After the second issue, the military banned Blazing Combat from bases citing the anti-war stance. The American Legion also protested, and most distributors stopped carrying the magazine. The quarterly publication limped on for another two issues.

If the censors had delved beneath the perceived bias, they would have discovered some of the finest war stories and illustration in the medium's history. Goodwin and his cadre of contributors detailed the uniquely personal views of soldiers and civilians through several engagements: the Revolutionary War, the U.S. Civil War, Indian Wars, both World Wars, and the Korean War, with a side trip through the Ancient Greek battle at Thermopylae. The dynamic art leaps off the pages throughout. In particular, Toth and Morrow created some of the best works of their long careers. Goodwin actually celebrated soldiers, sailors, and airmen rather denigrated them. Without leaning on glory and sensationalism, Blazing Combat focused on heroism, sacrifice, and dignity.

Archie [Goodwin] was a prophet in his own time. He knew. He didn't have to wait until 1973 to find out that the war was a mistake. —James Warren

Following the 1973 cancellation of his Fourth World titles (New Gods, Forever People, Mister Miracle, and Jimmy Olsen), Jack Kirby created several new titles for DC (Kamandi, The Demon, and OMAC). In 1974, he also assumed the mantle on one existing title: Our Fighting Forces. Beginning with issue #151, Kirby rendered the chronicles of a dysfunctional WWII fighting troop, code-named the Losers.

In 1969, famed war comics creator Robert Kanigher (Sgt. Rock, Enemy Ace) cobbled together this band of archetypes from four existing DC characters that formerly headlined their own titles. Navajo air ace Captain Johnny Cloud, the fighting infantry duo of Gunner and Sarge, and Navy man Captain Storm compromised the Special Forces quartet. The Losers, who always drew the short end of the stick, primarily tackled the seemingly impossible missions.

No stranger to war, Jack Kirby served as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army on the European front during World War II. Throughout his storied career, he called upon on those experiences to inspire numerous comics most notably Boy Commandos, Foxhole, and Sgt Fury. The Losers were far more ordinary than Kirby's usual characterizations -- no super deeds nor powers. Therefore, his portrayals of the four lacked his usual originality and flair.

On the other hand, Kirby's art promised a series that would soar past the limitations of a typical 70s comic. His use of outlandish illustrations and innovative storytelling revitalized the title and resulted in a memorable and unusual war comic.

[T]he Losers are Kirby at his best. Distilled essence of Kirby, if you will. No gigantic, world crushing machines (well, if you ignore Big Max and the Devastastor). No superheroics. Just ordinary people, with the whole of the Second World War as a playing field. —Neil Gaiman, from his introduction to Jack Kirby's The Losers.

Though lacking the social and political gravitas of Blazing Combat, Kirby's exciting twelve issues on Our Fighting Forces typifies the creative power and dynamism of this artistic genius.