|
|
Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Oct 5, 2017 17:18:37 GMT -5
I'm reading issue 12 currently and should have a review up soon! Sorry was a busier week and I haven't been able to pump one out every 2 days at least but don't worry! I'm not stopping this until I am done  |
|
|
|
Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Oct 5, 2017 17:21:30 GMT -5
To be honest, of all of the core, original Invaders, Toro did not enjoy great development. Unlike Bucky, who not only had some stories focusing on him (along with the audience always in tragedy mode because they know his fate), Toro was--at times--just there. Yeah I am not big on Toro. I don't get his purpose. He seems like he was created just so the actual Torch had a sidekick. I think Toro hinders the book, to be honest. Cap is the leader, Bucky fights with being a kid amongst powerful heroes, Namor hate humans but must still help them and Torch is an android struggling with the fact he is not human. They all have something else to their character except Toro. They should have killed him off, to cause suspense (again, if this happens, avoid telling me ) |
|
|
|
Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Oct 5, 2017 21:06:33 GMT -5
Invaders 12 The CoverKirby again. I like this one. Heroes charging towards the bad guys and the newbie front and center. Spitfire eh? Not a terrible name. The costume is okay, although I am not a huge fan of capes. The StoryWe start with Torch flying around as he recaps last issue. He is thinking back to something Professor Gold (who was the Blue Bullet) had said about everything being on the Invaders heads because of Gold's capture. Torch decides to pay the captured Professor a visit. The Professor reveals he is actually Jewish and tells the story about how he fled and came to England where he was working on the Blue Bullet project. However, a shadowy figure cornered him one day and threatened to kill the Professor's brother unless he did what they instructed. So Torch decides the team should save the poor man's brother in hopes of freeing the Professor so he can resume his work for their side. Torch heads back to the team and tells them all this. They are about to depart when Jacqueline emerges as...Spitfire! She demonstrates her ability and eventually convinces the team to let her join them (much to the chagrin of her father though). The team arrives in Poland and quickly locate Jacob, Professor's Gold's brother. He says he will not come with them because he believes in waiting out the trouble and seems afraid to fight back against the Nazis. Well, the Nazis show up and there is a nice couple of pages of battle, with each member getting in some licks (Namor and the Torches take out takes, Spitfire takes out several). However, the Nazis threaten to kill Jacob and some other Jewish people, which forces the Invaders to surrender. A Nazi gasses them and knocks them out. They take all of them on board their tank, excited to have captured the Invaders. Jacob realizes they risked his life for them and he must now do something. OpinionsI like this story. Ties in the Professor from last issue and sets up a bit of an arc. I already know (based on hints dropped and the blurb at the end) that Jacob, who specializes in the study of rocks and minerals, is going to resurrect a Golem like creature in order to help save the team. He mentions it in the story about how there once was a creature that would have come and saved them from an evil conqueror, so we know what is coming. I thought the story did a good job of trying to explain why the Jewish people did not fight back. He talks about their patience being their belief and that waiting out this atrocity is the way to go. I thought that was a bit of an interesting, and likely true, opinion to be expressed in a comic. I look forward to seeing where this storyline goes. Quote of the Issue You want proof? You got it fur-top!"- Torch having to show he is actually the Torch in order to pay a visit to Professor Gold. He says this to one of the London guards.
