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Vertigo Resurrected
Sgt. Rock: Between Hell & a Hard Place
This thought-provoking story presents a tale that calls into question the double standards of humanity and morality during wartime. In the midst of a covert World War II mission, Sgt. Rock discovers that four of his prisoners were brutally murdered during the night. With the fifth and only surviving prisoner on the run, the Sergeant must determine if the cold-blooded murderer is a member of Easy Company or the German escapee. A moralistic murder mystery set against the backdrop of war, this book examines the fine line between being a soldier and a sadistic killer.
139 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2003
1 person is currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Brian Azzarello
1,297 books1,108 followersBrian Azzarello (born in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American comic book writer. He came to prominence with 100 Bullets, published by DC Comics' mature-audience imprint Vertigo. He and Argentine artist Eduardo Risso, with whom Azzarello first worked on Jonny Double, won the 2001 Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story for 100 Bullets #15–18: "Hang Up on the Hang Low".
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 22, 2017
Not in the style of classic Sgt. Rock (visually or thematically), but entertaining and thought provoking in it's own right.
July 24, 2025
3,5
Historia bélica solvente
Historia bélica solvente
October 30, 2012
A solid graphic novel that's part murder-mystery and mostly war comic. Joe Kubert was an artist who's name I was more familiar with rather than the actual body of work he'd produced in his career. Brian Azzarello handles the storytelling, which is better than average in this tale of Sgt. Rock and Easy Company operating in the dense forests in Germany, and how things play out after several German Officer POWs are shot point-blank during some confusion while in the care of Easy Co.
I had read the Kubert Sgt. Rock story in the Wednesday Comics collection, and I think I preferred it a little more. It was brisker, to be sure, but seemed more action centric, probably due to the format that it was published in (weekly installments). This story is a little moodier and deeper-thinking, which shouldn't be a mark against it. The reprint of this story that I have includes several original Sgt. Rock stories from the 60's, but I suspect that the hardcover doesn't have these. They were entertaining.
Make sure you're going to be able to concentrate on it when you read it - Kubert's art is very good, as is Azzarello's script, but they aren't holding your hand and continually spelling out who the characters are each page as the story keeps rolling. You'll have to pay attention to some subtle visual clues. but I actually liked that it took a little effort to read this one - most comic storytelling I've read lately has not been the least bit challenging, for this reader anyways.
I've been getting slightly burned out on the cape and villain type stuff, unless the work is at the top of it's game. I would say this Sgt. Rock story operated very close to the top of it's game, almost as close as it could get, really, and so it was a welcome change of pace.
I had read the Kubert Sgt. Rock story in the Wednesday Comics collection, and I think I preferred it a little more. It was brisker, to be sure, but seemed more action centric, probably due to the format that it was published in (weekly installments). This story is a little moodier and deeper-thinking, which shouldn't be a mark against it. The reprint of this story that I have includes several original Sgt. Rock stories from the 60's, but I suspect that the hardcover doesn't have these. They were entertaining.
Make sure you're going to be able to concentrate on it when you read it - Kubert's art is very good, as is Azzarello's script, but they aren't holding your hand and continually spelling out who the characters are each page as the story keeps rolling. You'll have to pay attention to some subtle visual clues. but I actually liked that it took a little effort to read this one - most comic storytelling I've read lately has not been the least bit challenging, for this reader anyways.
I've been getting slightly burned out on the cape and villain type stuff, unless the work is at the top of it's game. I would say this Sgt. Rock story operated very close to the top of it's game, almost as close as it could get, really, and so it was a welcome change of pace.
March 4, 2016
This graphic novel was a collaboration of two maestro! Brian Azzarello is famous for his '100 Bullets', 'Loveless' and many more! He is one of the best writers in the industry today. On the other hand, it's Joe Kubert! If you don't know who the hell he is then, google it you c*nt!
Sgt. Rock: Between Hell and A Hard Place is also between a war story and a murder mystery.
Story: 4/5
Art: 5/5
Sgt. Rock: Between Hell and A Hard Place is also between a war story and a murder mystery.
