Synopsis
As a torrential autumn deluge turns the trenches of the Western Front into a suffocating wasteland of endless mud, the relentless misery on the ground forces the infantry to a complete standstill. However, the savage weather cannot ground the Rittmeister. Compounding the grueling, low-visibility conditions of the sky combat, Hans von Hammer must contend with the demanding arrival of Colonel Schlein, a cold and bureaucratic new Air Command staff officer. Schlein views the 'Hammer of Hell' strictly as a weaponized corporate propaganda asset rather than a human conscience, forcing a bitter psychological divide between the pilot and his own high command.
Collector Notes
A monumental issue in the Bronze Age run, notable as one of the exceedingly rare instances where legendary war artist Russ Heath stepped in to take over the illustration duties from Joe Kubert. Heath's meticulous, reportorial draftsmanship provides a stark contrast to Kubert's traditional expressionism, rendering the barbed wire, trench rot, and rain-swept landscapes with a raw, visceral realism that grounds the story perfectly. This 9-page feature stands as a highly prized, elite piece of comic history among collectors for its unique creative mashup, beautifully demonstrating how another industry master interpreted Kanigher's tragic aviation hero
