Post by The Captain on Jan 11, 2016 20:59:13 GMT -5
Tales of Suspense #60
"The Army of Assassins Strikes"
Writer: Stan Lee
Art: Jack Kirby (pencils) and Chic Stone (inks)
Cover Date: December 1964
Synopsis
The story starts in the middle of a fight, as Cap is surrounded by three green-suited (completed with matching headgear) men. They attack and Cap dispatches all but one, who manages to drive Cap to the ground with a weapon called an "iron fist"; the attacker holds Cap down and mentions that all he needs is to get his special "Formula X' onto Cap's face to subdue him, at which point Baron Zemo shows up. This had been a training exercise for his Army of Assassins, and this was not the real Cap. Zemo wants Cap returned to him alive, for as-yet unrevealed purposes, and his assassins head off to do this.
The real Captain America is in New York City, preparing to give a demonstration to an audience on the importance of physical fitness; Steve plans on doing this by defending himself against a group of "attackers". While his "attackers" wait backstage in their green suits (complete with matching headgear), Zemo's men drive off the men Cap is expecting and take their place in the demonstration. Cap notices they are off-script as they attack him, but he still handles them until the man with the iron fist weapon shows up and knocks Steve down. The iron fist bearer mentions Zemo as the others converge, and Steve is intrigued.
Cut backstage to Rick Jones, who looks on in horror as Cap is taken down. Zemo's men attacks Rick, but he fends them off with judo moves and then runs down the hall, where Cap is waiting for them. Steve explains that his shield has been implanted with transistors by Tony Stark to let him control it electronically and that is also has magnets in it so that he can recall it to his arm. Cap takes care of the assassins in one panel, then Rick shows up with the cops to round up the defeated goons.
The last page shows Zemo watching his viewscreen to find news on the defeat of Captain America, but Steve sends a message to Zemo that he was not defeated and that Zemo will eventually have to face him face-to-face. Zemo shoots up the viewscreen in South America, while back in New York, Cap tells Rick that he wants Zemo angry because that will cause Zemo to be careless.
Continuity Issues: None
My Thoughts:
Another by-the-numbers story. Outside of the choreography of the fight scenes when Cap thinks he is fighting guys for the demonstration and doesn't know he's fighting Zemo's assassins, there isn't much here, although I did get a kick out of Steve sending the message to Zemo at the end to try to get Zemo mad and off his game. That was a nice little psychological touch.
However, seven panels are wasted on Rick Jones fighting off men attacking him and running away, while Cap just shows up free after being knocked down and about to be gang-rushed by Zemo's men. This is just poor storytelling, as they just hand-wave away Steve's escape to move along. Also, how was Rick, who had been given some "combat judo" lessons by Steve, able to fight off at least three highly-trained assassins?
Lastly, how did Zemo know exactly what the uniforms of the "attackers" in the demonstration were going to look like so that he could have his assassins in identical suits, and why did he have them training in them in the South American jungle, risking tears and stains during that process? I know, I know: don't ask, just accept.
Grade: C+, due to Cap's fight scene with Zemo's assassins and the tweaking of Zemo at the end.
"The Army of Assassins Strikes"
Writer: Stan Lee
Art: Jack Kirby (pencils) and Chic Stone (inks)
Cover Date: December 1964
Synopsis
The story starts in the middle of a fight, as Cap is surrounded by three green-suited (completed with matching headgear) men. They attack and Cap dispatches all but one, who manages to drive Cap to the ground with a weapon called an "iron fist"; the attacker holds Cap down and mentions that all he needs is to get his special "Formula X' onto Cap's face to subdue him, at which point Baron Zemo shows up. This had been a training exercise for his Army of Assassins, and this was not the real Cap. Zemo wants Cap returned to him alive, for as-yet unrevealed purposes, and his assassins head off to do this.
The real Captain America is in New York City, preparing to give a demonstration to an audience on the importance of physical fitness; Steve plans on doing this by defending himself against a group of "attackers". While his "attackers" wait backstage in their green suits (complete with matching headgear), Zemo's men drive off the men Cap is expecting and take their place in the demonstration. Cap notices they are off-script as they attack him, but he still handles them until the man with the iron fist weapon shows up and knocks Steve down. The iron fist bearer mentions Zemo as the others converge, and Steve is intrigued.
Cut backstage to Rick Jones, who looks on in horror as Cap is taken down. Zemo's men attacks Rick, but he fends them off with judo moves and then runs down the hall, where Cap is waiting for them. Steve explains that his shield has been implanted with transistors by Tony Stark to let him control it electronically and that is also has magnets in it so that he can recall it to his arm. Cap takes care of the assassins in one panel, then Rick shows up with the cops to round up the defeated goons.
The last page shows Zemo watching his viewscreen to find news on the defeat of Captain America, but Steve sends a message to Zemo that he was not defeated and that Zemo will eventually have to face him face-to-face. Zemo shoots up the viewscreen in South America, while back in New York, Cap tells Rick that he wants Zemo angry because that will cause Zemo to be careless.
Continuity Issues: None
My Thoughts:
Another by-the-numbers story. Outside of the choreography of the fight scenes when Cap thinks he is fighting guys for the demonstration and doesn't know he's fighting Zemo's assassins, there isn't much here, although I did get a kick out of Steve sending the message to Zemo at the end to try to get Zemo mad and off his game. That was a nice little psychological touch.
However, seven panels are wasted on Rick Jones fighting off men attacking him and running away, while Cap just shows up free after being knocked down and about to be gang-rushed by Zemo's men. This is just poor storytelling, as they just hand-wave away Steve's escape to move along. Also, how was Rick, who had been given some "combat judo" lessons by Steve, able to fight off at least three highly-trained assassins?
Lastly, how did Zemo know exactly what the uniforms of the "attackers" in the demonstration were going to look like so that he could have his assassins in identical suits, and why did he have them training in them in the South American jungle, risking tears and stains during that process? I know, I know: don't ask, just accept.
Grade: C+, due to Cap's fight scene with Zemo's assassins and the tweaking of Zemo at the end.