Air Fighters: Steve Savage, The Balloon Buster - All-American Men of War #112 (Dec. 1965)

In this episode, I'll be circling back to one of the main inspirations for this show, Steve Savage the Balloon Buster!  Despite the very few appearances made by this obscure DC war hero, some of the top names in comics worked on his feature, and it really produced some top notch genre stories.  Check out a recap of the Maverick Ace's very 1st adventure and,

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Whatever Happened to The Balloon Buster?: Legends of the Dark Knight Annual #7 (1997)

So - the last Balloon Buster story.

Writer James Robinson took the reigns of the Balloon Buster legend 15 years after Robert Kanigher's last BB story, and in one full issue, plus hints dropped in various others, made sweeping changes to Steve Savage's history - and in the process, and with help from 2 excellent artists, produced what might be the best ever Balloon Buster story.

Spinning out the 1994 crossover event Zero Hour (which made some loosey-goosey, but mostly minor changes to the timeline established in Crisis on Infinite Earths), James Robinson's title Starman, besides being an excellent title in its own right, did something very important - it made the idea of legacy important.  In the time between the Crisis (which while celebrating the long history of DC Comics, kind of closed the book on many of its characters) and Starman, DC Comics seemed to try to forget its history and classic characters.  The Justice Society of America, DC's 1st superteam, comprised of such golden greats as Hourman, Starman, original incarnations of The Flash, Green Lantern & Hawkman among others, was shuffled off to an alternate dimension, then eventually brought back only to have 1/2 the team murdered.  This treatment of its past by DC Comics was entirely disrespectful, perhaps, in the eyes of James Robinson, as he used Starman to celebrate not only the golden age of heroes, but many aspects of DC's long history.

1 panel appearance, revealing Steve Savage as Son of Scalphunter - from Starman Annual #2 (1997)

The lead character of Starman, Jack Knight, is the son of Ted Knight, the very 1st hero to go by the name of Starman.  The series follows Jack's struggle to come to grips with his father's legacy and his effort to become his own man - his own kind of hero.  Along the way, Jack stumbles upon the legacies of all the heroes throughout the history of DC Comics that used the Starman name, which (though seemingly preposterous to think there could be any relation at all between the Golden Age hero & the mystery man from the 50s, the Starmen from space & even Star Boy from the 31st century Legion of Super-Heroes) James Robinson ties together with skill & artfulness.

Equally preposterous is that Robinson applies this affect to Steve Savage, The Balloon Buster.  The name Savage is used to link 3 separate and previously unrelated DC Comics features.  Robinson (in various issues of Starman, but finally illustrated in Starman Annual #2) proposes that the man who raised the young Savage and taught him to 'be the GUN!' was not his father - Steve Savage was the son of Brian Savage, the former Old West vigilante, Scalphunter.  After Brian Savage's scalphuntin' days were over, he became sheriff of Opal City (Robinson's fictional city in the tradition of Metropolis, Gotham, Central City, etc., and longtime home of the Starman line), and was eventually shot & killed.  A family friend, possibly a relative, took in the infant Steve Savage, and the story could resume as told in Steve's 1st appearance in All-American Men of War #112. It is also suggested that Brian Savage was the son of an even earlier Western hero, Matt Savage, Trail Boss, so Steve Savage was the inheritor of a newly fabricated heroic legacy, courtesy of James Robinson.

Batman v. a faux-Balloon Buster

Final fate of Steve Savage - as related by Batman's thought balloons

Steve Savage, and his connection to Opal City via his father, found their way into Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Annual #7, written by Robinson and illustrated by Steve Yeowell & Balloon Buster original artist, RUSS HEATH!  In this issue, Batman becomes embroiled in a mystery: a man is murdered by an assailant masquerading in the garb of legendary WWI pilot Steve Savage, The Balloon Buster.  The killer is apparently after a treasure Savage brought home from the war (it's here established that Savage must have survived his wounds at the hands of The Enemy Ace in his last story appearance 15 years prior).  During his investigation, Batman comes across newspaper articles detailing Savage's post-War existence - gained mild fame stunt flying, opened his own airfield (since named Savage Field), and a finally, mysteriously disappears over the Opal City skies - Savage took to the air one last time in an effort to confront a rumored dragon who may have been the cause of a fever epidemic (one gripe - all of this begs to be depicted on the comics page, as opposed to being read in Batman's thought bubbles sitting in a local library).  Batman takes the time to read a chapter in a rare published biography of Steve Savage, called I Am a Gun, and this sequence - detailing Savage's last days in the War - are illustrated by none other than original Balloon Buster artist - Russ Heath!  What a coup!  This is Heath's first work on the character in over 30 years, and it is excellent!  At this point in his career, Russ Heath was still drawing the best aircraft in the business, and the action in this flashback sequence is wild!

