Featuring: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
Release: January 3, 1964
Cover: March 1964
12 cents
Written by: Ex-Sergeant Stan Lee, U.S. Army
Illustrated by: Ex-infantryman Jack Kirby, U.S. Army
Inked by: Geo. Bell
Lettering: Art Simek
23 pages
The cover claims this story is based on a little known incident of the North African campaign. There’s a lot going on in this comic, plenty rooted partially in history, so I can’t pinpoint what incident the cover is referring to.
Rommel was a celebrated Nazi general and field marshal of their army in World War II. He did lead Axis forces in the North African campaign. His nickname was “the Desert Fox”. And he was involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler.
“Can you keep it down to a roar?” Still the funniest comic.
Before we get into the meat of the issue, let’s pause to admire this page.
In this story, Stan and Jack take on the subject of racism. This is the most explicitly anti-racist comic they have made since Fantastic Four #21.
When Dino is injured in a training accident, George Stonewell takes his place. But Stonewell is not able to work well with an Italian, a Jew, or a black man.
His overt racism continually interferes with the mission.
The scene I consider the most pointed, and relevant today, is when the Nazi soldier tells Stonewell they share the same beliefs and should be on the same side.
We also see a character flaw in Stonewell besides the racism. A Nazi prisoner had been under his guard and escaped. He doesn’t accept responsibility for his failure to guard the prisoner, trying to deflect blame. The scene rings true to me. That racism and a failure in personal responsibility often go hand in hand.
Unfortunately for Stonewell, when he is injured, it is Cohen who carries him to safety, and Jones who has the right blood type for the transfusion that saves his life.
Let’s see how it all wraps up.
This comic was published about 6 months before the Civil Rights Act was signed into law. The Civil Rights Movement was in full swing. The March on Washington had taken place just 5 months earlier, probably right around when Stan and Jack were working on this issue.
Not being around back then, it’s hard to say how important or impactful this anti-racist story was. I definitely think it’s important to deal with such issues in popular culture, particularly popular culture that youth may enjoy.
Looking at it from a modern eye, Stonewell seems a caricature of a racist. Loud and vocal about it. Such people certainly exist, but racism is often more insidious. I’m afraid that people, particularly today, get in their head that racism always looks as overt as Stonewell’s, leading them to disregard more subtle forms of racism, including within themselves.
Rating: ★★★½, 69/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
I read this story in Sgt. Fury Epic Collection vol. 1: The Howling Commandos. You can also find the story in Marvel Masterworks: Sgt. Fury vol. 1. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Sgt. Nick Fury
- Rebel Ralston
- Izzy Cohen
- Dino Manelli
- Corporal Dum-Dum Duggan
- Gabriel “Gabe” Jones
- Field Marshal Rommel/Desert Fox
- Lady Pamela Hawley
- Captain “Happy Sam” Sawyer
- George Stonewell
Minor characters:
- Gwendalyn (army nurse)
Story notes:
- Rommel perhaps most famous Nazi general. Also German hero in WWI. The comic accurately relates his nickname, his position, and his part in the plot to assassinate Hitler.
- Broken down jeep forces Nick to bike to his date with Pamela. Stumbles across Nazi saboteur hideout en route. Captures Nazis and takes them back to base before date.
- Nick and Pam watch newsreel about Rommel and African campaign.
- Allied High Command discussing Rommel.
- Portrait of Winston Churchill on wall of Allied High Command.
- Dino injured in training jump when ‘chute doesn’t open.
- Stonewell replaces Manelli because he speaks German.
- Stonewell doesn’t wish to shake Manelli’s hand because Manelli is Italian.
- Stonewell is terse with Izzy Cohen.
- Ralston described as “best burp-gun man in division”.
- Stonewell won’t sleep in same barracks as Jones.
- Sgt. Fury calls Stonewell a bigot.
- We see Rommel’s forces in Tobruk, Libya, North Africa.
- Rommel’s panzer divisions heading toward Alexandria, Egypt.
- Rommel commands the Afrika Korps.
- British refer to German soldiers as Jerries.
- Stonewell doing well until he fouls up an attack on a radio operator because of his racism.
- Narrator informs us they are translating German into English for our benefit. Not normally so careful.
- Commandos receive hospitality from local Arabs.
- Cohen saves Stonewell. He needs a blood transfusion from Gabe.
- Sgt. Fury’s mission to kill Rommel fails. But it’s good because it had been called off as Rommel was part of a plot to kill Hitler.
#161 story in reading order
Next: Tales to Astonish #54
Previous: Journey Into Mystery #102, Story C
