Happy Birthday Jim Steranko

Celebrating the birthday of artist, writer, publisher, magician, film production illustrator and comic historian, Jim Steranko with this December 1983 cover to reprints of a few of his Nick Fury Agent Of SHIELD issues from the 1960s, featuring Nick Fury, Contessa Valentina Allegro de Fontaine, Jasper Sitwell, Jimmy Woo, Gabe Jones and Dum Dum Dugan!

The stories reprinted there were from Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD #1 and #2 from June and July, 1968 (along with pages from a Nick Fury story from Strange Tales #168, but Steranko didn't do that cover, as it featured Doctor Strange, the other half of that split book at the time).

A true performer, still touring comic conventions to this day, with the occasional work of art gracing a cover now and then, a living legend in the history of comics!

Spider-Man Teams With Agents Of SHIELD

Spider-Man met with various agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division, at least until 1991...), during the course of his career in Marvel Team-Up, from Mockingbird, to Quasar, and even Nick Fury...

....and here are the team ups that focused on those characters!

Old Agent New Name

First up on this look at agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Spidey met with is Marvel Team-Up #95 (July, 1980) "...And No Birds Sing!" by writer Steven Grant, penciller Jim Janes, and inker Bruce Patterson (all under a cover by Frank Miller and Bob McLeod).

A bit of a spoiler here, but that agent was Bobbi Morse (who had been working for S.H.I.E.L.D. with Ka-Zar back in the days Ka-Zar appeared in Astonishing Tales), then as the Huntress in Marvel Super Action #1 of 1976 (which featured a lead story on the Punisher).   There, as here, Bobbi had been working to find spies with S.H.I.E.L.D., with Peter Parker returning to New York from the West Coast, and seeing a beautiful blond in a trenchcoat being chased, and he changes into Spider-Man to help out (along the way, seeing her get shot, but surviving due to her insulated costume, and fleeing from their flying car!).  Mockingbird introduces herself to Spidey, and informs him they were battling S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, which upsets Spider-Man, and Bobbi takes off away from him, leaving Spider-Man to deal with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Manhattan director, Carl Delandan.

Delandan gives Spidey all of Bobbi's S.H.I.E.L.D. history, and says she's here to kill director, Nick Fury, and is using a Life-Model Decoy (LMD) of Nick to lure her here.  Bobbi does show up as Mockingbird, but explains to Spidey she is here to give information to Nick Fury about traitors in S.H.I.E.L.D., not kill him.  Problem is, Delandan is one of those traitors, who uses an old weapon S.H.I.E.L.D. confiscated, the Satan Claw, to stop the heroes.  Then, the Nick Fury LMD shows up, and we find out it was really the real Nick Fury, looking to meet Mockingbird and get the facts she has, as he had already been suspicious of Delandan.  Sadly, Mockingbird is shot by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents (who were protecting Nick Fury, not knowing of innocence), but Bobbi later recovered, to work with the Avenger, Hawkeye, and even the Avengers for a time.

Ex-Agent All Hero

Next up is another former agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., who left the agency to work for Project: PEGASUS, the mighty Quasar, who teamed with Spidey in Marvel Team-Up #113 (January, 1982) in "The Resurrection Of Edward Lansky" by writer Mark Gruenwald, penciller Herb Trimpe and inker Mike Esposito (with a cover by John Romita, Jr. and Frank Giacoia).

While on his way to class, Spider-Man encounters a Project: PEGASUS vehicle taking the dangerous villain, Nitro (whom Spidey had recently defeated), to its headquarters (with Quasar heading the team), and Spidey and Quasar get into a discussion, with Quasar later heading to go Empire State University.

Quasar detects a hidden lab underneath, run by Spider-Man foe, the Lightmaster, who has powers over light, and takes over Quasar's Quantum Bands (and Quasar as well, as Lightmaster attempts to regain his lost humanity, now only being a being of light).

