Avengers #33

Featuring: Avengers
Release: August 9, 1966
Cover: October 1966
12 cents
Stan (The Man) Lee, writer
Dazzlin’ Don Heck, artist
Adorable Art Simek, letterer
Invincible Irving Forbush, snake charmer
20 pages

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Avengers #32	Reading order	Strange Tales #148
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…beware of the man who sets you against your neighbor!

The cover features Scarlet Witch fighting against the Sons of the Serpent. But I think she’s in Europe and missing all the action.

The reprint of the story in Marvel Triple Action #25 corrects the cover, drawing instead Black Widow, who was in the story.

The Sons of the Serpent originally seemed to have the goal of getting all immigrants out of America. But when they attacked a Black American-born man, we saw their goals were a bit broader. Now, they mention creeds. They also are targeting people of different religions.

The net of their bigotry only widens.

Notice the narration on the top of page 4, letting us know the Sons of the Serpent left Avengers compound. That’s the type of thing the art could have made clear. But look to the last panel on page 3, the first time we clearly see them, and they are just talking.

This is a mistake in Heck’s storytelling, which Stan is correcting with narration. In contrast, Stan’s words often muck up the stories Kirby clearly laid out.

Goliath strikes Hawkeye, and agrees to submit to disciplinary action later. He “accidentally” struck Jan last issue. Will striking people become a habit for Hank?

At the UN assembly, General Chen asks,

America claims to be a land of freedom… and yet they allow the Sons of the Serpent to preach their doctrine of hatred and tyranny on every corner!

Of course, part of that freedom is the freedom to speak, even to speak things which fly in the face of American values.

But then Chen asks a question I sometimes wonder about myself.

How can you police the rest of the world when you cannot even control the hate-mongers in your own land?

With Captain America as a prisoner, the Avengers had been pretending to go along with the Serpents, even appearing as their guests of honor at their rally.

But once he has the podium, Goliath reveals their true stance.

In the name of patriotism, they seek to tear down everything good and decent that America stands for! But, they’ll never succeed! Our nation was built on freedom, not tyranny! Brotherly love– not hatred! Justice for all– not bigotry!

Captain America still seems to be siding with the Serpents and inciting a mob. Racist hate-mongers can still incite mobs to violence.

General Chen is revealed to be the leader of the Serpents.

All I had to do was make Americans distrust each other– and then hate each other! For a fearful nation becomes a divided nation– And a divided nation is a weak nation– a nation ready for conquest

It’s interesting that the domestic terrorist hate group turned out to be manipulated by Communist enemies. Almost too close to reality. Today, Russia manipulates much hatred in America through social media warfare, or directly funding white supremacist movements, as well as supporting the presidential campaign for Donald Trump. China is not averse to such methods either. A lot of recent news has come out about connections between China and Germany’s far right political group.

Of course, the issue ends with good speechifying from Cap.

That’s the courage of a free country– any man has a chance to sway us– any man may be heard! And, it’s also our strength– it’s the creed by which we live!

Goliath gets in on the moralizing.

…let’s never forget the lesson we’ve learned here today– beware of the man who sets you against your neighbor!

That seems like an important lesson for us all.

Of course, not to be outdone, Cap needs the last words.

For, whenever the deadly poison of bigotry touches us, the flame of freedom will burn a little dimmer!

The lessons this comic has for America today seem to obvious to belabor.

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

With that, here are letters.

One of the letter writers, Bob B, lived a block from where I grew up, though his letter came out 15 years before I was born. Both my parents were in the neighborhood at the time though.

Rating: ★★★½, 63/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆

Characters:

• Captain America
• Supreme Serpent/General Chen
• Hawkeye
• Goliath/Hank Pym
• Wasp
• Senator Byrd
• Bill Foster
• “Captain America”

Story notes:

• Serpents want foreigners banished, American blood kept pure; to rid America of people of different creeds and heritages
• Serpents come to Avengers HQ; Goliath calls them guests.
• X-ray probe revealed the Serpents were booby-trapped, a two-man suicide squad.
• The serpent staffs blow up after delivering message.
• General Chen leader of hostile oriental nation.
• Senator Byrd notes that in Chen’s country, people may not speak, read, or think as they please.
• Avengers to be guests of honor at next Serpent rally. Bill upset to learn this. He leaves in a huff.
• Captain America now serves the Serpents.
• Serpents displeased that Hawkeye is absent from rally.
• Hawkeye is investigating fake cloud, and finds and boards Serpent ship.
• Hawkeye uses flare arrow to blind enemies and siren arrows to deafen them.
• Supreme Serpent orders Goliath’s death, but men are afraid.
• Captain America enters the scene to side with the Serpents.
• Goliath and Wasp follow Serpents to base.
• Black Widow and Hawkeye rescue shirtless Cap. The other Captain America is an impostor.

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