|
|
|
|
Post by Reptisaurus! on Oct 5, 2017 21:30:24 GMT -5
To be honest, of all of the core, original Invaders, Toro did not enjoy great development. Unlike Bucky, who not only had some stories focusing on him (along with the audience always in tragedy mode because they know his fate), Toro was--at times--just there. Yeah I am not big on Toro. I don't get his purpose. He seems like he was created just so the actual Torch had a sidekick. I think Toro hinders the book, to be honest. Cap is the leader, Bucky fights with being a kid amongst powerful heroes, Namor hate humans but must still help them and Torch is an android struggling with the fact he is not human. They all have something else to their character except Toro. They should have killed him off, to cause suspense (again, if this happens, avoid telling me ) Man, I do not know how to comment on this without spoilers. |
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Oct 5, 2017 21:57:14 GMT -5
Invaders 12The CoverKirby again. I like this one. Heroes charging towards the bad guys and the newbie front and center. Spitfire eh? Not a terrible name. The costume is okay, although I am not a huge fan of capes. The StoryWe start with Torch flying around as he recaps last issue. He is thinking back to something Professor Gold (who was the Blue Bullet) had said about everything being on the Invaders heads because of Gold's capture. Torch decides to pay the captured Professor a visit. The Professor reveals he is actually Jewish and tells the story about how he fled and came to England where he was working on the Blue Bullet project. However, a shadowy figure cornered him one day and threatened to kill the Professor's brother unless he did what they instructed. So Torch decides the team should save the poor man's brother in hopes of freeing the Professor so he can resume his work for their side. Torch heads back to the team and tells them all this. They are about to depart when Jacqueline emerges as...Spitfire! She demonstrates her ability and eventually convinces the team to let her join them (much to the chagrin of her father though). The team arrives in Poland and quickly locate Jacob, Professor's Gold's brother. He says he will not come with them because he believes in waiting out the trouble and seems afraid to fight back against the Nazis. Well, the Nazis show up and there is a nice couple of pages of battle, with each member getting in some licks (Namor and the Torches take out takes, Spitfire takes out several). However, the Nazis threaten to kill Jacob and some other Jewish people, which forces the Invaders to surrender. A Nazi gasses them and knocks them out. They take all of them on board their tank, excited to have captured the Invaders. Jacob realizes they risked his life for them and he must now do something. OpinionsI like this story. Ties in the Professor from last issue and sets up a bit of an arc. I already know (based on hints dropped and the blurb at the end) that Jacob, who specializes in the study of rocks and minerals, is going to resurrect a Golem like creature in order to help save the team. He mentions it in the story about how there once was a creature that would have come and saved them from an evil conqueror, so we know what is coming. I thought the story did a good job of trying to explain why the Jewish people did not fight back. He talks about their patience being their belief and that waiting out this atrocity is the way to go. I thought that was a bit of an interesting, and likely true, opinion to be expressed in a comic. I look forward to seeing where this storyline goes. Quote of the Issue You want proof? You got it fur-top!"- Torch having to show he is actually the Torch in order to pay a visit to Professor Gold. He says this to one of the London guards. That is true. Many Jewish leaders felt that by cooperating they could negotiate better terms for their people; but that resistance meant certain death. Others, particularly the younger men and the Zionists believed they had to fight for their lives and did, such as the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, the escape from Sobibor (with the aid of Russian soldiers) as well as several Jewish partisan groups. The Golem of Prague is an old legend, dating back to the 16th Century, where Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel was alleged to have created the Golem to fight off anti-semitic attacks, ordered by Rudolf II, the Holy Roman Emperor. The Golem was said to sleep in the attic of the Old New Synagogue, until he is awaken when the need arises. The Golem has been a source for several films, including the classic, silent trilogy from Paul Wegener, as well as several others. The legend informs Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and was a plot element in Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. I liked Spitfire, in these comics, and she made a nice addition to the team. The cape is mostly there to provide flame effects as she moves along, which sets it apart from other capes out there. The mask doesn't quite work; but, you can't have something that interferes with the heroine's hairstyle (ask Jean Grey). Thisis a really nice sequence, mixing in several elements of the era, as well as history and legend. Roy was at his best in these pieces. |
|
|
|
Post by wildfire2099 on Oct 6, 2017 7:12:50 GMT -5
I really like that storyline, even if the whole Jewish golem thing is a bit overdone now. Spitfire was a much needed add to the team, and I've always LOVED the name.. I think a more British costume would have been good, but still an excellent character.
