20 February 1971: Lion

It’s February 1971, the issue of Lion on sale 52 years ago this week, and the British army are relying on schoolboy Johnny Quick to turn the course of the Second World War. Cover art by Geoff Campion.

Here’s the full episode of General Johnny from this issue. Less than four decades after the end of the war, it’s quite astonishing how crazy some of the WW2 comic strips were. Humourous and fantastical storylines mixed with tales of heroism and xenophobic stereotyping.

Note the debut in this instalment of a nemesis for Johnny: General Willi!

The Willi of the Wehrmacht storyline was to be General Johnny’s last recorded adventure. The strip ended on 13 March 1971 (with Willi getting a good old British thumping) ahead of the merging of Thunder comic into Lion. Black Max and Steel Commando were among the new war stories.

For those interested, here’s a clip from General Johnny’s origin story, from the issue of Lion dated 7 February 1970, drawn by Ted Kearon. Nothing abnormal or inappropriate about this appointment.