Featuring: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
Release: February 2, 1967
Cover: April 1967
Stan Lee proudly presents..
A Roy Thomas-Dick Ayers movie-length masterwork!
Inking: John Tartaglione
Lettering: Sam Rosen
Technical advisor: PFC. Irving Forbush (retired)
20 pages
| Previous | #668 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Daredevil #27 | Reading order | X-Men #31 |
| Sgt. Fury #40 | Sgt. Fury | Sgt. Fury #42 |
“I know it don’t help much for me to say this, Dino… but, we’re gonna pay ‘im back! For Nina– For Pam– An’ Junior Juniper… for all of ’em!” (An’ mebbe, when that day comes, Nick Fury’ll finally know what it feels like to be at peace… with the world, and with himself!)
There’s a phrasing in the credits which will be important, and I think it’s the first time we’ve seen it. “Stan Lee proudly presents..”
When I started reading comics in the eighties, every Marvel comic featured the phrase “Stan Lee presents”, though Stan’s role in production by that point was purely symbolic. As Stan has gone from writing everything to letting Roy Thomas write several titles, he’s still made sure his name goes on top of the credits, usually with an “editor” credit.
But here, it’s “Stan Lee… presents”, a phrase we will see again. And again.
Also of note, the comic is described as “movie-length”. It’s 20 pages. That’s not movie-length. Maybe the length of a movie from the 19th century. That said, I think the phrase is really a nod to this issue’s plot.
Dino is back in England but not yet mission-ready. Instead, he’ll be directing a documentary film where the Howlers reenact some of their missions. Whenever a superhero has had the opportunity to star in a film, it’s been a trap. I’m sure this will go better for the Howlers.
Playing a French resistance fighter in the film will be Nina Bergson. (A name that reminds me of Ingrid Bergman.)
In addition to helping with the film, Dino has developed an affection for Nina. And may be finally willing to let go of his glamorous ladies man life and settle down.
We’ll see how that goes for him.
Spoiler: Nina is bad.
Hitler receives the report from Nina that there will be a chance to take out Winston Churchill along with the Commandos. This news is exciting enough to distract him from planning new concentration camps.
Colonel Klaue will lead the Blitzkrieg Squad into Britain, and is warned not to fail as Baron Strucker once had.
Strucker. That’s a name I haven’t thought of in a while. Wonder what became of him?
We get a lot of info on the Blitzkrieg Squad to help us fill in our chart. Thomas is good at these details. You can find our prior update here and the latest below.
This issue is much clearer that Ludwig wears the helmet and is Cohen’s counterpart. And that Otto the musician is Gabe’s counterpart. Manelli’s charming counterpart is named Fritz. And Percy’s beret-wearing aristocrat counterpart is named Manfred.
I had called Otto’s hat a toque and Fritz’ a ski cap, but now I’m not even sure I know the difference between these things. Open to suggestions as to how to best identify these hats.
But I think this fills in our chart without contradicting anything. I now feel like I know every member of the Blitzkrieg Squad. Thanks, Roy.
Nina decides she wants to spare Dino from the attack, and begs him to leave immediately with her. But he’s decided he must fight the war until it’s over.
We’ve met a lot of famous WWII characters in these pages, but this is our first time meeting Winston Churchill. And it might be our last if Hitler’s plan succeeds.
The plan doesn’t succeed. Nina has a change of heart and sacrifices her own life to save Fury and the Prime Minister.
Every Commando takes on their Blitzkrieg counterpart in a one-page battle.
And Sgt. Fury takes on Colonel Klaue.
Eric has no counterpart, sadly, so he’s in charge of getting Churchill to safety.
Nina gets a tender death scene where she asks Dino to keep fighting the war with honor, and admits she did love him.
Tell It To Fury.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 56/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
| Attribute | Counterpart | Name | Hat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brawler | Dugan | Siegfried | Bavarian |
| Charmer | Manelli | Fritz | Ski cap |
| Musician | Jones | Otto | Toque |
| Mechanic | Cohen | Ludwig | Helmet |
| Horseman | Ralston | Ernst | Army cap |
| Aristocrat | Pinkerton | Manfred | Beret |
Characters:
- Sgt. Nick Fury
- Dum Dum Dugan
- Gabe Jones
- Percy Pinkerton
- Izzy Cohen
- Rebel Ralston
- Eric Koenig
- Dino Manelli
- Captain Happy Sam Sawyer
- Nina Bergson
- Adolf Hitler
- Colonel Klaue
- Ludwig
- Fritz
- Otto
- Siegfried
- Ernst
- Manfred
- Winston Churchill
Story notes:
- Howlers on pre-dawn raid on Nazi sub-pens.
- Howlers hold of German soldiers while Izzy sets explosives.
- Eric Koenig picks them up in plane.
- Rebel lost his playing cards.
- Dino slowly recovering; not yet ready for a mission.
- Howlers ordered to participate in making movie, or choose permanent KP. It will be a reenactment of a Howler mission, meant to inspire other soldiers and civilians. Dino will direct. Nina will costar.
- Dino confesses his love to Nina and desire to marry her.
- Dino was wounded and is eligible for discharge papers. He just has to sign them. He’d wanted to go back into action… until he met Nina.
- Nina plays a member of the French underground in the film.
- Dino announces to the team that he and Nina are engaged.
- Churchill planning to visit base to give Sgt. Fury a medal. Fury reluctant to accept a medal that belongs to 8 people.
- Nina a German spy, orders a strike to coincide with Churchill’s visit.
- Hitler sends Colonel Klaue and the Blitzkrieg Squad to deal with the Commandos.
- Dino tells Nina he wants to fight the war until it’s over. But she wants him to leave with her immediately, so he will be spared the coming attack.
- Nina gives an ultimatum; come with her now… or never. She will not stay for the ceremony.
- Churchill pins a medal on Fury.
- Nina has a change of heart and rescues Fury and Churchill.
- Dum Dum vs. Siegfried. Izzy vs. Ludwig. Gabe vs. Otto. Percy vs. Manfred. Rebel vs. Ernst. Dino vs. Fritz. Fury vs. Klaue.
- Nina took a bullet to save Fury and Churchill. She admits to Dino she was a spy, but says she truly loved him, and asks him to keep fighting with honor. Not the Nazi way.
- Final scene of Dino at Nina’s grave.
| Previous | #668 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Daredevil #27 | Reading order | X-Men #31 |
| Sgt. Fury #40 | Sgt. Fury | Sgt. Fury #42 |