Story: 4/5
Art: 5/5
June 3, 2012
Guión sólido y arte de un titán en estas lides para una historia magistral, que aporta al universo del sargento un episodio donde las dudas y la desconfianza brindan un tramado que escapa al mero Joe vs Krauts. "Todos somos culpables de algo".
March 18, 2016
Història d'investigació enmig d'una cruentíssima batalla de la Segona Guerra Mundial. Honor, deshonor i molta sang. Bon Azzarello, memorable Kubert.
August 23, 2018
After a nearly 10 year absence, Joe Kubert returned to his best known character, Sgt. Rock. With Brian Azzrello writing, Kubert plotted and illustrated this 2003 graphic novel under the Vertigo imprint. Meant to be more edgy and adult, other than maybe a bit more violence, I could not tell a difference from this and the stuff my father used to read in the 70s and 80s.
I'm going to make a stunning confession here. Most of you know me as a big DC fan. Yet, when it comes to the World War II characters, I prefer Sgt. Fury and His Howlin' Commandos over the guys of Easy Co. I always felt that the Commandos had more personality. In contrast, I felt like Easy Co. was just a rotating group of grunts that had very little personality and even less chance at staying alive than a red shirt on Star Trek.
I bought this book more for the something extra inside it than the art and story. Along with this book, there was a piece of DC Comics stationary that was meant to drum up business for a book seller into buying multiple copies of this book. This volume I purchased wasn't a proof, but it was sent out in advance. Seeing as DC stationary is considered a holy grail among DC fans, I had to have this book if only for that treasure piece of comic book history.
Between Hell and a Hard Place was an okay read. The story has Sgt. Rock and his men finding a group of Nazi officers. Rock decides to take the men back to base in hopes of gaining some valuable information that might put an end to the war. But on the journey back, 3 of the officers are murdered at point blank range, during an assault from another group of German soldiers. With a fourth officer on the run, Rock must play detective as one of his own soldiers may have been who shot the other Nazis in cold blood.
I felt that the main storyline gets gobbled up in other elements, like the origin of the Ice Cream Soldier and the introduction of new recruits to Easy Co. I was fine with the ending but I did feel that elements of the murder mystery tied themselves up in just too neat of a bow.
My favorite part of this book was the art. I love Joe Kubert. His work on Weird War Tales is just fantastic. His images of Rock adorned in red, white and blue tipped bandoliers was awe-inspiring. It also felt nostalgic as I feel like that is how I grew up seeing Sgt. Rock in the comics as a kid. But I cannot find any evidence on this on Google.
A good read but if not for the stationery treasure contained within, I wouldn't keep this book as a part of my collection.
I'm going to make a stunning confession here. Most of you know me as a big DC fan. Yet, when it comes to the World War II characters, I prefer Sgt. Fury and His Howlin' Commandos over the guys of Easy Co. I always felt that the Commandos had more personality. In contrast, I felt like Easy Co. was just a rotating group of grunts that had very little personality and even less chance at staying alive than a red shirt on Star Trek.
I bought this book more for the something extra inside it than the art and story. Along with this book, there was a piece of DC Comics stationary that was meant to drum up business for a book seller into buying multiple copies of this book. This volume I purchased wasn't a proof, but it was sent out in advance. Seeing as DC stationary is considered a holy grail among DC fans, I had to have this book if only for that treasure piece of comic book history.
Between Hell and a Hard Place was an okay read. The story has Sgt. Rock and his men finding a group of Nazi officers. Rock decides to take the men back to base in hopes of gaining some valuable information that might put an end to the war. But on the journey back, 3 of the officers are murdered at point blank range, during an assault from another group of German soldiers. With a fourth officer on the run, Rock must play detective as one of his own soldiers may have been who shot the other Nazis in cold blood.
I felt that the main storyline gets gobbled up in other elements, like the origin of the Ice Cream Soldier and the introduction of new recruits to Easy Co. I was fine with the ending but I did feel that elements of the murder mystery tied themselves up in just too neat of a bow.