This leads to a battle of Quasar and Spider-Man, but Quasar regains control of himself, and then the two heroes work together, restoring Lightmaster to his own body (that of Edward Lansky), yet still taking him captive (for the crimes he had committed).  Spidey and Quasar don't part happily, which is odd, as Quasar usually gets along with everyone, soon after getting his own series (written by Mark Gruenwald, who also revived Mockingbird in the Hawkeye mini-series) and Quasar becoming an Avenger!

The Boss Is Back

All these agents, but no leader?  Well, Nick Fury finally stops by for his only solo team-up with Spider-Man in Marvel Team-Up #139 (March, 1984) with "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime" by writer Cary Burkett, penciller Brian Postman and inker Mike Esposito, all under a cover by Al Milgrom!

Before Colonel Nick Fury was the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., he was just a sergeant in World War II, leading a team of combatants there, called the Howling Commandos.  One of that team's members was called Dino Minnelli, and the crime family of the Maggia kidnapped his girlfriend, actress Julie Winston, getting Nick Fury and Spider-Man involved in the case.

Even worse, the Maggia has some help, with an old weapon Hydra created to attack S.H.I.E.L.D., the robot Dreadnaught!  Sadly for Dino, it seems her acting included their relationship, as it was all a plot of the Maggia, who is heartbroken after this event.

But, these weren't the only times Spidey dealt with S.H.I.E.L.D., as he also worked with the agency in various team-ups involving Captain America, the Falcon, Iron Man, the Scarlet Witch and the Black Widow!  It seems Spider-Man and S.H.I.E.L.D. hold the Marvel Universe together!

3-D Man In Your Face

Looking back is good....and in the 1970s, comics looked back to the 1950s!

Let's look at the "startling NEW super-hero from the FABULOUS 1950's!"...3-D Man!  "Who in blazes?" you might ask...

One Dimension

Premiering in Marvel Premiere #35 (April, 1977 by Roy Thomas and Jim Craig, and a cover by Jack Kirby), was the story of the Chandler brothers, Charles and Hal.  Chuck was a test pilot for NASA in 1958, taking out the experimental XF-13 when he had a real close encounter, with some Skrulls (a nasty shape-shifting alien race who would come to menace the Fantastic Four and the rest of Earth's heroes).  Chuck was able to escape, blowing up the Skrull ship, but it bathed him in an odd energy, and as he approached his brother Hal (as Chuck had landed at their "secret spot" in the desert), the XF-13 blew up, turning Chuck into red and green images on Hal's glasses.

For some reason, Hal later thought to put on those glasses and look at a wall, and thus came into being....the 3-D Man!  Blessed with 3 times the abilities of a normal man, Chuck Chandler materialized in a red and green hybrid of his flight suit (sending his brother into a coma), and could appear to fight crime (and sense Skrulls) for 3 hours at a time (and this was his first adventure out and about).    

Two Dimensions

With the second appearance of 3-D Man in Marvel Premiere #36 (June, 1977, by Roy Thomas and Jim Craig, with a plotting assist by Don Glut, and cover by Gil Kane and Joe Sinnott), the action kicked into high gear, with the second manifestation of 3-D Man (as well as Zirksu, the Skrull that he faces), manipulating new rock and roll sensation, Vince Rivers, into inciting the nation's youth into a violent frenzy!  During the course of this adventure, we learn that merging seems to have cured Hal's polio, that Chuck's dad wasn't dealing well with the supposed death of his test pilot son, with Hal and Chuck's girlfriend, Peggy, getting closer as she drove Hal to a Vince Rivers concern, where the 3-Man foiled the Skrull's plot (but was unable to find the Skrull).

3-D Man also mentioned the Invaders and All-Winners Squad (previous hero teams that existed in the 1940s, which included Captain America, the Sub-Mariner and the original Human Torch), and 3-D Man met Peggy, and in a letter's page column, Roy Thomas explained his fascination with the 1950s and how that let to him creating this hero of the 1950s in the 1970s!