Steve Savage - inheritor of a grape - I mean GREAT - family tradition

In the waning days of WWI, and on the verge of being tamed by French farm girl, Rochelle, the one true love of his life, Savage is a little surprised by the quick acceptance by his betrothed's vintner father.  While bestowing his approval on the imminent union, he passes on to Savage the 'family treasure' (which in the present has been the impetus of a string of murders).  Returning from his next flying mission, Savage finds that a rogue squadron of retreating Germans has raided the nearby town, and his fiance and her entire family have been brutally killed.  Fueled by rage, Savage, in his yellow Spad, hunts down the fleeing band and in a magnificent action sequence manages to kill each and every one.  The centerpiece of this issue, the Heath illustrated flashback is sad & brutal, but so well executed and really shines an unprecedented light on the character of Steve Savage.

In the present, Batman finally confronts the Balloon Buster-look-alike killer and is forced into an aerial chase in which Bats pulls some Steve Savage-esque stunts such as jumping from one biplane to another to rescue a hostage, then jumping BACK to his own plane in time to make a safe landing.  WOW!

Batman reads through Steve Savage's life story - a minor gripe: Bruce has it wrong - the battles between Hans Von Hammer & Steve Savage were very much conclusive, decidedly in VON HAMMER'S favor.  To Steve Savage's credit, however, to take on The Enemy Ace on more than one occasion & SURVIVE - this is no mean feat!

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - Batman performs a Steve Savage-esque stunt by jumping from one biplane to another (with a hostage in tow!).

With the killer brought to justice, the mystery of Steve Savage's treasure remains: it's soon discovered that the inheritance brought home from Europe and war was - a grape vine.  Savage's near in-laws were, remember, farmers and vintners.  Though it was too personal a venture to attempt to grow the grapes and make the wine himself, Savage was still determined to extend the legacy of Rochelle and her family in the U.S.  The plant apparently took to Savage's home soil, and its descendents were still producing wine.  The story ends with a rare depiction of The Batman imbibing, as he raises a glass of red to a portrait of The Balloon Buster.

Pouring one out for The Balloon Buster

And the story really was over for Steve Savage - though it was nice to see it end on such an incredibly high note.  Savage was given a noble, ambiguous ending (not a million miles away from the one given by his creator, Bob Kanigher), and was reunited with his original artist.  I'm so glad that James Robinson dug up this obscure character, and was able to breath new life into it, and also in a small way through Scalphunter, and the world of Opal City, connecting Steve Savage to the larger DCU.  This connection also reinforced the character's original conception - having one foot in the Western comics tradition and the other in war comics.

With this issue re-cap, the initial mandate for this blog has been fulfilled.  I've loved looking back at these obscure and mostly uncollected Balloon Buster stories, and hope to have posts on topics I love equally - sometime soon.

For the time being, I'm contemplating a tropical vacation in an alternate universe . . .

Steve Savage - The Balloon Buster: All-American Men of War #116 (Aug. 1966)

The story in this issue would be Steve Savage's last lead feature.  He hadn't appeared since issue 114 - #115 featured longtime AAMoW star Johnny Cloud, The Navajo Ace, and the next issue, #117, also featuring Cloud, would be the title's last.

This issue's cover sports another sensational Joe Kubert drawing, though the cover does continue a trend of inconsistent hair color for The Balloon Buster - he's been variously a blonde, a red head, and for this one & only time, a raven-haired saddle tramp.  Returning to illustrate this Robert Kanigher story is original strip artist, Russ Heath - and Heath delivers his finest work on the character.

This wartime thriller opens up with a visit to the base by the major's beautiful daughter, Constance.  She's immediately drawn to Steve Savage, so her father offers a word of warning - Savage is nothing but T-R-O-U-B-L-E!  After the major 'conveniently' forgets to introduce his daughter to the man he
hates the most, Constance boldly takes the initiative and sidles up to our saddle tramp - just as a squadron of German Fokkers strafe the airfield.

Russ Heath's return to The Balloon Buster starts of with a BANG!

Not one to take an attack like this lying down, Savage jumps into action, quickly taking his plane up to confront the assailants.  He manages to take out a couple of planes, but runs into trouble with this issue's German ace - The Executioner.  Savage takes some heavy fire from the Executioner, and is forced to do the unthinkable - to survive he must abandon ship!  As his plane plummets to the earth, Savage survives a desperate jump from the aircraft into a nearby lake.  So Round 1 of this dogfightgoes to the Executioner - but as they say, payback (and The Balloon Buster)'s a bitch!

