True Comics #8

When France surrenders to Nazi Germany in 1940, General Charles de Gaulle refuses to accept defeat and escapes to London, where he rallies French soldiers and civilians to continue the fight against Hitler's occupation. Tracing his path from a tall, ambitious young officer through World War I to his prescient warnings about modern mechanized warfare, this True Comics account chronicles how de Gaulle built a "Free France" movement across multiple continents—rallying thousands to his cause despite setbacks, military defeats, and the constant danger of his far-flung travels. His struggle to liberate France and unite its scattered forces continues, with only history to determine his ultimate victory.

Ethan Allen grows from a sharp-shooting farm boy on the Connecticut frontier into a fearless patriot who fights for American independence—first as a secret messenger for the Sons of Liberty, then as the commander of the Green Mountain Boys militia. When the Revolution erupts, Ethan leads his men on a daring raid against Fort Ticonderoga, proving that courage and determination can challenge even the odds. This is the story of a man dedicated to freedom, from his early days in the wilderness to his pivotal role in securing Vermont's place in the new nation.

During the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745, a Scottish artillery man's devoted greyhound follows his master into the thick of combat between British and French forces in Belgium. When enemy fire claims the gun crew and the dog's beloved owner, the faithful animal faces an impossible choice on the battlefield. This true account reveals how one dog's loyalty and quick thinking made an extraordinary difference when it mattered most.

Elsie MacGill defied convention in the late 1920s when she pursued electrical engineering against prevailing doubts, then advanced through aircraft design despite a devastating case of infantile paralysis that left her dependent on crutches. When World War II erupted, her expertise proved invaluable as she was placed in charge of retooling a Canadian factory to mass-produce Hurricane fighter planes from nothing but blueprints, while also developing a de-icer that would save RAF pilots' lives. This is the story of how determination and brilliance overcame prejudice and physical hardship to transform an ambitious young woman into one of Canada's most vital wartime engineers.

When two prospectors join the Chemihueir Indians on a hunting expedition through the California desert, a tragedy strikes the group—and an unexpected act of kindness sets in motion a debt that will be repaid in the most meaningful way an old medicine man knows how. This true tale, adapted from "Death Valley Days," shows how gratitude transcends words and cultures, even between those who begin as unlikely allies.

Dr. John Earl Baker, a small-town American boy from Wisconsin, discovered his calling to help people across the globe—first as a teacher, then through law and government service, until 1916 when he sailed to China as a trustee for educational advancement. Faced with devastating floods, famine, and later Japanese invasion, Baker threw himself into relief work, organizing missionaries, building roads, and eventually directing Red Cross operations and keeping the vital Burma Road open to feed starving Chinese. This is the true story of how one man's determination to show people "a better way to live" transformed into decades of tireless humanitarian service under impossible conditions.

Brothers C. Randolph and Roger Whiting push themselves and their motorcycle to the limit in a cross-country race from New York to Los Angeles, battling treacherous weather, exhaustion, and unexpected obstacles as they attempt to shatter Randolph's own speed record. Alternating drivers through storms, floods, and mountain passes, the brothers discover that the real challenge isn't just staying awake—it's staying on the road long enough to reach the finish line.

When Emperor Justinian of Constantinople wishes to bring silk production to his empire, two Persian monks undertake a perilous journey to China—risking death to smuggle silkworms back home in a clever disguise. Fourteen centuries later, an American photographer named Rey Scott faces his own impossible task: getting precious film footage of China's war with Japan past armed Japanese guards, and he finds his answer in the monks' ancient example.

Before George Washington became a revolutionary hero, the young officer faced a brutal test in the wilderness. Sent by Virginia's governor in 1754 to build and defend forts against French and Indian forces in the Ohio Country, Washington leads a small force through treacherous terrain and achieves an early victory—but then finds himself besieged at Fort Necessity with dwindling supplies and overwhelming odds. This tale shows how even a future legend tasted defeat, and what he learned from it.

King Kamehameha I dreamed of uniting the warring Hawaiian islands into a single peaceful kingdom, and through determination and conquest, he turned that vision into reality. When foreign visitors like Captain Vancouver arrived bearing gifts—cattle, plants, tools, and knowledge—the young chief eagerly embraced these treasures to enrich his island home, establishing trade and friendship with distant nations. By combining the strength of unified Hawaiian rule with the best of what the wider world had to offer, Kamehameha transformed Hawaii into a thriving paradise.

Mike Fink's journey from a young sharpshooter barred from rifle contests to the legendary king of the Mississippi River unfolds through daring feats and fierce battles aboard the keelboats that ruled the waterway before steamships arrived. When outlaws kidnap a passenger's wife and hole up at Cave-in Rock, Mike and his crew mount a desperate rescue that tests his reputation as the river's greatest fighter and marksman. This thrilling tale captures the rough-and-tumble life of one of America's most colorful frontier heroes.