My favorite part of this book was the art. I love Joe Kubert. His work on Weird War Tales is just fantastic. His images of Rock adorned in red, white and blue tipped bandoliers was awe-inspiring. It also felt nostalgic as I feel like that is how I grew up seeing Sgt. Rock in the comics as a kid. But I cannot find any evidence on this on Google.
A good read but if not for the stationery treasure contained within, I wouldn't keep this book as a part of my collection.
September 24, 2021
Joe Kubert returns to Sgt. Rock. One of the pioneers of the war comic, certainly the man who perfected the style, Kubert was the illustrator for some of the first Sgt. Rock comics back in the 1950s. His style hasn’t changed much, and the serious nature of Sgt. Rock comics is perfectly captured by writer Brian Azzarello. Though it must be noted that this book was originally intended to be a twelve issue mini-series, but was reduced to a 144 page novel instead. Thus what would have been a deeper emotional core to the series is a little bare, but still very readable.
Set during the brutal Battle of the Huertgen Forest, Rock and the boys from Easy company manage to capture four S.S. officers, three of whom end up dead after a brutal artillery barrage. Rock discovers they were all shot at close range, and begins to suspect some of his own men of murdering them. The book then philosophizes about the difference between being killed in battle and murder, or if there is a difference at all, while Rock’s hunt continues. This leads to a somewhat predictable, but wonderfully violent ending. What, you thought Rock might get killed? Think again.
Set during the brutal Battle of the Huertgen Forest, Rock and the boys from Easy company manage to capture four S.S. officers, three of whom end up dead after a brutal artillery barrage. Rock discovers they were all shot at close range, and begins to suspect some of his own men of murdering them. The book then philosophizes about the difference between being killed in battle and murder, or if there is a difference at all, while Rock’s hunt continues. This leads to a somewhat predictable, but wonderfully violent ending. What, you thought Rock might get killed? Think again.
November 10, 2023
I've quickly become a fan of DC's war comics in recent times, especially of Bob Kanigher and Joe Kubert's work. This graphic novel is really the aesthetic peak of Kubert's long history with Sgt. Rock, and it's quite a sight to behold. Every panel of this story is so lovingly crafted, yet it all carries that same scratchy, effortless Kubert quality that no other war artist can compete with. It's gritty and it's dark, sure, but what makes it special is how grounded and emotional the storytelling is. I've had a mixed history with Brian Azzarello works. He sometimes gets a little too self-indulgent, but his writing here is restrained and focused. He is in true partnership with Kubert, and the result is magnificent. This is a great comic, and whether you're a veteran of Sgt. Rock stories, or a brand new recruit, you will find something to enjoy here.
June 1, 2023
Brian Azzarello es uno de mis escritores de cómics de referencia. En esta ocasión una historia de la Segunda Guerra con los personajes clásicos de la Easy Company los cómics de Sargeant Rock y nada más y nada menos que su ilustrador original Joe Kubert. El tema está muy bien tratado y se siente vigente. Muy recomendado.
August 24, 2025
I'm quite fond of Brian Azzarello's work and was looking for a Sgt. Rock comic to introduce me to the character. However, this wasn't it, unfortunately. It was still an enjoyable read, especially towards the last couple of chapters, but I think I will be on the lookout for another Sgt. Rock comic to better introduce myself to the character.
October 13, 2018
Really great war story by two masters of the craft.
November 4, 2018
Story felt thin somehow. The hell of the Hurtgen forest did not. A nicely done Sgt. Rock story that could have been better somehow.
August 1, 2021
Full of beautiful art, but the story itself was a really thin one. The Easy company would have deserved more.
February 18, 2023
Kubert art was a treat and Azzarello writes just as Azzarello can and makes me care about characters.
Just good sweet fun.
Just good sweet fun.
October 8, 2024
This is not the unrealistic , fun Sgt. Rock I remember .
January 10, 2025
Meu Deus, que história chata. Totalmente sem graça e esquecível, conta a história de um batalhão durante a guerra mas as trama é chata e confusa, tenho certeza que vou esquecer essa historia.
