story! However, the comics themselves are scare, especially given the tropical conditions of the Phillippines.
Miki Annamanthadoo
Member Since 2003
1 - Posted on 11/2/2025
Really nice art by Alcala. It's amazing that he was able to accurately portray this sub action and the characters.
Peter Roe
Member Since 2009
Posted on 11/2/2025
Miki Annamanthadoo wrote:
Really nice art by Alcala. It's amazing that he was able to accurately portray this sub action and the characters.
Thanks, Miki! Agree!
Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 11/2/2025
Pencils, inks, wash and white paint highlights. This is some of the stuff that made Alcala THE man!
Peter Roe
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 11/2/2025
Ruben DaCollector wrote:
Pencils, inks, wash and white paint highlights. This is some of the stuff that made Alcala THE man!
Thanks, Rubén! Agree! I much prefer his art of this period to the initial DC work. I thank collector Lee Harmon for getting me hooked on his Filipino work--Lee's Yamato page posted on CAF is incredible--and for a greater appreciation of the art of his Filipino counterparts. I was very fortunate to see the Yamato page in person--twice--at OAX! I hope to get another opportunity to appreciate it up close.
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 11/2/2025
A nice, early Alcala page. His techniques for showing the movement of water are stunning here, and his facial expressions are so subtle. As Marcus noted, this is in surprisingly good condition as well, especially considering the dreadful paper Alacala typically used.
Peter Roe
Member Since 2009
Posted on 11/2/2025
Paul Roach wrote:
A nice, early Alcala page. His techniques for showing the movement of water are stunning here, and his facial expressions are so subtle. As Marcus noted, this is in surprisingly good condition as well, especially considering the dreadful paper Alacala typically used.
Thanks, Paul! The paper is sturdier than that of other pages I've seen.
Kavi H
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 11/2/2025
Incredible Alcala artwork, others have already covered why so I won't be redundant but the alternating shots from panel to panel just flow so well here. And the quality of that 2nd panel feels like it's a cover worthy image unto itself. congrats, great addition!
Tom McDonald
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 11/2/2025
Beautiful page! You can absolutely tell Alcala did the lettering, too.
Makes you wonder why he did not stick to pencils.
steve staszower
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 11/2/2025
Great page and I love that you added the historical info, including the pics.
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