Bombshells

Book excerpt: It is the Second Great War, and the armies of the Axis Powers march across the Continent. A last bastion of freedom in Europe, the British Isles must turn to old allies to turn the tide of the war. Dragons have been used in human warfare ever since St. George befriended the dragon instead of killing it. Dragons, being hoarders of beautiful things, have learned to view their human crew as precious collections, and flatter themselves that they can breed their humans the way we breed dogs or horses. But ever since dragons successfully won the right to pick their crew after the Napoleonic Wars, fear of dragons and disgust at women being allowed in command have led to the once-illustrious Royal Dragon Corps suffering neglect and becoming the "forgotten branch" of the British armed forces. Now, with the Nazi threat at Britain's door and a recognition of the power of dragons against the mechanized and occult Nazi menace, a Private who was painting pin-up girls on the sides of tanks is assigned to create propaganda art depicting the free and heroic lifestyle of aviators. Collected inside is the pin-up art of Private Japes Archer, whose illustrations of gorgeous semi-nude aviators and majestic dragons enticed thousands of young soldiers from all over the world to join up with the Royal Dragon Corps, and helped the Allied forces to victory. Complete with dozens of full-color pin-up illustrations in various art styles by the incomparable Japes Archer, vignettes telling the story of the heroic women of the Corps and their fierce dragons, as well as sketches and alternate versions, Bombshells is the definitive pictorial history of the dragons and dames who saved the Free World.