DC Finest: Sgt. Rock: The Rock of Easy Co.

by Robert Kanigher, Various (Illustrator)

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, War

616 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2026

About the author

See also as Bob Kanigher

One of the most prolific writers in comics, particularly in the Silver Age. He took over scripting duties on Wonder Woman after William Moulton Marston's death, and handled the character's transition from the Golden to the Silver Age. He also created Barry Allen, the second Flash, for editor Julius Schwartz's superhero revival of 1956, as well as writing and editing DC's pioneering war titles.
His creations include Sgt. Rock, the Unknown Soldier, Barry Allen, Ragman, the Losers, Black Canary, the Metal Men, Poison Ivy, Enemy Ace, the Suicide Squad, and Rex the Wonder Dog.

Reviews

[Ángel Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otro de los mejores títulos de esta línea: Our army at war era un cómic de guerra de verdad, bien hecho, con sólidas historias a cargo de Robert Kanigher (un auténtico experto en este tipo de tebeos) plasmadas en imágenes por el grandísimo Joe Kubert, genio del noveno arte ante el que cualquier palabra sobra, dado que sus dibujos, narrativa y composición de página hablan por sí mismos.

Pero toda esta excelencia se ve lastrada por un tocho tan gordo; y es que, hay que reconocerlo, las tramas se repiten más que el ajo. Una y otra vez vemos a Ice Cream Soldier (por cierto, este tío palma en una historia y resucita en la siguiente...), Bulldozer y el resto de los Easy afrontar las mismas situaciones, acoger a un novato entre sus filas, enfrentarse en solitario a un tanque, etc., etc., mientras Rock se comporta siempre como el soldado perfecto, el sargento quintaesencial, que cuida de sus hombres hasta en la más desesperada de las situaciones, demostrando que su rocosa actitud oculta un corazón de oro. Es cierto que las batallas de Easy no mitifican la guerra, sino muy al contrario, la presentan como el infierno que es, pero no es menos cierto que al cabo de 400 páginas de esta rutina, uno se siente tentado de dejar de leer. Y si uno continúa es por Kubert, porque no hay otro como él.

En fin, que sí, que es imprescindible, pero que he tardado una eternidad en terminarlo. Y mira que le tenía ganas...

[Gary Sassaman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was curious about this recent DC Finest volume because I enjoyed the previous War one, and in hindsight I almost wish I didn’t buy it. Reading tale after tale of Sgt. Rock—almost all written by Robert Kanigher and drawn by Joe Kubert—a real sense of sameness sets in. Kanigher’s stories have pretty much just Rock as the main character, almost always dealing with a new member of Easy Company, who is either troubled or thinks he’s indestructible or has delusions of grandeur, and Rock has to try and make them a dependable member of his unit. As for everybody else in Easy, you get almost no sense of their personalities, and it takes until page 459, with the cover of Our Army at War 112 (November 1961) to even get an idea of who all is in Easy Co., and issue 120 (July 1962) finally reveals the “origins” of Bulldozer, Wild Man, and Ice Cream Soldier, the latter of which I swear dies twice in this book, only to be back in the following issue with no explanation. The art is wonderful—if it’s not by Kubert, there’s Jerry Grandenetti or Irv Novick or the great Russ Heath—but nobody draws grizzled World War II-weary soldiers like Kubert, the king of gritty beard stubble. I particularly love the way Kubert drops the borders on some panels, pretty much on each page; it really makes some of the action stand out. Kanigher relies on too many cliches in his writing—you’ll read “the combat-happy joes of Easy Co!” countless times in this book, sometimes multiple times on the same page. And one thing that becomes exceedingly clear in this volume: These stories were not designed to be read this way. They’re one-offs, with no issue-to-issue continuity, and I think this is why I prefer Sgt. Fury to Sgt. Rock: You got a real sense of who the Howling Commandos were in the Fury book, especially when Gary Friedrich was writing it. While I know Kubert’s art keeps evolving and he eventually becomes the editor of Our Army at War (and the title becomes Sgt. Rock), I think I’ll skip any subsequent volume.

[Ray Smillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I see the words Sgt. Rock, I immediately think of XTC. I am almost certain I didn't read any of them back in the 60s and 70s, preferring the British Commando books but I was aware of Sgt. Rock. With that in mind, this volume was all new to me, so I had no expectations either way. Damned fine read.

[Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally this is what I’ve been looking for, classic comics in a decent sized collection, for a decent price. Loved reading through this, simple stories, no cross overs, godly art, everything modern comics are missing.

5 Tin pots of 5

[Matt Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great art and action in here showcasing Sgt Rock and Easy Company’s first comics the only problem is they get a bit repetitive the more you read. 1959-1962. 8/10