SOLD Battle (392): November 1982, p11; Charley's War

'Give that mask to me! I've as much right to live as you have!'

The greatest war British war comic. The Battle of Passchendaele (July - November 1917). A brutal slog through poison gas, rain and mud.

This page is an essay in the comic artist's craft. Just look at the care that he's devoted to the image of Kat's wife and child, domestic beauty that would be completely subverted in just 2 pages time...Joe had been in hospital for an operation for 6 weeks or so, and the strip had been on hiatus; the Passchendaele story saw him come back, with work as strong as ever.

The masthead differs from what was first published. The mastheads were frequently removed and re-used by editorial; presumably this was a replacement on an undersized page for the republication in Eagle 416 10th March 1990.

I have recreated the original stats, with the help of usual co-conspirator, Alan. It's clear that Joe was using the masthead as part of the overall panel composition, and it's removal spoiled that work. My addition is reversible, of course.

Battle Action (#392) 6 November 1982. Charley's War, page 11.

Pen, ink and whiteout on paper
Page 39 x 44 cms
Letters: Nigel Eaton