Toro almost seems like Bucky's sidekick in some of these stories IIRC.. I agree he's pretty useless.
|
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Oct 6, 2017 17:54:04 GMT -5
I really like that storyline, even if the whole Jewish golem thing is a bit overdone now. Spitfire was a much needed add to the team, and I've always LOVED the name.. I think a more British costume would have been good, but still an excellent character. Toro almost seems like Bucky's sidekick in some of these stories IIRC.. I agree he's pretty useless. The problem with Toro is that he isn't unique enough to be interesting. Bucky had more of a personality, from the start, which appealed to Roy. Toro was a child copy of the Torch, so his powers weren't unique. He was a sidekick, which didn't differentiate him from Bucky. At best, he was there to squabble with Bucky, to help throw dramatic sparks, when Namor was otherwise engaged. He's been better used by later writers; but, Roy didn't seem very interested in him. I would suggest he also wasn't that interested in some of the other characters we will meet in the next several issues, with one particular one I can point to; but don't want to spoil it for Pinkfloydsound17. |
|
|
|
Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Oct 9, 2017 20:46:07 GMT -5
Invaders #13 The CoverNow, not to throw any dislike on the Kirby covers, but Kane will always be a superior artist IMO. Kirby has a unique style that I definitely appreciate but Kane just has a very natural style that suits superhero books perfectly. I love this cover. Lots of action happening, good depth to the image. My only problem is the background. The Golem breaking through the wall looks odd because the background is pure red (unless that is what this location looks like). Also...why does the Golem have hair? A little silly but still, a good cover. The StoryCap is woken up by the two-faced Nazi on the cover, named the Face (or Colonel Eisen). Not a bad name...Cap jokes he should be called "Half-Face", which sounds terrible. And obviously calling him Two-Face would have caused issues. Anyways, this Face character has the Torches in some water contraption to limit their flame and Namor in a concrete block while heat lamps prevent him from getting wet (and thus having strength). There is some villain small talk and Cap attempts to free his chains but is knocked out by one of Face's lackeys. We also learn that Face has fallen out of favour with Hitler ever since a liquid called heavy water was stolen from Face. We jump scenes to where young Jacob Goldstein is seen with this jar in his possession. He is reading some stuff about the Golem and mixes some of the heavy liquid with the rain and clay and forms a creature. Suddenly, lightning strikes and his place is destroyed. Some passers-by see this and wonder what has happened but they are harassed to leave by a Nazi. Suddenly, a giant creature emerges...the Golem. Except it half resembles Jacob. I guess the lightning merged him with the clay and made him into the Golem creature. He looks kinda funny with hair but at least that part of it makes some sense now. He lumbers off and we are back at face and his scientist lackey examining Cap's shield. They cannot figure out its composition and Face is yelling at his incompetent scientist when Golem smashes through. Face holds up the shield which causes Golem to turn away (he thinks it may be Cap). Golem then crashes through the ceiling into the basement below where the Invaders are. He frees them (except for Namor who frees himself once he is doused in water from the Torch's holding tank). They fight some Nazis and eventually we see Eisen trying to escape. He is stopped by the Golem and thrown from the roof to his death. The team confront the giant and Cap asks if it is Jacob. The monster rubs its forehead and in doing so, removes the word Emeth (meaning truth) from its forward and he turns back into Jacob. Jacob then vows to stay in the ghetto and protect his people, stating they will rise up and when they do, the Golem will rise again. The Invaders opt not to stop him and leave silently, although Thomas laments that many will revolt one day and unfortunately perish in 1943. OpinionsI liked this story. It was a nice way to tie up the last couple of issues. I liked the references to actual events (like the Warsaw Ghetto revolt) and also to see Jacob standing up against the Nazis. Once again, Toro was useless and rarely seen although he was tied up next to Torch. He needs to go. The next issue promises the Crusaders...another super-team? I am slightly intrigued but I would prefer to see more of the Liberty Legion rather than get introduced to a whole new bunch of people. We will see what happens. Quote of the IssueGosh! He tore through those ropes as though they were Christmas tree tinsel!- the Torch exclaims as the Goldstein Golem frees Spitfire. Friedrich NietzscheThe name is mentioned in the story when Face quotes him. Nietzsche was a philosopher (among other things) and from what I gleaned from the internet, some of his ideas may have been used or adapted by Hitler, although Nietzsche was not around during WW2. Definitely some high end thinking involved when you read about this guy. Nice little history bit though and it made me do some research. Thanks Roy!
