Combat Kelly is the name of two fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Both appear in war comics titles: Combat Kelly, published by Marvel's 1950s iteration, Atlas Comics, and set during the Korean War; and the 1970s series Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen, set earlier during World War II.
| Character Name: | Combat Kelly |
| Real Name: | Hank Kelly |
| Species: | Human |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Debut: | Combat Kelly #1 (November, 1951) |
Combat Kelly starred in the 44-issue, Korean War-set Combat Kelly (Nov. 1951 to Aug. 1957), published by Atlas Comics, the 1950s forerunner of Marvel Comics.[1] The character also made two appearances in the Atlas war comics series Battle comics.[2] Kelly is accompanied by his sidekick Cookie Novak; Kelly is of Irish heritage,[3] while Novak is a Polish immigrant. Combat Kelly stories were drawn by artists including Dave Berg,[4] Joe Maneely, and Gene Colan,[5] with at least one cover drawn by Russ Heath.[6]
| Character Name: | Combat Kelly |
| Real Name: | Michael Kelly |
| Species: | Human |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Debut: | Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen #1 (June, 1972) |
| Creators: | Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers |
Corporal Michael Lee Kelly starred as the leader of group of military convicts paroled for special missions in a nine-issue series cover-billed as Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen (June 1972 - Oct. 1973).[7] The series name and premise are similar to those of the 1960s film The Dirty Dozen.[8] With issue #5 (Feb. 1973), the cover title changed slightly to Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen. In issue #3, Kelly is described as a U.S. Army boxer who in 1940 killed a man in the ring. He was convicted and sentenced for manslaughter, and was later paroled. In the final issue, almost the entire cast is murdered by Nazis.[7]