Cpl. Rocco Barbella

Cpl. Rocco Barbella is a soldier in the motor pool at Fort Baxter, a recurring member of the scheming Sgt. Ernie Bilko's hapless squad. Based on the Phil Silvers Show TV character, he appeared in DC's humor comics adaptations of the series.

A familiar face from the motor pool, Cpl. Rocco Barbella stepped onto the Silver Age comics scene in 1957, brought to life by creators Cal Howard and Bob Oksner in DC's Sergeant Bilko — part of a charming wave of humor comics that translated the beloved TV world of Fort Baxter to the printed page. Rocco keeps lively company with the scheming Sgt. Ernie Bilko, the lovable Pvt. Doberman, and the long-suffering Col. John T. Hall across titles like Sgt. Bilko's Pvt. Doberman and the Sgt. Bilko Annual, making him a recurring presence in one of DC's most warmly comic corners of the era. With 18 appearances across a run that lasted into 1960, he's a genuine piece of that brief, breezy Silver Age moment when barracks humor ruled the racks — a collector's delight for anyone who loves comics that swap capes for khakis.