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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Sept 8, 2017 20:10:17 GMT -5
Invaders #3 The CoverAnother cover I like. Love seeing two heroes battling. Romita for sure...again, the faces are what gives it away. I also like the Bogart movie reference on the sign. The film did come out in October 18th, 1941 and this story takes place "in the opening weeks of 1942". Not sure how long movies stayed in theatres back then but its close enough. The StoryOur story starts with the team flying back home to Washington, DC. On their way, they see a ship get hit with a torpedo from a Nazi sub. Namor easily disposes of the U-boat and captures the officer on board. The Torches help the sailors on the ship that got hit and they all get back to the plane and head to Washington. On board, Namor finds some papers that are coded in the Nazi officers pockets. The team lands at a secret headquarters and these codes are decoded. It turns out that there is a plan to intercept Churchill on his return to England...and the one doing this interception is a man called U-Man! The team is shown some footage of him taken a few days earlier...  The man showing the team this suspects Namor might know this U-Man, since he came from the sea and had control over sea creatures. Namor is angered and feels that if someone in his kingdom is responsible for helping the Nazis, it should be he who takes out this threat. He tries to go against the team and charge off to do this but ends up causing all kinds of mayhem. A fight ensues between him and Cap and Torch. Oddly enough, Bucky tries to help Namor escape and at the very end, hops into the jet with Namor, leaving the others behind. The story concludes with Cap and the Torches learning that Churchill has already left on board a ship. Cap says they must hurry to stop the U-Man and, if needed, battle Subby as well. OpinionsThis story was okay. I feel that U-Man was a letdown, mostly because of his face. I feel like his body is your average sea type villain, but his face could have been so much more interesting. Even a neat mask. Not the best look. As for the inter-team fighting, it really seemed like Namor over-reacted. He is constantly the one who seems to not like this whole team aspect and really wants to do things his way, which stems from the fact that his undersea home was disrupted and he really just doesn't like humans. Overall, I think the cover was the best part...the story was fair. Bucky fighting off Toro and then running to join Namor as he escaped also seemed a bit odd. Quote of the Issue"Octopi...swordfish...even shrieking, tearing seagulls attacked with tentacle, horn and beak!" - Mr Stuart (the guy in charge at this secret headquarters the team went to) describing U-Man's attack. Thankfully Robbins drew only an octopus choking a solider and a swordfish leaping out of the water...I don't know that an evil seagull really works for me visually lol.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2017 22:21:46 GMT -5
Invaders #3 Rocks ... Nice Review too!
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Post by codystarbuck on Sept 9, 2017 1:03:17 GMT -5
U-Man is basically the Nazi Aquaman, just as Master Man is the Nazi Superman. Roy created a whole Nazi Justice League, after a while, with Master Man, U-Man, Baron Blood and Warrior Woman. He also later creates some threats from variations of the Avengers. Sometimes it was cool, sometimes it was silly. U-Man wasn't quite a hit out the park; but, I though it was okay. Roy's still finding his footing, at this point. Starting with issue 6, he starts cooking.
Namor was always the hothead in this, though the Torch had moments. roy was really pushing the earlier Namor personality, who didn't play well with anyone, outside of Betty Dean. Bucky and Toro have some pretty pointless squabbles, too. Roy really pushed the idea that there was always a troublemaker on superhero teams, to add drama. To me, it always came across like they were 14. It works a little better with someone like Namor than some of the other team troublemakers of the era.
Ed Brubaker used this story in his Marvels Project, which mixes those early Timely stories, as well as some of the Sgt Fury backstory issues and the Invaders. Pretty decent updating of the material and I wouldn't mind hime taking a crack at an updated Invaders (wartime setting).
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Sept 9, 2017 7:56:47 GMT -5
I am assuming it will be at its best around issues 10-25. I feel that would be when the team has figured out its direction and can deliver some good stories. So far fir me personally, the art and covers have been the stars.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Sept 9, 2017 8:41:04 GMT -5
While I did appreciate the nod to Ring of the Nebuling (which I had just around the same time), I agree it's not the best story. The best part of the series is when they go to England and are joined by the British heroes... I love the Baron Blood story line especially.
Unfortunately, the art gets worse as the story gets better.. Robbins really gets 'loose' with the anatomy over time.
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Post by hondobrode on Sept 9, 2017 10:39:15 GMT -5
Invaders was the first Marvel comics I ever bought.
Always really loved the concept, and despite some bumps, have always loved the title.
Thomas can be kind of wooden at times, but overall has retro stuff is really enjoyable IMO.
