Unknown Soldier

"Hell in the Heavens - The Midnight Spy"

Cover Date June 1981
Issue #252
Pages 7
Type Original Story
Cover Price $1.00
Featured Character Hans von Hammer
Also Featuring Ingrid Thiesse; Irma Lindsay (first appearance, British spy); The Black Wolf

Synopsis

The high-stakes espionage tension deepens in Chapter Two of the 'Hell in the Heavens' story arc. Hans von Hammer's ground-level reality grows increasingly precarious with the introduction of Irma Lindsay, a calculating British spy working in close tandem with the undercover operative Ingrid Thiesse. Operating under the cover of darkness, this network of professional deceivers executes a high-risk 'Midnight Operation' to extract deep-cover tactical intelligence from the airfield. Robert Kanigher expertly handles the script to contrast the shadowy, compromised world of espionage against the daylight clarity and lethal code of honor defining the high-altitude aerial combat loops.

Collector Notes

A highly prized key issue among Bronze Age archives that beautifully develops the post-Star-Spangled War Stories status quo. The arrival of Irma Lindsay inserts a fascinating moral contrast into a franchise historically anchored by its tragic hero's absolute honesty. John Severin's hyper-detailed, texturally rich line art renders the nocturnal ground movements with spectacular clarity, while master colorist Tatjana Wood establishes a moody, deeply atmospheric midnight color palette. Set against Todd Klein's characteristically precise and measured lettering typography, the issue elevates the narrative beyond standard aviation loops.

Creative Team

Writer Robert Kanigher
Penciler John Severin
Inker John Severin
Letterer Todd Klein