Combat Kelly

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.

Hank Kelly

Combat Kelly
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Combat Kelly #1 (November, 1951)
In-story information
Alter ego	Hank Kelly
Species	Human

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,^[4] and Gene Colan,^[5] with at least one cover drawn by Russ Heath.^[6]

Michael Kelly

Combat Kelly
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen #1 (June, 1972)
Created by	Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers
In-story information
Alter ego	Michael Kelly
Species	Human

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]