Three Dimensions

In Marvel Premiere #37 (August, 1977, also by Roy Thomas and Jim Craig, and plot assist by Don Glut, and cover by Gil Kane and Joe Sinnott), Zirksu stepped up his plans against 3-D Man, having followed the hero (who found the device the Skrull used to incite the riots at the concert), and blasted 3-D Man and Hal as the multi-hued hero returned to Hal's body for the third time (though the Skrull was surprised there was not more of an affect of the blast).  Hal returned home with Peggy, and Zirksu (taking the guise of then Vice President Richard Nixon) helped a Commie hating professor named Sinkowitz transform himself into the Cold Warrior (using Skrull science to enhance the professor's own), making a foe for the 3-D Man (who was half-red after all).

When 3-D Man was next manifested by Hal, Hal's mind was in control...and he fought the Cold Warrior and beat him.  This was enough of a setback for the Skrull abandon his Nixon identity and to disappear...as did the 3-D Man for a time!

And Beyond!

But, the 3-D Man did come back, in the Incredible Hulk #251 (September, 1980, by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema, with a cover by Michael Golden), with quite some time having passed for Hal and family...

...Hal had married Peggy Clark, and they had two sons, Chuck Chandler and Hal Chandler Jr., and Hal had retired the 3D-Man, concentrating instead on his career and family.

When the family discovered Bruce Banner, Hal invited him into his home (but in reality, Hal recognized Bruce as the alter-ego of the Hulk, and called the military to bring him in).  At the same time, Rick Jones (a friend of the Hulk's) had encountered trouble and sent out a distress call via ham radio to the Teen Brigade and more (with the younger Chuck Chandler hearing the call on his dad's equipment).  The Hulk changed in the house, prompting Hal to call on 3-D Man again (who manifested with Chuck's mind) and the Hulk and 3-D Man battled for a bit, as 3-D Man also tried to process all the changes that had happened since he last appeared!  3-D Man eventually helped Hulk leave to go aid Rick and his friends, and Hal came clean with Peggy about the 3-D Man and how the original Chuck Chandler survived within him (and dealing with their destroyed house in Incredible Hulk #252).  3-D Man also appeared in the gathering of heroes in Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #1 in June, 1982, but he was just a face in the crowd at that point...  

Further Out

The 3-D Man stayed out of the limelight yet again, but there was a new hero, Triathlon (Delroy Garrett Jr.), who premiered in Avengers #8 (September, 1998, by Kurt Busiek and George Perez) who seemed awfully familiar...and the link between him and 3-D Man was explored in Avengers #50-56 (also known as Avengers #465-471, as suddenly finding your roots became popular) in 2002, and the Avengers dealt with their time-traveling foe, Kang, and Triathlon returning Hal and Charles Chandler to Peggy (the brothers being minus their powers, but Triathlon still having the abilities of 3 men).

Side Trip

But, what if the Avengers had formed during the 1950s instead of the 1960s?  Would 3-D Man have been a member?

It was exactly that question that led to the alternate world of What If? #9 (June, 1978 written by Don Glut, and art by Alan Kupperberg and Bill Black, taking the concept from Roy Thomas) and the formation of the 1950s Avengers, with 3-D Man joining forces with heroes of Marvel Comics of the 1950s (Venus the goddess, the Human Robot, the Gorilla Man, Marvel Boy and foe of the Yellow Claw...Jimmy Woo).  The team battled a gathering of their foes, but Eisenhower did not want them to stay together as a team.  This reality was developed further in Avengers Forever #4 and #5 (in 1999), wherein a Skrull posing as Nixon tried to take over America's space program in 1959...at least until Immortus (another time traveling Avengers villain) shut down this reality.... 

