DINOSAUR WEEK III—Dinosaurs and War Comics Are a Different Kind of Insanity

Welcome back to Dinosaur Week, where we celebrate all things dinosaur—my most favorite animals in the world!

War is hell. But the heroism in war got DC Comics making Star-Spangled War Stories, a series built on war, danger, heroism, and impossible battlefield odds.

And then DC added dinosaurs to the mix, and suddenly war went off the rails. Now, a dinosaur is fighting a tank, and everyone is having a terrible, no-good day.

Looking at these covers, I'm surprised at the sheer depth and variety of dinosaurs these poor soldiers encountered!

Can't beat the classics. Triceratops ganging up on soldiers in Star-Spangled War Stories #98 (September 1961).  Cover by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

The Parasaurolophus didn't have this much teeth, or maybe they discovered a new species! Take that, Bembridge scholars! Star-Spangled War Stories #104 (September 1962) with cover by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

I love it when one of my favorite dinosaurs get featured. A Stegosaurus menaces a tank in the cover of Star-Spangled War Stories #105 (November 1962) by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

I don't remember Pachycephalosaurus being this big. Star-Spangled War Stories #105 (November 1962). Cover by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

Nor this Hadrosaur-looking monstrosity. Star-Spangled War Stories #112 (January 1964). Cover by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

Of course, can't forget the King himself, the Tyrannosaurus Rex! These guys are super dead. Star-Spangled War Stories #125 (March 1966). Cover by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

Loving the Mosasaur representation! Star-Spangled War Stories #127 (July 1966) cover by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

Same with the Plesiosaur! Look at those beady eyes! Star-Spangled War Stories #94 (January 1961) with cover by Joe Kubert.