In every installment of Abandoned Love we will be examining comic book stories, plots and ideas that were abandoned by a later writer without actively retconning away the previous story. Feel free to e-mail me at brianc@cbr.com if you have any suggestions for future editions of this feature.

Today, we look at Sgt. Rock's brief tenure as Lt. Rock!

The other day, I wrote about Brave and the Bold #52 by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert, where DC's various war heroes all teamed up together on a mission that involved transporting Mademoiselle Marie to Allied brass so that she could help warn them about an incoming Axis invasion. The problem, though, was that Marie spent most of the issue trapped in a suit of armor!

When they uncovered her, they were then beset by Nazis and Sgt. Rock, Sgt. Jeb Stuart Smith and Johnny Cloud all risked their lives by claiming that THEY were the operative known as "Martin" instead of Marie...

The confusion gave Rock the chance to attack the Nazis and blow their tank up...

The mission was now a success and all of the men gained battlefield promotions...

Rock, though, did not WANT to be Lieutenant Rock.

In Our Army At War #140 (by Kanigher and Kubert), we first get a recap along with Rock bemoaning his new rank...

Rock kept on trying to get his Captain to demote him back to Sergeant...

But it was to no avail. They ran into a General who threatened to demote them over their attire...

The General's son was a Lieutenant, as well, and the General was disappointed in his son's military career so far. Rock kept on trying to get demoted throughout the issue, but he kept failing and in fact, the other Lieutenant kept looking bad until he proved himself in battle...

The General, grateful for the fact that Rock was the only person who had faith in his son (and Rock had also JUST saved the General's life), then demoted Rock and gave him back the sergeant rank he wanted...

Funny stuff.

If anyone else has a suggestion for a future Abandoned Love, drop me a line at brianc@cbr.com!