And Back Home

Thing is, minus 3-D Man (and including Namora, the Sub-Mariner's cousin), this group did form briefly in the regular Marvel Universe in the 1958 (as Department Zero and the G-Men)...as S.H.I.E.L.D. later learned, and Jimmy Woo (who had later joined S.H.I.E.L.D., and was even part of the S.H.I.E.L.D. team to face Godzilla), and this group reformed as the Agents of Atlas when Jimmy was injured (in Agents of Atlas #1, October, 2006, the beginning of a 6 issue limited series by Jeff Parker and Leonard Kirk, which let to the regular Agents of Atlas series which lasted 11 issues in 2009).

Finally In Focus

With the threat of Skrull Secret Invasion, Delroy joined the Avengers Initiative program, taking over the 3-D Man identity with Avengers: the Initiative #12 (June, 2008), fighting the Skrulls in Avengers: the Initiative #16-19, and eventually working with the Agents of Atlas in Atlas #1-5 (2010). 

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. comic

In December, 2014, Marvel plans on putting out a comic book on the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series.

It's a comic based on the TV show, and plans to have Agent Coulson and his team working in the current comic universe, introducing Melinda May, Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons into the Marvel Universe (as opposed to the Marvel Cinematic Universe) in a series of stories by Mark Waid (and first issue containing art by Carlos Pacheco and later issues by Chris Sprouse and Alan Davis).  CBR interviewed Mark Waid, and he discussed his plans for Phil Coulson and crew here.

But, what of other, comic book agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?

Super-Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

For that, look no further than Captain America #217-218 (January-February, 1978) in stories by writers Roy Thomas, Don Glut, and artists John and Sal Buscema, wherein we are introduced to the new Super-Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D....the Falcon, the Texas Twister, Blue Streak, the Vamp and Marvel Boy!

Like S.H.I.E.L.D. (whose history is touched on here along with their villainous counterpart, Hydra), these characters have connections all over the Marvel Universe (the Falcon, Cap's frequent partner, to get more coverage under the Avengers).

Texas Twister

 

Drew Daniels first appeared as the Texas Twister in Fantastic Four #177 (December, 1976) in a story by Roy Thomas and George Perez, wherein he tried to join the Frightful Four (villainous counterpart to the Fantastic Four) who, at the time were short a member.  Not really a villain by nature (and needing to be paid), Drew then ended up using his tornado powers to disrupt a race the Human Torch was in, and then did join the new Super-Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D....planning on using his powers for good.  A later run of Captain America issues saw the end of the Super-Agents...and Texas Twister became a founder of the Rangers (along with the western Ghost Rider aka Night Rider aka Phantom Rider, Red Wolf, Firebird and Shooting Star) in Incredible Hulk #265 (November, 1981), and continued with them over the years, being a part of the Contest of Champions, working with the West Coast Avengers, being a part of the Civil War and even working with the Scarlet Spider!  Not bad for a cowpoke who got his powers being too close to a nuclear power plant and a tornado!

The Vamp and the Blue Streak

Both the Vamp (Denise Baranger) and the Blue Streak (Don Thomas) first appeared in Captain America #217 (January, 1978, by Roy Thomas, Don Glut and John Buscema).  The Vamp had limited telepathy, was trained in judo and had an Absorbo-Belt which allowed her to duplicate the strength of others (and, she had a secret as well).  Blue Streak was a talented skater, with rocket powered roller skates and later added lasers to his forearms in a weapons upgrade.  Their end as Super-Agents were chronicled in Captain America #228-231 (1979), Incredible Hulk #232-234 (1979) and in Quasar #2 (November, 1989)...and Blue Streak came back with upgraded armor in Captain America #318 (June, 1986) and then as a victim of the Punisher in Punisher #5, 6 and 9 (2009), with the Vamp coming back in Captain America #319-320 (1986), and Deadpool #0 and 6 (1997).

