Featuring: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
Release: July 1, 1965
Cover: 1965
25 cents
Story: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Art: Darlin’ Dick Ayers
Inking: Frisky Frankie Ray
Lettering: Artful Artie Simek
15 pages
| Previous | #391 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales to Astonish #76 | Reading order | Journey Into Mystery #120 |
| Sgt. Fury Annual | Sgt. Fury Annual 2 |
They have been shown, in the only way they understand, that free men can always strike back!
We check in with Sgt. Fury during the Korean War. The Commandos are sent on a secret mission across the 38th Parallel. Based on a cursory knowledge of the war, the massive American presence combined with a reticence to cross the 38th Parallel would place this story in July-August 1950.
The remaining Commandos all survived WWII and re-enlisted when the Korean War broke out. All of them have attained at least the rank of Sergeant, but they still seem to be in the same formation with the same personnel from 1943.
The narrator reminds us that the US are the good guys, who play by the agreed-upon rules of war. Unlike those Reds.
Happy Sam leads the mission personally, though Fury is concerned he’s too old for war now.
Our old friend with the submarine is back to give them a lift. We still only know him as The Skipper.
Nick muses he isn’t cut out for peacetime.
The mission is a success and we learn Sam’s ulterior motive for leading it. He wanted the excuse to ambush Fury with a field commission. Nick Fury is now 2nd Lieutenant Fury. We know that by 1963, he’ll be Colonel Nick Fury with the CIA.
We get reminded of the original line-up from #1 and see the current, very similar line-up. The first picture is a reprint from the first issue, except this time they get Gabe’s skin color correct.
We also get a reprint of issues 4 and 5. Issue 4 is an interesting choice. It’s a very notable issue for two reasons. The first is that one of the Commandos, Junior Juniper, dies suddenly and tragically. The second is that it introduced Fury’s love interest, Pam Hawley, who later died suddenly and tragically.
This is what made Sgt. Fury stand out from the superhero titles, this sense that nobody is really safe, that any issue may be the last for your favorite character. Because both deaths were so sudden, so senseless.
Perhaps inadvertently, this annual has taken that away. We now know all the remaining Howlers survive the war to be able to fight in Korea. We already knew Fury did. This will make it trickier to be really invested in the danger of their various missions.
Something is lost.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 52/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
Characters:
- Lieutenant Nick Fury
- Dino Manelli
- Gabe Jones
- Dum-Dum Dugan
- Rebel Ralston
- Izzy Cohen
- Percy Pinkerton
- Happy Sam Sawyer
- The Skipper
Story notes:
- Possible full title: See Nick Fury Get a… “Commission in Korea!”
- Set in 38th Parallel during Korean War.
- Red Migs cross the Yalu River to attack UN troops to be met by Allied Panther Jets, who always turned back at the Yalu, the 38th Parallel.
- General willing to send Commando Squad quietly across the Yalu, but not planes.
- All Commandos at least 3-stripers (i.e. at least Sergeant, E-5).
- Sub will take Howlers to Red Coast; frogman gear to swim to shore and blow up Mig base. Sam will lead mission.
- Fury refers to Sam’s leadership of 20 years ago. Mistake? 10 years ago, surely.
- Howlers re-formed for start of Korean War.
- Sam gets shot, but shrugs it off.
- Sam remains behind to set off detonator in 22 minutes; Howlers must get clear.
- “I’m a goner, but before the end comes, they’ll see how an American can fight– and die, if he has to!” — Nick Fury
- Fury still calls him Sam.
- Fury promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
- Narrator reminds us Fury will eventually be a CIA Colonel.
| Previous | #391 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales to Astonish #76 | Reading order | Journey Into Mystery #120 |
| Sgt. Fury Annual | Sgt. Fury Annual 2 |
