Garth Ennis' Battler Britton #5 (2007) - WildStorm Productions (Conclusion)

Battler Britton (2007) - #5
"Bloody Good Show Part Five"(Conclusion)

WildStorm (DC Comics)

Britton and Gilhooley infiltrate the German encampment and making radio contact to Landing Ground 242 and warning them about the German armor. The 309 and the 107th Squadrons scramble for flight. Gilhooley stumbles upon an awaken German soldier and kills him, alerting the Germans. Britton and Gilhooley pack some heavy weapons and a radio before escaping to the sand dunes. By morning, the Germans are preparing to pull themselves out as Britton and Gilhooley observes them under a camouflage tarp.

Britton contact the 309 and the 107th and direct them to the encampment. The squadrons proceed with their attack. But soon they are inflicted with heavy casualties from German anti-air batteries and planes, in which Flight-Lieutenants Taff, Patch, and Captain Anderson are killed. As the situation turns dire for the Allied planes, Britton consider radioing them to call off the attack but is refuse by Gilhooley who recalls what Britton told to him as this is what it means to lead and tells the squadrons to stay and fight. At the right moment Terry Harding's tank-busting squadron and along with more RAF forces have finally arrive and proceed to decimate the Germans.

After the end of the battle, Britton and Gilhooley sadly reflects on the near-loss of their squadrons in which the former recommends to Gilhooley of reforming the 107th. Gilhooley then ask Britton of what would he have done if the inter-Allied cooperation had been a complete failure? Britton honestly answer that he hadn't the slightest idea, as it never occurred to him.

[http://dc.wikia.com]

 Writer:  Garth Ennis        Penciller: Colin Wilson

Inker: Colin Wilson          Colorist: Jeromy N. Cox

Lettere: Rob Leigh

Editor: Scott Dunbier  & Kristy Quinn

Cover Artist: Garry Leach         Cover Date: January 2007

Cover Price: US $ 2.99
Issue Tagline: None.

Format: Color; Standard Comic Issue; 32 pages

Garth Ennis' Battler Britton #4 (2006) - WildStorm Productions

Battler Britton (2006) - #4
"Bloody Good Show Part Four"
WildStorm (DC Comics)

Britton and Gilhooley are reconnoitering to investigate for signs of German ground forces where the former was attacked by flak, but are without any luck. They are then chance upon by German Messerschmitt 109s. Briton rams into a 109's wing and is force to bail out. He is almost shot by a 109 under his parachute but only to be save by Gilhooley, who is also shot down and makes a emergency landing. Upon landing, Britton rush to Gilhooley's plane and quickly takes the Major out of the cockpit before it is destroyed by an 109. The two are stranded in the desert.

At L.G. 242, the 309 and the 107th receives word from L.G. 303 about Britton and Gilhooley's reconnaissance and are declared missing. Taff ask permission from Colonel Masters in conducting an immediate search with an observer, but is struck down by Captain Anderson who reason that it is getting dark in less than an hour and they wouldn't have a chance in finding Britton and Gilhooley while flying blind until at first light.



As the sun sets, Britton and Gilhooley are trekking eastward to their L.G. Britton notice that those German fighters were trying hard to kill them whereas they normally have their ground forces to pick them up but didn't. He suspects that they are hiding something around in the desert which adds to the mystery of Britton's flak attack. As night engulfs them, Britton and Gilhooley walks blindly in the dark until they find themselves stumbling into a German tank. Britton and Gilhooley silently run up a sand dune. As the moon come out they see a large column of German armor and infantry encampment covered in desert camouflage. Britton realizes this German force are preparing to launch a surprise offensive against the Allied forces which will put them in a crucial position. He tells Gilhooley that they need to communicate with their squadrons to take out the tanks, in which he intends on using the German encampment's radio.

[http://dc.wikia.com]

 Writer:  Garth Ennis        Penciller: Colin Wilson

Inker: Colin Wilson          Colorist: Jeromy N. Cox

Lettere: Rob Leigh

Editor: Scott Dunbier  & Kristy Quinn

Cover Artist: Garry Leach         Cover Date: December 2006

Cover Price: US $ 2.99
Issue Tagline: None.

Format: Color; Standard Comic Issue; 32 pages

Link⇓⇓ 

Garth Ennis' Battler Britton #3 (2006) - WildStorm Productions

Battler Britton (2006) - #3
"Bloody Good Show Part Three"
WildStorm (DC Comics)

The 399 and the 107th are in the middle of a dogfight in which Captain Anderson is shot down and is force to parachute. Noticing that there are German ground forces that are approaching for Anderson, Britton flies down his Beaufighter to pick up Anderson while the 399 provide covering fire. Britton narrowly escape with Anderson on board, who is grateful for the rescue.