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Sept 9, 2017 21:51:50 GMT -5
Invaders #4 The Cover
Ah Kirby at his finest IMO. Action and the cover combines a variety of moments from the actual story. I love it! The Story
Cap and the Torches start the ish off by having to battle against some US soldiers as they try to "borrow" a plane to fly off and stop U-Man from murdering Churchill. They managed to commandeer a plane and off they go. Bucky and Namor had a head start from last issue and Namor reveals to Bucky that U-Man is one of his race..a scientist that he banished after learning he was trying to help the Nazis. However, U-Man has gained some unknown power because he was not this strong before, according to Namor. Then, we shift to Churchill's rendezvous vessel and see that it is being followed by another small boat...and who is on board? Betty Dean! Again, I know nothing about Namor but from what is mentioned, this is his "love interest" and some of the journalists who are with her on her boat reference how she was able to stop Namor from causing destruction. All of a sudden, U-Man appears. He hops on board Betty's vessel with some henchmen. He announces himself and Betty kinda just laughs, eventually mentioning that he has no chance against Namor. This enrages U-Man, and he knocks Betty down. She is a smart cookie though and rolls with it, appearing to faint but she manages to sneak below deck. At this time, Churchill's plane is heard and U-Man prepares to attack. Betty manages to get out a warning and Churchill's plane starts to ascend again but not before U-Man leaps on board. He then proceeds to try and destroy the plane. He does not get very far because Bucky and Namor arrive. Namor leaps from their plan and begins to battle U-Man. Shortly after, Cap and the torches arrive on scene and we have everyone present. Now, I am expecting to see a big ole battle but instead the story gets a bit weird. You see, some strange force begins causing supersonic sound waves to appear and they cause all kinds of havoc. The German u-boats that start to arrive on scene are pulled from the water and Churchill's plane also begins to be sucked into this vortex in the sky. The Torches use their might to stop this but not before Churchill sees something strange from his plane window....a dinosaur and a strange world. Then, as randomly as it all appeared, it disappears. Churchill is saved but he says he doesn't know or believe what happened. He thanks the Invaders for their help and heads off for England. U-Man and the Nazis are gone, presumed to have disappeared during this Bermuda Triangle type event. The story ends with the team silently heading off with Betty, wondering what just happened. OpinionsThe artwork, especially the covers, continue to be very good. The planes Robbins draws look great. Where it got ruined for me was the Bermuda Triangle vortex. It just delayed the build up to what I felt could have been a good fight scene. The story also has a blurb saying that those reading Skull, The Slayer would know what this vortex was about (anyone have some insight here?). I like this Betty Dean, she seems like a smart female character and I enjoy that. Again, I just wanted a good ole battle with everyone taking on U-Man but it didn't happen so the ending was not my favourite. There was a neat little bit of nod to history as one of the bombs seen at the beginning near the planes Cap and the Torches are trying to borrow says 'To Tojo with Love'. Hideki Tojo was the Japanese PM who ordered the Pearl Harbour attack. Quote of the Issue"I'll tell you all about it...over a chocolate egg-cream"- Betty Davis, when Namor asks what she is doing here at the end of the issue. I have never heard of an egg-cream...apparently its a milk and carbonated water beverage that can also be flavoured. Who says you can't learn something from a comic book 
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Post by hondobrode on Sept 9, 2017 21:55:30 GMT -5
Looking forward to re-reading the series once I get moved.
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Post by codystarbuck on Sept 9, 2017 23:05:47 GMT -5
U-Man could have been a lot more; but, whatta ya gonna do?
At least Roy gave us the Red Skull and the Liberty Legion, after this.
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Post by Prince Hal on Sept 9, 2017 23:26:35 GMT -5
Looks like someone (Romita? Giacoia, who inked the cover?) redid Namor's face on Invaders 4. Shades of Kirby's Superman faces at DC.
Great cover even so.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2017 0:10:48 GMT -5
According to the GCD Sept. 9 (Sat) was Frank Robbins birthday. Appropos we started a thread about one of the series he is known for.
GCD also edits the inking on the cover to #4 (I love that cover btw) to Frank Giacoia. No mention of alterations is made on the GCD page, but absence of evidence is not evidence of absence in this case to be sure.
-M
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Post by tarkintino on Sept 10, 2017 8:49:43 GMT -5
Invaders #3The CoverAnother cover I like. Love seeing two heroes battling. Romita for sure...again, the faces are what gives it away. Actually, its Romita inks over Kirby's usual stiff body position pencils. The faces were typically Romita clean-up work, which extended to softening up the bodies, but the pencils are all Kirby, especially the way the Sub-Mariner and Human Torch are positioned. |
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Post by chaykinstevens on Sept 10, 2017 10:44:57 GMT -5
Where it got ruined for me was the Bermuda Triangle vortex. It just delayed the build up to what I felt could have been a good fight scene. The story also has a blurb saying that those reading Skull, The Slayer would know what this vortex was about (anyone have some insight here?). Jim Scully (AKA Skull the Slayer) was being flown to the USA under military arrest when the plane he was on flew into the Bermuda Triangle vortex and was torn in two. The vortex sent Scully and the other survivors from the plane back to 250 million years BC, where an invading alien race, the Scorpians, had built a Tower of Time, with levels populated by robots representing life on Earth in various time periods. The story ran in Skull the Slayer #1-8 and was wrapped up in Marvel Two-In-One #35-36. link |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Sept 10, 2017 13:07:31 GMT -5
Thanks for the info tarkintino and chaykinstevens!
Skull The Slayer has intrigued me...how does it stack up? I have long considered trying it and Kull. Conan too, which I have read some of the earlier stuff but it does not pull me in like superhero books do. |
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Post by chaykinstevens on Sept 10, 2017 15:51:28 GMT -5
Thanks for the info tarkintino and chaykinstevens!
Skull The Slayer has intrigued me...how does it stack up? I have long considered trying it and Kull. Conan too, which I have read some of the earlier stuff but it does not pull me in like superhero books do. I quite liked Skull the Slayer at the time, but am not sure how well it would stand up now. It suffered from having three writers with differing ideas of where to take things: Marv Wolfman on #1-3 & MTIO #35-36, Steve Englehart on #4 and Bill Mantlo on #5-8. On Englehart's website, he says he used to call this the job he least liked doing, because he felt no empathy with the character. |
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