|
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Oct 9, 2017 21:38:34 GMT -5
Nietzsche wrote about the "superman" in Also Sprach Zarathustra, which influences, somewhat, Alan Moore's take on Marvelman (Miracleman). Heavy water was a key component in nuclear energy research, in the 30s and 40s. The Germans had a heavy water production plant in Norway and the Allies, in conjunction with the Norwegian resistance, sought to destroy it, with bombing missions, a commando attack, and, finally, the resistance sinking a ferry transporting the stores of heavy water to Germany. The efforts were dramatized in the movie, The Heroes of Telemark, with Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris.  This was a nice wrap up to the Golem story and Spitfire's debut. The Crusaders two-parter will serve as a transition, as we get ready for probably the best storyline of the series, which will cover several issues. I think you will enjoy the Crusaders, possibly more than the Liberty Legion, as there is more going on in the story. Meanwhile, the Golem was Roy's riff on the Hulk, just as the Blue Bullet was his take on Iron Man. In a few issues down the road, we will see his rather more unique take on Thor. |
|
|
|
Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Oct 9, 2017 21:43:46 GMT -5
Awesome info! Thanks! I also liked this Eisen character better than I did Brain Drain. Brain Drain looked silly, while this character was slightly more menacing. I would still like to see one more good original foe for this team that is based more along the lines of a supervillain and not just a Nazi with a facial deformation. I know we will see U-Man and Master Man again...that much is a given.
Also, Robbins...he does the interior art for the whole series right? I am starting to want someone else to draw this, just to mix it up. He definitely has good and bad days and this one was not my favourite. I feel like this series would benefit greatly from a centerfold splash page with lots of action but I doubt this will happen....hope I am wrong!
|
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Oct 10, 2017 8:40:21 GMT -5
Awesome info! Thanks! I also liked this Eisen character better than I did Brain Drain. Brain Drain looked silly, while this character was slightly more menacing. I would still like to see one more good original foe for this team that is based more along the lines of a supervillain and not just a Nazi with a facial deformation. I know we will see U-Man and Master Man again...that much is a given.
Also, Robbins...he does the interior art for the whole series right? I am starting to want someone else to draw this, just to mix it up. He definitely has good and bad days and this one was not my favourite. I feel like this series would benefit greatly from a centerfold splash page with lots of action but I doubt this will happen....hope I am wrong!
Robbins does not draw the entire series. It's at its best when he is inked by Frank Springer; but, the duo didn't stay to the end. Alan Kupperberg takes over with issue #29 and stays to the end. Springer stays on to ink, through issue #34. Even Roy didn't stay to the end, with Don Glut writing the last few issues. Kupperberg does a decent job; but, I preferred Robbins on the material. He had a better feel for the period and the pulpier style of stories of that era. That was one of the appeals of this, for me. Springer helps, as long as he is there; but, Kupperberg gives it more of a standard look which knocks it down a few notches. |
|
|
|
Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Oct 13, 2017 18:45:03 GMT -5
Invaders #14
The Cover
Another superhero team. Well, I am going to take a stab at guessing their names based on appearance alone (I have never researched or heard of this team before so my knowledge right now is zero). First, the caped fellow. Looks like a matador, so we will call him the Matador. The woman I will call Silver Star. The Hulk/Sandman hybrid, Green T. And the flying man, Golden Hawk. Not a bad cover overall and I actually like the use of purple along the top...just a colour you don't see often.
