Blazing Combat: World War I and World War II #2

Blazing Combat was a short-lived but highly regarded war comic anthology series published by Warren Publishing in 1965. Created and edited by Archie Goodwin, the series was designed to provide a more mature and somber look at conflict, moving away from the typical gung-ho narratives found in other war comics of the era. The second issue continued this mission, featuring gritty, human-centric tales that focused on the morality and psychological toll of warfare rather than mere combat spectacle.

The artistic pedigree of the issue is notable for its heavy-hitting contributors, including illustrations by iconic artists like Russ Heath, John Severin, and Alex Toth. Goodwin and his team aimed for a realistic, almost cinematic aesthetic that mirrored the quality of high-end illustration magazines. While the series was critically acclaimed for its sophisticated writing and visual storytelling, it struggled with distribution and faced significant backlash from veterans' groups during the Vietnam War, leading to its cancellation after only four issues.