The squadrons return to base where Britton earn some recognition from Major Gilhooley and as well bridging a mutual respect between the Americans and the British. As a result Anderson invite Britton and his men to the mess hall for a drink.

The next day the 399 and the 107th are on their next flight. Suddenly, Britton is shot by flak in which one of his engines is destroyed and his gunner Mick is severely wounded. He is forced to fly back. Gilhooley notice Battler and flies after him. Battler request him to rejoin his squadron but Gilhooley doesn't. Britton makes a emergency landing in a hidden British airfield, L.G. 303 where the ground crew sees to Mick, who almost die from blood loss.

Britton reunites with Gilhooley and introduce him to the ground crew led by Squadron Leader Terry Harding and that the airfield they are in is the closest to see Mick's medical attention. Also, Britton is curious about the flak he encountered as the Germans had nothing in that area that he was shot, wondering if the Germans don't want anyone to see. Britton return to his flight on a Hawker Hurricane with Gilhooley as his wingman. Mick later learns that Britton is flying with Gilhooley, in which he tells Harding about the two cannot abide one another. He wonders the possibility that Britton and Gilhooley would likely kill each other, but Harding thinks otherwise.
[http://dc.wikia.com]

 Writer:  Garth Ennis       Penciller: Colin Wilson

Inker: Colin Wilson        Colorist: Jeromy N. Cox

Lettere: Rob Leigh

Editor: Scott Dunbier  & Kristy Quinn

Cover Artist: Garry Leach        Cover Date: November 2006

Cover Price: US $ 2.99
Issue Tagline: None.

Format: Color; Standard Comic Issue; 32 pages

 

Link⇓⇓ 

Garth Ennis' Battler Britton #2 (2006) - WildStorm Productions

Battler Britton (2006) - #2

"Bloody Good Show Part Two"

WildStorm (DC Comics)

Wing Commander Britton ask the Americans Captain Anderson and Plowman for permission in piloting one of the P-40 Warhawks to see how it handles. He gains their permission and flies it around the airstrip. Taff, one of Britton's men, reveals Britton's story to the Americans that the Wing Commander was the greatest pilot his squadron ever has as he was the one who improved the Desert Air Force's bombing record and recommended in using Beaufighters suitable for bombing raids. The men then discuss about their concerns of their risky task of being deep within German lines, in which Taff only reassures that the desert is too vast for anyone to see their units as long as they're careful.

Britton makes a low flyby in which the P-40 narrowly nicks Major Gilhooley's - who was shaving - one of his front teeth out. Britton then lands the plane and finds himself confront by an agitated Gilhooley (now speaking in a lisp), who is not please in seeing him flying the P-40. However, Britton lectures him that he needs to know the tactical assessment on the P-40 and conclude that it needs better tactics to fight against the more superior Messerschmitt 109. But Gilhooley doesn't heed his tactical advice as he believes that the 107th knows what they are doing before leaving in a huff.

Taff talks to Britton about Gilhooley. While he was talking with Anderson and Pillowman, it is learned that the Major had been with the 107th since its inception and stuck at the rank of Captain in 1939 until his promotion to his current rank due to his predecessor becoming missing in action after flying into a sandstorm. Which is the reason the more veteran 399 Squadron is lumbered with the 107th is because of Gilhooley's inexperience to properly lead his unit.



The 399 and the 107th begin their attack on a German airfield at Beda Masi and come out with success in contrast to their previous battle. The squadrons proceed on their next flight and encounter a brewing sandstorm. They are forced to fly above the storm and unexpectedly find a squadron of German Stukas without any fighter escort. They take the opportunity to shoot down the Stukas. During the dogfight, Captain Plowman flew too close to his kill and is blinded from the damage to his plane, causing him to collide into another P-40 and killing him and the other pilot Collins.

