Our Fighting Forces #135

Published by DC Comics in 1972, Our Fighting Forces #135 marked a significant turning point in the long-running war anthology series. While the title had previously featured various rotating war stories, this issue began the highly acclaimed run by writer and artist Jack Kirby, who had recently moved from Marvel to DC. Kirby brought his signature kinetic energy and sprawling mythic sensibilities to the genre, shifting the focus toward the visceral, human experience of combat rather than standard battlefield reportage.

The issue serves as the introduction of Kirby’s 'The Losers,' a band of four mismatched soldiers—Gunner, Sarge, Pooch, and Captain Storm—trapped in a persistent, gritty cycle of World War II conflict. Kirby intended to elevate the war comic format by imbuing these characters with a sense of fatalism and deep camaraderie. The work was received as a stylistic departure for DC's war line, celebrated by readers for its dynamic panel layouts and intense, grounded depiction of soldiers struggling against overwhelming odds.