The Story
The Invaders return to England amidst a dogfight. A German bomber is shot down and upon crash landing, its crew opens fire on a British army doctor who appeared to be coming to their aid. The Nazis take off toward some ruins, but they run into our lovely Crusaders! First to introduce is a guy name Dyna-mite (not on the cover, a small 12cm tall hero with strength). The matador fella calls himself the Spirit of '76 (he has a bulletproof cape) and the female is Ghost Girl. Bullets pass right through her (Invisible Girl tribute?) or appear to as she explains her ability to appear a metre away from where she actually stands. Anyways, they stop the Nazis and introduce themselves to Namor and the Torches, who had lept down to help. They tell the Invaders not to follow them as they waltz off.
Meanwhile, Cap and Bucky land to help put out a fire to some buildings. The other three Crusaders appear. Thunder Fist (my Green T), Captain Wings (my Golden Hawk) and Tommy Lightning. Lame name for the flying guy. Also, why were only four of the 6 featured on the cover? Oh well. Anyways they put of the fire and rescue some people before Cap and Bucky can get there. Cap asks about how they got their powers but the three of them just leave. Not even a goodbye, they just take off. Some reporter butts in, asking how Cap feel about being "shown up" by this new team, to which Cap replies he believes they were just intending to help. As long as lives are saved, he is happy.
The Invaders head back to visit Lord Falsworth and there they officially welcome Spitfire into the team. Torch then tells Lord Falworth about the Crusaders, which causes some shock from the old boy. He takes a moment to stare off in silence and shed a tear while the rest of the team goes inside. That afternoon, they take off on some mission but are distracted by a car bomb going off below. They investigate and a cabbie named Alfie tells them that someone went off into the park. The scene switches to a limo (that appeared to be the target of the initial bomb) in which the King of England is riding. A caped vigilante leaps to try and attack and shoot him but Dyna-Mite steps in and thwarts him. The Invaders find nothing in the nearby park and go back to the scene of the destroyed car. They see no body, and then rush to the palace where the Crusaders have already saved the King. The Crusaders state they should protect Buckingham Palace and, begrudgingly, the Invaders agree. The final scene shows the cabbie Alfie listening to an announcement on the radio, stating the Crusaders are now protecting the palace, at which point he laughs maniacally.
Opinions
As predicted, I did not love the Crusaders. I don't think I would have minded as much if it were only four, but the issue added 2 others. One of them, Dyna-Mite, had more of an impact than the Thunder Fist guy on the cover, while Tommy Lightning was barely seen. This is the problem, IMO, with teams of more than 4. Someone gets lost or just is there for the sake of being there. It takes a good writer to make it work and I did not find this happened for this story. Thunder Fist appears like a Hulk knock-off, with a Sandman helmet. The coolest is Ghost Girl...I think her costume, name and abilities are intriguing enough. The rest are just ho hum.
This story does raise some questions...what does Falsworth know about the Crusaders? Why are the Crusaders so anti-social? What was with the whole car bomb distraction? Who is Alfie the cabbie? Lots of intrigue in this issue and while I am not crazy about the characters, I am interested to see where this all goes.
Quote of the Issue
"And so the language of guns takes over when the language of tongues fails"- a caption box reads, as the Nazis start shooting at the British doctor, apparently coming to their aid. Is this quote from something? It was a very strong statement. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2017 19:05:49 GMT -5
From Wikipedia:
The Crusaders were based on the DC Comics superhero team the Freedom Fighters.[3] The character associations are: Captain Wings and Black Condor; Dyna-Mite and Doll Man; Ghost Girl and Phantom Lady; Spirit of '76 and Uncle Sam; Thunder Fist and Human Bomb; and Tommy Lightning and the Ray.
At the same time that the Invaders were meeting the Crusaders in Marvel Comics, DC Comics' Freedom Fighters were also facing off against a team called the Crusaders,[4] with the DC version of the Crusaders based upon Marvel Comics' Invaders.
|
|
|
|
Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Oct 13, 2017 19:45:10 GMT -5
^ Holy cross company referencing Batman! That is interesting.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2017 21:19:00 GMT -5
^ Holy cross company referencing Batman! That is interesting. DC's Crusaders from Freedom Fighters #8 & 9:
|
|
