First
Appearance: Speed#1 (IPC,
23rd February 1980)
Appearance checklist: Speed#1-21 (23rd February-16th August 1980); Speed Annual 1981
Reprinted anywhere?: Yes, by Hibernia Comics on a license from Rebellion, the current owners of the IPC catalogue
Starring: Sarge Baker, Pete Carey, Gil Hardisty, Taff Moody, Joe Peach, Bert Rudge, Perot Singh
Other cast: The Limping Vulture
Notable guest characters: General Schmidt, Flying Officer Roger Kyle, Sergeant Wishart, Major John Braggat
Setting: North Africa, 1942A.D.
Plot Summary: Separated from the rest of the Allied Forces and now trapped behind enemy lines, a group of six soldiers from different units were about to reluctantly surrender to the Germans when they were saved by the violent intervention of Sarge Baker, a mysterious soldier with his stripes tattooed on his arms and a pair of handcuffs hanging from his left wrist. Refusing to take "no" for an answer, Baker forged the group into a fast moving guerrilla force that fought their way across the desert seeking to return to their own lines.
History:
Comments: Created by Mike Western.
As well as the 21 episode comic story there was an illustrated text story in Speed Annual 1981. The series made the cover of Speed twice, in the 29th March issue (#6) and 28th June (#14); in both instances the covers were part of the page count for the story.
The story came to a very swift end in the final two installments, suggesting that the story was intended to continue for longer but that the writer was abruptly told to end it.
For most of the story Rudge is only referred to by his surname; however in the 26th April (10th) issue Baker calls him "Bertie-boy," revealing his first name to be Bert. Hardisty's first name is only given in the text story in Speed Annual 1981. Taff's real first name (Taff is a nickname often applied to Welsh people) and Baker's first name are never revealed, even in the final episode where Baker's backstory was revealed.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Baker's Half-Dozen should not be confused with
First Posted: Circa 14/10/2019
Last updated: 29/05/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.
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