Atom Bomb and Other Stories

Atom Bomb and Other Stories by Wallace Wood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Atom Bomb and Other Stories collects 39 EC war stories illustrated by Wallace Wood.

I'm not a war comics guy but I do intent to read the entire Fantagraphics EC Library. With this volume, the only one eluding me is 50 Girls 50. Anyway, even though this is all war comics, it's a great read.

Harvey Kurtzman, Jerry De Fuccio, Carl Wessler, Archie Goodwin, and Wallace Wood himself serve up the stories. Far from glorifying the war, the stories with show the horror and futility of war. Wally Wood was in World War II so I have no doubt these stories were special to him.

As much as I love Wood on sci-fi, horror, or even Daredevil for Marvel, this is easily his best work. Stark blacks, authentic details, and cramming a George Perez level of characters into his battle scenes make Atom Bomb something to behold. I could normally give two shits about war comics but this book is something special.

Atom Bomb, the titular story, is one of the best but I wouldn't say there's a dud in the whole batch. Wood pulled out all the stops. There are even two stories from Warren in the 1970s that Wood did for Blazing Combat, a descendent of Frontline Combat.

Even for a guy who's not into war comics, I have to say Atom Bomb and Other Stories contains Wallace Wood's best work at EC. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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