Weird War Tales

Weird War Tales
Cover of Weird War Tales #1 (September–October 1971). Art by Joe Kubert.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	List (vol. 1): Ongoing (vol. 2): Limited series and a one-shot special
Genre	List War Fantasy Horror Science fiction
Publication date	List (vol. 1) September–October 1971 – June 1983 (vol. 2) June 1997 – September 1997
Number of issues	List (vol. 1): 124 (vol. 2): 4
Creative team
Writer(s)	List (vol. 1) J. M. DeMatteis Arnold Drake Steve Englehart Steve Gerber Jack C. Harris Sheldon Mayer Roger McKenzie Jack Oleck Mike W. Barr Dan Mishkin Robert Kanigher
Penciller(s)	List (vol. 1) Tony DeZuniga Alfredo Alcala Gerry Talaoc Nestor Redondo Alex Niño Alfredo Alcala Ernie Chan Bill Draut Jess Jodloman Frank Redondo E.R. Cruz Fred Carrillo Mike Grell Frank Miller Howard Chaykin José Luis García-López Marshall Rogers Rubeny Romeo Tanghal Bob Hall Steve Ditko Fred Carrillo Dan Spiegle Marc Silvestri Carmine Infantino Rich Buckler (vol. 2) Richard Corben Eric Shanower Paul Pope Dave Gibbons Paul Gulacy Sam Glanzman Eduardo Risso Duncan Fegredo Cully Hammer
Inker(s)	List (vol. 1) Terry Austin Bob Wiacek Joe Giella Larry Mahlstedt Bob Smith John Celardo Sal Trapani Frank Giacoia

Weird War Tales was a war comic book title with supernatural overtones published by DC Comics. It was published from September–October 1971 to June 1983.

The original title ran for 12 years and 124 issues. It was an anthology series that told war stories with horror, mystery, fantasy and science fiction elements. Changes in the Comics Code Authority made the use of horror elements possible. Each issue was hosted by Death, usually depicted as a skeleton dressed in a different military uniform each issue. The title's name was inspired by editor Joe Orlando.Walt Simonson's first professional published comic book work appeared in Weird War Tales #10 (January 1973).Roger McKenzie and Frank Miller's first collaboration was on a two-page story published in Weird War Tales #68 (October 1978). Recurring characters began to appear late in the series run, notably the "G.I. Robot", and the return of "The War that Time Forgot" which originally ran in Star Spangled War Stories. Writer J. M. DeMatteis and penciler Pat Broderick created the Creature Commandos in Weird War Tales #93 (November 1980).

In Weird War Tales #101 (July 1981), the G.I. Robot is deployed to a Pacific island alongside the Marines to fight the Japanese military. Although the robot is technically named "Jungle Automatic Killer - Experimental Number 1" (J.A.K.E. 1), it is given the nickname of the G.I. Robot. J.A.K.E. 1 is destroyed in Weird War Tales #111 (May 1982) but is replaced by J.A.K.E. 2, which continues to fight on various Pacific islands, including Dinosaur Island. It later teams with the Creature Commandos.