Credits:

Cover Date: September 1963

Cover Artist: Jack Kirby

“Midnight On Massacre Mountain!”

Plotters: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby

Scripter: Stan Lee

Penciller: Jack Kirby

Inker: Dick Ayers

 

What’s Going On?

The Commandos are sent on another suicide mission, this time to help a trapped division escape the clutches of the enemy. Unfortunately, the Germans seem to know the Commandos’ every move. Is there a traitor in their midst?

Is It Good?

This was actually a pretty fun issue. I am already bored with the invincibility of Fury & co., but this issue did a good job varying their missions. The humor is toned down to a sitcom level, rather than the cartoonish levels it reached last issue, and I think that was a wise choice.

Sub-Plots:

• The Commandos were given some time for R&R, so they get in a bar fight with another group of American soldiers.

• The Commandos are taken to the guard-house on the base, where they proceed to beat up all the MPs.

• Happy Sam then gives the Commandos their mission: to meet up with some Allied spies, and complete whatever mission they are given by the OSS.

• The mission is to help a trapped division escape a valley, where they are surrounded by German forces. Along the way, a couple of war correspondents join the group.

• While exploring the area, Fury notices that the Germans seem prepared for the scouts that Fury is sending out. He realizes that one of the correspondents is a German spy.

• After killing the spy, they made contact with the American division and helped them flank and decimate the German troops.

 

Continuity:

• A young Reed Richards makes a guest appearance as a member of the OSS. He wins Fury’s admiration pretty quickly and provides the escape plans for the trapped division.

• The appearance of Reed Richards is the first indication that this series takes place in the Marvel Universe.
• We’ve got another bonus feature, this time focusing on the cost of certain vehicles.

Comics Are Goofy:

• What does “shell-like ears” mean, and why do two different characters use the phrase in this issue?

• Finally! Someone calls out Gabe for playing his horn in the middle of a firefight. He does this in EVERY fighting scene.

• Fun fact: Tony Curtis didn’t make his first movie until 1949, after WWII.

Well, That Aged Poorly:

• The Germans are still speaking heavily-accented English.

• Dum-Dum is still making cracks about his wife.