December 25, 2025
yazarın çizerin hatırına 2 yıldız.
July 16, 2014
When I was a kid, my older brother bought the Sgt. Rock comics every month and I had the privilege to read them after he finished. Somehow I looked up to this military leader and devoured the message of each issue. Forward to the present and I see this hardback issue and wanted to relive the pleasure of reading Sgt. Rock. But somehow nostalgia has the propensity to disappoint. This book wasn't from the original auteurs. It was a tribute book written by fans of the series. They did well, but I was unable to receive the same joy reading it as I did originally. Not a fault of theirs. I am a changed person.
May 19, 2013
Set during the deadly Battle of the Huertgen Forest, this is a more morally ambivalent version of the formulaic 70's war comic. This is not a "re-imagined" version of the comic, the characters remain fundamentally the same. But it is a darker, more brutal version of World War II than previous versions of Sgt. Rock have portrayed. In pauses between the action scenes, the characters are fleshed out and given time to develop and ponder the sacrifices they've made for their comrades and their country. The slower pace makes for a better, more nuanced story.
August 3, 2013
I hate to say that a book about an old friend was only two stars so I guess I will go for two and a half. I read all of the war comics as soon as they came out when I was a bit younger, something like 36 years ago. Sgt. Rock and the crew of Easy Company was always top of the list for me. This little ditty was just too scattered of a story line. Nothing like the old comics that I remembered. And the graphics were a little to in your face for me. I guess the new just is not the same as the old sometimes.
January 5, 2016
Excellent! I must admit I haven't read much on Sgt. Rock other than DC Comics Worlds at War angle and thought that the character in many ways was truly more a lifelike version of what a real soldier would be like in the world of superheroes.
This story was great as it was very real war story set in the last year of World War II. Have to admit there was a very good moral set towards this. Its not all black and white, but nevertheless this is a great story.
B+
This story was great as it was very real war story set in the last year of World War II. Have to admit there was a very good moral set towards this. Its not all black and white, but nevertheless this is a great story.
B+
March 8, 2010
Another stellar piece of writing by Brian Azzarello. Gritty, well illustrated (by original Sgt. Rock artist Joe Kubert), and a good murder-mystery amid the horrors of war. Fun stuff. Maybe not the greatest graphic novel ever written, but a quick read that is loads of fun and has plenty of grit. Tailor made for the Band of Brothers-Saving Private Ryan crowd...
July 11, 2010
This is a gritty story of a besieged company's struggle to get out of German territory. There were pieces of it that were particularly interesting. There was an all Japanese-American unit that was essentially a human shield, though several of the soldiers earned medals for bravery after the war. An interesting read for fans of Band of Brothers.
January 22, 2008
Kubert's panels may not serve the larger narrative as well as one might expect (given his long-established mastery of the form) but perhaps it's inevitable that they would stand apart from the hum-drum War-gore of Azzarello's storyline.
January 6, 2009
Sgt. Rock was one of my favorite comics when I was young, so I was predisposed to like this volume, and I did. Not the greatest writing, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I don't really know enough to critique the art, but I thought it was pretty good.
June 2, 2010
Great mix of gritty WWII action and a murder mystery. 2/3 through the book there is a powerful scene involving two soldiers and a land mine. Even in his 80's Kubert hasn't missed a beat and his storytelling is amazing.
September 10, 2010
Joe Kubert is a master of the graphic/comics medium! And Brian Azzarello is one of the best "newer" writers in the field today. This collaboration was a very unexpected one that turned out brilliantly! Between Hell and A Hard Place is also between a war story and a murder mystery. Killer!
July 20, 2015
A decent tale, though as with most war comics/films, the uniforms make it really tough to tell who's who most of the time. I really wish there was a better way to distinguish the individual characters.
October 29, 2016
Kubert really seems to want to let the pictures do the bulk of the story telling here but as a large part of this collection is intended as a mystery it really needed more text to tease out the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews