Credits:

“Prisoner of the Reds”

Cover Date: December 1962

Writer: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber

Penciller: Jack Kirby

Inker: Dick Ayers

Cover Artists: Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers

What’s Going On?

American scientists are defecting at an alarming rate, leaving only a super-convincing goodbye note in their wake.

Donald Blake notices the trend, and thinks that is suspicious. With the blessing of the military, he pretends to work on a biological warfare weapon, and a story is leaked to the press about it. Blake is quickly kidnapped by “the Reds” and brought to a prison behind the Iron Curtain. Apparently, all the scientists that defected were actually hypnotized and are being held against their will. Luckily, Blake still has his cane; predictably, Thor makes quick work of “the Reds.”

Is It Good?

This is another issue that isn’t quite good, but is silly enough to be a pleasant read. It is clumsy propaganda, but what do you expect in this era?

Sub-Plots:

• Donald Blake still won’t risk expressing his love for Jane Foster.
• Jane Foster still has a thing for Thor.

Continuity:

• Thor is still tapping his hammer to create storms, and the editor still explains what is happening.
• Thor can create a blast furnace by rubbing his hammer? That doesn’t really make sense, but okay.

Comics Are Goofy:

• What does this even mean?
• Jane, girl, you need a life.
• Hypnotizing gas? Is that a thing?
• I mean, sure, I guess that works. Of course, you can just hit the rocks with your hammer, too, Thor; that seems simpler.
• This is why carpenters made the best spies to infiltrate the Soviet Union.
• Not pictured: the scientists having the flesh flayed from their bodies as Thor whips stones and earth around him at speeds that defy science.

Well, That Aged Poorly:

• This is definitely not propaganda.