Here is an overview of the Dutch war comics scene. I have left some details out, about the strange numbering some publishers use. For instance instead of issuing No 279, suddenly they continue with 79. Very confusing. Also confusing are the publishers: Nooitgedacht, Mondial and Baldakijn overlap eachother. From what I know now, they were all partners, and changed places sometimes. They were merely salesmen, and had no staff for translation etc. Once a week the truck from Spain came with the new issues that had to be distributed.
The most important Dutch war comic series, beyond doubt, is Victoria (447 issues), from publisher Nooitgedacht (1963-1975), mostly based on Combat Picture Library, but also from Battle Picture Library and War Picture Library. When Nooitgedacht failed, two editors continued the Victoria series with reprints: publisher Mondial with 16 issues, numbered 422-437 (1974-1975), publisher Euredit/ Baldakijn 48 issues, numbered 231-279 (1979-1983). Me (Ben Kamphuis) reprinted 2 rare Victoria issues (issues 1 and 216), for fans only (2005). Nooitgedacht also published 6 Victoria Special on a larger format, origin unknown (1976-1977). And Euredit Baldakijn published 22 issues of the title Victoria Maxi (157-178), all containing 3 stories that are reprints from earlier Victoria (1981-1982).
The second important Dutch war comic series is Strijd Classics, from Classics Nederland (the international publisher from Illustrated Classics), later renamed as Williams. The material also comes mainly form Combat Picture Library, and overlaps Victoria a great deal (although with different translations, and of better print quality). There appeared 176 Strijd Classics, numbered 1101-11176 (1964-1980). Classics reprinted a few issues, and the last 2 issues were from publisher Kontekst. There also appeared 6 Strijd Classics Omnibus, bundles of 3 previous issues (1978).
A second war series from publisher Classics was Commando Classics, just like the other series based on Combat Picture Libary. To my knowledge, there are no Dutch versions from the english Commando series, so there is no fan base here, strangely enough. 73 issues appeared from Commando Classics (1973-1980). There is also a significant overlap with both Strijd Classics and Victoria. 4 bundels of Commando Classics Omnibus appeared, probably containg 3 prevous issues (year unknown).
After Strijd Classics and Victoria stopped, editors Mondial and Euredit/Baldakijn squeezed more out of the material with reprint after reprint (I mentioned their Victoria reprint already). 79 issues appeared from Bajonet (Euredit /Baldakijn), all reprints from Strijd and Victoria (and occasionally Commando Classics). They were numbered 201-279 (1976-1983). Also 21 Bajonet Maxi appeared, each containing 3 stories from Victoria, Strijd or Commando (1981-1982).
Publisher Mondial reprinted maily Victoria in its series Front. 79 issues, numbered 201-279 (1976-1983), but issues 231-238 are probably non-existent. Baldakijn reprinted more of the same in Oorlog, strangely enough also 79 issues, numbered 201-279 (1976-1983). And ofcourse they issued bundels: 78 Oorlog maxi, numbered 101-178 (1979-1982). Also remarkable: publisher Nooitgedacht issued 9 Oorlog Omnibus (bundels of 3 Victorias), and Baldakijn published 22 Oorlog Omnibus (bundels of 3 Oorlog). Year unknown. Another publisher (Vrijbuiter /De Schorpioen) also had a series called Oorlog. That was different material, very average, source unknown. 21 issues (1974-1976). By the way, "oorlog" is the Dutch word for War.
Finally, Mondial reprinted earlier Victorias in 60 issues of Pantser (late 70's). That sums up the most important titles, but ofcourse there are some loose ends... Early Combat Picture Library titles appeared in 8 issues of a comic called Arend, published by Zuid-Nederlandse Uitgeverij/Centrale Uitgeverij (1967). Poor quality stories appeared in 15 issues of Army (publisher Nooitgedacht), year unknown, probably early 70's. Baldakijn continued with 12 issues of a title called Army Strip. Also poor material saw the light of day in 14 issues of Navy (from Nooitgedacht), continued with 12 issues Navy Strip from Baldakijn.
Additional poor material came out in 14 issues of RAF (publisher Nooitgedacht). Publisher Ridderhof published 2 issues of Commando (year & source unknown), and 3 issues of Luchthelden. Publisher Nooitgedacht printed 32 issues of Garry (2 big, 30 small). A confusing subject is also the Superstrip series (publisher Nooitgedacht, 265 issues). This was a mixture series, with western, espionage, science fiction and war stories. Itīs difficult to say how many of them that were war-only. Also, Nooitgedacht and Baldakijn reprinted al lot of it, in different combinations. Baldakijns Super Reeks contains 148 titles, all mixtures. Commando Superstrip had war-only reprints from Superstrip in 18 issues. Commando Superstrip Omnibus had some of the stories re-bundled. And finally, Oorlog Superstrip printed 18 war-only reprints from Superstrip.
(October 2006)
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