That night, Britton approach Gilhooley to share his sympathies for the loss of Plowman and Collins. Gilhooley express his difficulty of writing a condolence letter to the dead pilots' families given that his men died by shear accident. Britton give him comfort by telling him that he should write to the families of the contributions Plowman and Collins made to the squadron and that they only died fighting to the end. Gilhooley points out that it is not the whole truth in which Britton reply that the whole truth is "unthinkable" and tells Gilhooley that he could take a drink to drown down his guilt, forget it never happen, or taking his anger on the Germans. Finally, Britton cautiously tell Gilhooley that he must do whatever he can to lead and that this is what being a C.O. means, as this day's battle is only the beginning for him.
[http://dc.wikia.com]

Writer:  Garth Ennis     Penciller: Colin Wilson

Inker: Colin Wilson         Colorist: Jeromy N. Cox

Letterer: Rob Leigh

Editors:Scott Dunbier & Kristy Quinn

Cover Artist: Garry Leach   

Cover Date: October 2006

Cover Price: US $ 2.99

Format: Color; Standard Comic Issue; 32 pages

Link⇊⇊

Garth Ennis' Battler Britton #1 (2006) - WildStorm Productions

Battler Britton was a limited series that was part of the Albion-universe. 

WildStorm celebrates Battler Britton's 50th anniversary with this rollicking 5- issue miniseries from the hallowed halls of IPC, the legendary home of England's greatest comics creations! As the Nazis rain terror throughout Europe, Allied forces are on the run in North Africa. It's October 1942 and Rommel's Panzers are unrelenting in their pursuit.

 Wing Commander Robert "Battler" Britton of the RAF and his squadron have been dispatched to an American airstrip to spearhead a joint action against Hitler's war machine. Now they must survive taunts, threats, and assaults...and that's just from the Yanks!  

Publisher : WildStorm Productions          Type: Limited Series

Total Issues: 5              Dates Published: September, 2006

—

January, 2007

Creators: 

Garth Ennis, 

Colin Wilson, Garry Leach, Jeromy Cox, 

Rob Leigh ,Kristy Quinn,Scott Dunbier.

Crossovers:  Albion,    Thunderbolt Jaxon 

Battler Britton (2006) - #1
"Bloody Good Show Part One"
WildStorm (DC Comics)

In early October 1942, in North Africa, veteran Wing Commander Robert "Battler" Britton of the RAF and his Beaufighter 399 Squadron have been dispatched to cooperate with the American 107th Fighter Squadron. However, the squadron are met with hostile derision from their American counterparts, especially from Major Gilhooley, who are not keen on being teach by their British counterparts. This quickly turn into a brief brawl after one of Britton's men squarely punches Gilhooley for insulting his Wing Commander until being stop by Colonel Masters.

Both Britton and Gilhooley are summon to Colonel Masters' tent and are sternly told in needing both their men in learning cooperation. Britton suggest a way in putting the men's resentment behind them by sending them into action as he had found a suitable German target from the latest intelligence report. Both the men of the 399 Squadron and 107th are brief on their mission, which their target is a fuel and ammunition dump at El Fuqa, in which Britton will lead the attack with the 399 while Major Gilhooley and the 107th will provide escort before returning during the night.

The Anglo-American alliance commence their attack on El Fuqa, in which the 339 Squadron inflict considerable damage on the depot. However, as Britton and the 399 head back to base they are attack by Messerschmitts and without any protection from the Americans. The squadron fend off the Messerschmitts while enduring casualties until the 107th have finally reach to them, as they had carelessly join in decimating the depot after the 399 had cause enough damage to force the Germans to flee. But one of Britton's planes is heavily damage during the dogfight and are force to make an emergency landing behind enemy territory.

The 399 and the 107th return to base where one of Britton's men Patch confronts and angrily condemn Gilhooley and the Americans for their negligence that has cost the life of one of his friends, Jimmy Patterson who was only nineteen years old. Patch almost attempt to punch Gilhooley but is prevented by Britton. The Wing Commander then request to Colonel Masters that it is best to keep their respective pilots apart for the time being.


Later that night, Colonel Masters and Britton breaks off another tension between the British and Americans as he brings news from Desert Air Force HQ that their attack on El Fuqa has impressed their superiors in which the 399 and 107th are given orders to rush to Landing Ground 242, which is 200 miles behind German lines, to begin operations against enemy airfields and transport as soon possible.
 [http://dc.wikia.com]

 Battler Britton / cover / 1 page (report information)

Pencils:    Garry Leach (painting)

Inks:    Garry Leach (painting)

Colors:   Garry Leach (painting)

Genre:   war

Characters:    Battler Britton 

Bloody Good Show Part 1

Battler Britton / comic story / 22 pages 

Script:    Garth Ennis

Pencils:    Colin Wilson

Inks:    Colin Wilson

Colors:    Jeromy Cox

Letters:    Rob Leigh 

Synopsis:

    A squadron of the RAF is assigned to train Americans in North Africa in figther plane tactics.

A Short History of Battler Britton

text article / 1 page 

Script:    Garth Ennis

Letters:   typeset 

Link⇊⇊