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.