Combat Kelly (2nd Series)

Combat Kelly was a brief-lived war series that ran between 1972 and 1973. Its premise is similar to the movie “The Dirty Dozen.” Here, a hard-fighting Irishman corporal named Kelly turns a group of military prisoners into an elite fighting force. Among their number were the suave Dino Manelli and the all-too-refined Englishman, Percy Pinkerton, two who were more famous as members of Sgt. Fury’s Howling Commandos.

Another of the Deadly Dozen was Jay Little Bear, a Mohawk Indian. Although his inclusion may have been seen as a progressive move on Marvel’s part at the time, it now seems hopelessly clichéd. For instance, his preferred weapon was a bow and arrow—even when fighting men armed with machine guns and grenades. On the bright side, his character did give Marvel a chance to voice concerns about the treatment of native Americans.

Jump to issue:

#1

Jun 1972

Cover: $0.20

W: Gary Friedrich · A: Dick Ayers

1st appearance of Combat Kelly; Origin of Combat Kelly; Combat Kelly becomes leader of Dum-Dum Dugan’s Deadly Dozen (from Sgt. Fury #98)

4 copies from $5.25
#2

Aug 1972

Cover: $0.20

W: Gary Friedrich · A: Dick Ayers

7 copies from $5.52
#3

Oct 1972

Cover: $0.20

W: Gary Friedrich · A: Dick Ayers

Origin of Combat Kelly

5 copies from $2.75
#4

Dec 1972

Cover: $0.20

W: Gary Friedrich · A: Dick Ayers

Story continued from Sgt. Fury #104

4 copies from $1.06
#5

Feb 1973

Cover: $0.20

W: Gary Friedrich · A: Dick Ayers

7 copies from $1.00
#6

Apr 1973

Cover: $0.20

W: Gary Friedrich · A: Dick Ayers

1 copy for $5.00
#7

Jun 1973

Cover: $0.20

W: Gary Friedrich · A: Dick Ayers

4 copies from $8.50
#8

Aug 1973

Cover: $0.20

W: Gary Friedrich · A: Dick Ayers

1 copy for $2.75
#9

Oct 1973

Cover: $0.20

W: Gary Friedrich · A: Dick Ayers

Combat Kelly leaves team

2 copies from $4.75