Heroic Comics #26

Private Billy Miller, the five-foot-six infantryman from Peoria, Illinois, finds himself captured by German forces near San Vittore, Italy, and must talk his way out of a seemingly hopeless situation. Armed with nothing but quick thinking and nerve, Miller launches a daring bluff against his captors—one that will either lead to his freedom or prove to be his final gamble. It's a tense, character-driven war story that shows how courage comes in more forms than just combat.

When a direct hit damages S/Sgt. Arvel L. Clark's B-26 bomber during a 1943 raid over Northwest Africa, the damaged landing flaps threaten to turn their return home into disaster. With his crew facing a choice between bailing out or attempting an impossible landing, Clark volunteers for a harrowing solution that will test the limits of courage and nerve. This two-page war story captures a real act of heroism that earned Clark recognition far beyond the tarmac.

When the American forces assault the Japanese stronghold on Attu in the Aleutian Islands, Pvt. Joe Martinez—a former Colorado farm boy—volunteers for dangerous reconnaissance missions that repeatedly turn the tide of battle, earning the admiration of his fellow soldiers. As the campaign reaches its climax and the cost mounts, Martinez makes one final push toward Chichagof Harbor, determined to break through enemy lines at any cost. His selfless courage under fire and ultimate sacrifice help secure this vital position and cement his legacy as an American hero.

A damaged American bomber—engines shot out, controls destroyed—is abandoned by her crew over enemy territory, yet miraculously stays airborne on automatic pilot, becoming an unlikely decoy that draws Nazi fire away from her sister bombers heading home. As the "phantom fort" continues her solitary flight across the German sky, the squadron can only wonder if this ghost ship will ever touch ground again, or if "You'll Never Know" is destined to fly on forever.

Pat Dempsey's quiet vacation at the Blake Dude Ranch turns urgent when he discovers a ruthless cattle-rustling operation hiding in plain sight—and young Jimmy Stone, the ranch's rightful heir, caught in the middle of Mrs. Blake's criminal scheme. As Pat uncovers the truth behind the mysterious valley and the stolen herds, he'll need to transform into Man O' Metal to take down a desperate gang and protect Jimmy from becoming another casualty of their murderous enterprise.