Combat Kelly (2nd Series)

    (Marvel, 1972-1973)
™ and ©1972 Marvel Entertainment Group

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 $9.00
  • 2
    Aug 1972
    Cover: $0.20
    W: Gary Friedrich  ·  A: Dick Ayers
    8 copies from $4.90
  • 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 $1.20
  • 5
    Feb 1973
    Cover: $0.20
    W: Gary Friedrich  ·  A: Dick Ayers
    7 copies from $2.50
  • 6
    Apr 1973
    Cover: $0.20
    W: Gary Friedrich  ·  A: Dick Ayers
    1 copy for $7.50
  • 7
    Jun 1973
    Cover: $0.20
    W: Gary Friedrich  ·  A: Dick Ayers
    4 copies from $4.10
  • 8
    Aug 1973
    Cover: $0.20
    W: Gary Friedrich  ·  A: Dick Ayers
    2 copies from $4.25
  • 9
    Oct 1973
    Cover: $0.20
    W: Gary Friedrich  ·  A: Dick Ayers
    Combat Kelly leaves team
    3 copies from $8.00