Battle Action #1–30
Genre
War, Military Fiction, Historical Drama, Action-Adventure
Main Characters
While Battle Action features a rotating cast typical of anthology titles, several recurring characters and storylines have stood out across the 30-issue run:
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Johnny Red – A British pilot fighting with the Soviet Air Force during WWII.
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Major Eazy – A laid-back yet deadly commando who operates behind enemy lines with a cynical edge.
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D-Day Dawson – A soldier wounded on D-Day who continues fighting with the knowledge that a piece of shrapnel is slowly killing him.
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The Rat Pack – A team of military criminals sent on deadly missions in exchange for reduced sentences.
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Hellman of Hammer Force – A German tank commander with a conflicted conscience, fighting against both Allies and the horrors of war itself.
Writer
Key contributors to Battle Action included:
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Gerry Finley-Day – The mastermind behind many of the anthology’s longest-running and most beloved stories.
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Pat Mills – Often referred to as the “godfather of British comics,” he infused tales with subversive energy and socio-political undertones.
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John Wagner – Known for co-creating Judge Dredd, Wagner brought gritty realism and dark humor to his war tales.
Artist
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Mike Western – Renowned for his intense action panels and expressive character work.
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Joe Colquhoun – Later famous for Charley’s War, Colquhoun lent a sharp, grounded realism to the wartime atmosphere.
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Carlos Ezquerra – Co-creator of Judge Dredd, his artwork helped shape the visual tone of several stories.
Editor Details
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Editor: Dave Hunt (Early Issues), Steve MacManus (Later Issues)
MacManus brought a stronger narrative cohesion and greater focus to serialized storytelling within the anthology format.
Publisher and Brand
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Publisher: IPC Magazines
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Brand: IPC's Battle Picture Weekly evolved into Battle Action during this series run, marking a bold fusion of Battle and Action—two of the most iconic British war comic brands of the 1970s and early 1980s.
Release Year
1977–1981
Brief Plot Summary
Battle Action #1–30 was a weekly British anthology comic that merged the storytelling styles of gritty military drama with pulp action sensibilities. Drawing from real historical conflicts, primarily World War II, the comic’s stories offered intense, emotionally charged snapshots of war from the front lines and beyond. Each issue presented multiple story arcs centered on soldier life, espionage, rebellion, and psychological endurance.
Rather than glorify violence, Battle Action often emphasized the futility of war and the personal cost of heroism. With morally complex characters and a tone that ranged from brooding to rebellious, the series built a reputation as one of the most fearless war comics of its era.
Notable Arcs or Storylines
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"Johnny Red" – A powerful look at a British pilot outcast from his own forces who joins the Soviet fight on the Eastern Front.
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"Major Eazy: The Jungle Path" – A story exploring Eazy’s tactics during missions deep in enemy territory, blending anti-hero charisma with clever strategy.
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"The Rat Pack: The Executioners" – One of their most gripping arcs, where the team questions orders and the value of their own redemption.
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"D-Day Dawson: The Final Countdown" – A moving arc where Dawson confronts his mortality while continuing to fight through occupied France.
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"Hellman of Hammer Force: War Criminal" – A controversial storyline tackling the gray morality of warfare from a German officer’s point of view.
Fan Theories or Interpretations
Some fans interpret Hellman of Hammer Force as an allegory for inner dissent in times of blind nationalism. His constant struggle with orders versus morality is seen as a subtle critique of militarism. Others have proposed that Major Eazy is loosely inspired by cultural antiheroes of the 1970s like Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry—a man who fights the enemy as much as he resists the system he serves.
There’s also a prevailing theory that Johnny Red symbolized Cold War tensions and Anglo-Russian mistrust, with his outsider status reflecting the ideological divide that haunted post-WWII Europe.
Review Summary
Battle Action #1–30 represents a golden age in British war comics. The stories are tightly written, often with a deep emotional core hidden beneath explosive set pieces. Visually, the comic is dynamic, capturing the rawness of combat without romanticizing it. Characters are layered, and even the villains are rarely one-dimensional. The rotating lineup of artists and writers maintained a strong level of consistency, ensuring the series aged gracefully through its first 30 issues. Bold, unflinching, and surprisingly introspective, Battle Action remains a benchmark in historical and military comic storytelling.
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
