Unknown Soldier

"Hell in the Heavens - Midnight and Murder"

Cover Date July 1981
Issue #253
Pages 7
Type Original Story
Cover Price $1.00
Featured Character Hans von Hammer
Also Featuring Ingrid Thiesse; Irma Lindsay (death)

Synopsis

The high-stakes 'Hell in the Heavens' espionage trilogy reaches its devastating, blood-soaked conclusion. The underground web of deceit collapses into pure violence when the British operative Irma Lindsay is ruthlessly murdered by her own partner, the deep-cover Allied double agent Ingrid Thiesse, to prevent their tactical intelligence mission from being compromised. Upon discovering the body, a deeply shaken Hans von Hammer is forced to confront a terrifying reality: the shadowy, localized assassinations of ground-level espionage completely lack the strict, aristocratic code of honor that governs his high-altitude aerial combat loops. The mystery shatters his fragile peace, leaving the Rittmeister to endure the psychological fallout alone while the global conflict rages on unabated.

Collector Notes

A monumental key issue that brings a definitive, chilling end to John Severin's first major story arc on the franchise. Robert Kanigher closes the trilogy with masterclass efficiency, using the brutal murder of Irma Lindsay to strip away any remaining romantic illusions regarding the nature of wartime intelligence. John Severin's hyper-detailed, texturally rich line art brilliantly captures the grim tension of the murder investigation, while master colorist Tatjana Wood establishes a stark, cold color palette that perfectly emphasizes the tragic script. Enhanced by John Costanza's clear lettering layouts, this 7-page finale stands out as a highly sophisticated narrative highlight of the character's 1981 monthly run

Creative Team

Writer Robert Kanigher
Penciler John Severin
Inker John Severin
Letterer John Costanza