Steve Savage seems to spend more time on the outside of his plane than in the cockpit!

At a dance the following evening, Savage overhears a conversation between Constance and a friend.  The major's daughter intends to 'tame the wild animal' that is Steve Savage.  To teach her a bit of a lesson, he becomes a little forward after one of their dances - which immediately puts the girl off, and in her mind, confirms her father's assessment of the Balloon Buster's 'character.'  After exiting the party, Savage overhears a report of an imminent German raid.

The un-tame-able Savage proves a point

Because that's how he does it, Savage steals the major's plane & puts the kibosh on the German bombing.  He lands outside a local bar - where he promptly defends the honor of an abused barmaid named Mimi.  Finding some kinship in their shared poverty-stricken background, Savage can't help but fulfill Mimi's dream to fly.

I refuse to go with the obvious 'Is that the plane's stick in your pocket . . . ' joke, but I will say that I cringe a little at the bad phonetic French accent, every time I read it in a comic

This turns out to be a very bad idea, as the duo is immediately attacked by The Executioner and a couple of his cronies.  They take some fire, Mimi taking the brunt of it, and return some, shooting down The Executioner's wingmen.  With the final enemy aircraft in hot pursuit, and no way to get his front-facing machine guns turned around on his target, Savage performs yet another unthinkable act - he climbs out on the plane's fuselage and starts shooting at the Executioner with his side arm!  And as he chantshis mantra 'I'm Th' Gun!' for what may be the last time in print, he actually manages to send the German ace to a fiery demise!

Again with the outside the cockpit action!

This action comes at a horrible price, however, as when Savage lands his plane, he discovers that the shots suffered by Mimi were fatal - The Balloon Buster's 'touch of death' reached not only for the enemy, but an ally, as well.

This is the last time that Steve Savage would be the lead feature in a comic.  The last panel promises more Steve Savage soon, but it was not to be.  I don't know the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of All-American Men of War, or whether or not there were further adventures of The Balloon Buster planned, but I have to assume that if the book sold well, if the character sold well - it wouldn't have gotten cancelled. The four stories in AAMoW were exciting (if a little formulaic), classic war stories, featuring a pretty unique character, and you couldn't ask for a better creative team on this type a story than Kanigher/Heath/Kubert.

And there WOULD be more Balloon Buster - within the next 10 to 15 years, there would be back-up (co-back-up, really) stints in Star-Spangled War Stories and The Unknown Soldier where Steve Savage would finally meet his match in the ultimate German ace, Hans Von Hammer, The Enemy Ace.  I can't wait to get to these stories in future posts!

Steve Savage - The Balloon Buster: All-American Men of War #113 (Feb. 1966)

Balloon Buster is the lead feature in the very next issue of All-American Men of War under a fantastic Joe Kubert cover.  This 2nd B.B. tale, 'The Ace of Sudden Death,' written by Robert Kanigher & drawn by Russ Heath, picks right up where the 1st story ended, with a commendation by the general, praising Steve Savage and his killer instinct.  There's also a little foreshadowing (to events much later, and in a different series), as the general compares Savage to that other 'born killer,' Hans Von Hammer, the Enemy Ace.

The set-up for most 'Balloon Buster' stories for years to come

Restless after another chewing out by the major, Savage hitches a ride with a truck-full of American infantry on their way to the front.  Savage is surprised to discover the perceived class system of the U.S. Armed Forces.  An infantry captain refers to the pilot as a 'gentleman of the skies,' though our 'saddle tramp,' Balloon Buster knows there's nothing further from the truth, in his case.

Savage experiences first-hand the hell of trench warfare, as German artillery, directed by observation balloons, rains down on the American unit.

Reunited with his squad on patrol the next day, Savage can't help but disobey orders to stay in formation, by attacking the observation balloons that caused the casualties witnessed the day before.  The balloons are destroyed, but not before Savage is wounded by a German ace in a tiger-striped Fokker named Von Sturm.  The following day, Von Sturm drops a leaflet challenge to the recovering Balloon Buster - 'I'll be waiting for you in the skies above your field!'  Before Savage can react, the challenge is taken up by a young pilot admirer in Savage's squad.  Von Sturm shoots the young pilot down, which was the biggest mistake he ever made, as this spurs Steve Savage into action.

German ace Von Sturm drops a gauntlet at the feet of the Ballon Buster

Berated by the major for his earlier insubordination, Savage comes to the conclusion that perhaps the official uniform of the Air Corps doesn't suit a 'saddle tramp' like himself.  So before 'saddling up' to take on Von Sturm, The Balloon Buster dons his ten-gallon hat, which completes his distinctive look.

The distinct look of The Balloon Buster is now complete

Savage promptly takes down Von Sturm, but is left wondering whether pride and family honor is worth the collateral damage in allies' lives.  This second story confirms a pattern begun in the first - Savage behaves true to his nature and disobeys his superior - though he 'saves the day' and ends up killing the bad guys, the horrible price paid for these 'victories' leads to great self-doubt in our hero.

The letters page, at the back of the book, gives some unusual insight into the creative process.  In his response to Alvin Kessler of Newark, NJ (ever wish for a 'Where Are They Now - Comics Letter Hacks' book?  Yesterday's letter writers are today's bloggers/podcasters, I guess), writer/editor Robert Kanigher, in the spirit of what I hope is jest, calls out artist Russ Heath, giving him a hard time for his slow work pace.  Considering that All-American Men of War was a bi-monthly book, and these 1st two Balloon Buster stories were only 15 pages each, Heath must have worked at an incredibly deliberate pace, or perhaps had too much on his plate and fell waaaaaay behind. Whatever the case, in the next issue, a new artist is drawing the adventures of Steve Savage.

I don't recall responses like this in the back of old JLAs or Green Lanterns

Steve Savage - The Balloon Buster: All-American Men of War #112 (Dec. 1965)

Steve Savage, The Balloon Buster first appeared in All-American Men of War #112, cover dated Nov.-Dec. 1965. This first story (one of 2 stories in the issue, Men of War was an anthology title) was written by Robert Kanigher, who not only edited DC's war titles, but wrote scores of stories for his combat titles and was by this time in his 7th year writing Wonder Woman.  Earlier in the year, Kanigher and collaborator Joe Kubert introduced another World War I pilot, Hans Von Hammer, the Enemy Ace, who would prove to be a popular feature for some time.  For Steve Savage, Balloon Buster, Russ Heath provided the gorgeous, detailed artwork.  Heath had been a longtime collaborator of Kanigher's, drawing stories in GI Combat, All-American Men of War and the Sea Devils.

In this story, we meet Steve Savage as a very young man at his homestead in Mustang River, Wyoming, where the 'only thing my Pa could teach me' was to 'forget you've got eyes - arms - legs - you're not a human anymore - yore the gun!'. The Savages were dirt poor (possibly because Steve spent all of his time SHOOTING THEIR MONEY!), and very unpopular in town, so when Pa passed, Steve vowed to make the whole world recognize the Savage name - to make it mean something.

Steve Savage utters his awkward mantra for the 1st time while blowing away the last of the family savings

With the start of what would be called World War I, Savage, confident in his skills with firearms, thought he could make the biggest splash fighting for his country and for his name in the early days of air combat.  His white trash reputation followed him through training, where he was just as unpopular with his wing mates as he was in his western home.  He developed something of a rebellious streak, disobeying orders and not playing well with others.

Though not deemed ready for real war situations, Savages commanding officer is forced to send him up due to a pilot shortage.  On this first mission, Savage is to be babysat by 2 veterans, and is told to stay in formation - however, the sight of  German observation balloons proves too tempting a target for the hothead, who breaks away from his wingmen and goes in for the kill.

Savage psyches himself up, becoming 'The Gun' and takes out 3 balloons, but the balloons' protective squadron of German Fokkers were able to easily shoot down the 2 other American pilots.

Guilt - the great motivator

Racked with guilt, but thinking there is a chance to rescue his fellow pilots, Savage dodges enemy fire and lands his plane twice to pick up his comrades.  With nowhere to store a carry on bag, let alone passengers in his one-seat Spad, Savage ties his fellows to the wings and on the way back to headquarters, manages to out duel the enemy squadron, once again entering his trance-like state, reciting, 'I'm the gun'.

Tragic. One of Savage's fellow pilots, deceased, secured to the wing

Upon his return, Savage is greeted by an irate major, as Savage's 'passengers' are, of course, dead.  The major is ready to begin court-martial proceedings, just as a general pulls up wanting to know the identity of the pilot who made so many kills.  Despite the major's protestations, the general wishes to issue Savage a commendation, calling him for the 1st time, 'Balloon Buster.' To the general, the kills are all that matter.  In a bit of empty bluster, the major 'decides' not to remove Savage from active duty, insisting the deaths of his comrades on Savage's conscience will be penalty enough.

This is a very good introductory story for the Balloon Buster - a little tragic as all war stories are.  The creepy image of dead pilots strapped to the wings of an aircraft is powerful and helps build Steve Savage's legend as one who, despite an innate decency, will put not only himself, but allies in danger to fulfill his bloodlust which he thinks will honor his father and family name.