Marvel Boy

Wendell Elvis Vaughn was a guard at a Stark International facility testing the Quantum Bands of the Crusader (Thelius, who pretended to be the original Marvel Boy), and, in an invasion by A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics), put them on to stop the villainous group...and himself became Marvel Boy (later Marvel Man) and ended up in the S.H.I.E.L.D. Super-Agent program.  Between Captain America #218 and #228, he and Falcon participated in the "Defenders for a Day" event, wherein many heroes (and even villains) joined the Defenders for a time (Defenders #62-64, 1978), although they weren't considered real Defenders like Hulk, Nighthawk, Valkyrie and Hellcat.  With the end of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Super-Agents, Marvel Man stuck around the Hulk until Incredible Hulk #234 (April, 1979, by Roger Stern and Sal Buscema), wherein Wendell took the name of Quasar, and headed to his next assignment...

...working at Project: Pegasus as and becoming their head of security.  Project: Pegasus (Potential Energy Group/Alternate Sources/United States) was a base in the Adirondack Mountains of New York that studies alien and super weapons (like the Cosmic Cube) and people (like Nuklo), serving as a prison for some villains too dangerous to be near other people.  The Thing ended up there, checking on Wundarr (an alien from another world here to spread hope who became Aquarian), and ended up involved with Giant-Man (the former Black Goliath/Bill Foster), Thundra (a reformed member of the Frightful Four, a super-strong amazon from a future society) and Deathlok (a futuristic cyborg from another timeline...well, more or less...and someone familiar to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. viewers) in a plot by the Nth Man (a foe of the Thing's from previous issues of Marvel Two-In-One) in the Project: Pegasus saga (in Marvel Two-In-One #53-58, 1979, collected in the Thing: Project Pegasus in 2010) by Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, John Byrne, Joe Sinnott, George Perez and Gene Day.

Quasar then guested across the Marvel Universe for a time, participating in the Contest of Champions, and being there for the pardon of the Hulk, as well as working with Spider-Man, Dazzler and the Thing....then becoming an Avenger and getting his own title that lasted 60 issues and explored the secrets of the Marvel Universe (actually, the Marvel Multiverse, as it went beyond the galaxy and even explored other dimensions, and cleared up a lot of little continuity oddities along the way).

Mark Gruenwald and Paul Ryan gave us the story of how Wendell got the Quantum-Bands in Quasar #1 (October, 1989), and had Eon make Quasar the Protector of the Universe in Quasar #2 (November, 1989). 

From there, using his powers of flight, strength and energy manipulation granted by the bands, Quasar kept going until Quasar #60 (July, 1994), with Mark Gruenwald writing almost all the issues, and having Quasar meet with or fight a vast array of the Marvel Universe...

...including Deathurge, the Human Torch, Quantum, Aquarian, Absorbing Man, Living Laser, Red Ghost, the Watcher, Terminus, the cosmic Spider-Man, MODAM, the Kree Dr. Minerva and Captain Atlas, Halflife, the Excalibur team including Phoenix, the Eternals, Moondragon, the Squadron Supreme, Over-Mind, the Stranger, Rocket Raccoon, Runner, Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), the Jack of Hearts, Maelstrom, Woodgod, Dr. Strange, Thanos, Her, Adam Warlock, Nova, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, the Imperial Guard, Binary (the former Ms. Marvel/Carol Danvers), Eternity, the Punisher, the Antibody, Blue Shield, Blue Marvel, Thunderstrike, Black Bolt, the Presence and Darkstar, and participate in the Acts of Vengeance, the Infinity Gauntlet, Galactic Storm, the Infinity War and Starblast, and even work with D.P. 7 and get the Star Brand from the New Universe, and even getting a few new costumes along the way. 

Later on, he works with Silver Surfer and Beta Ray Bill in Star Masters, Thor, Photon (former Captain Marvel Monica Rambeau), Tigra, Starfox, Moondragon, and Jack of Hearts in Avengers: Infinity, and even Nova, Captain America, Gladiator, Wolverine, Ronan and the Guardians of the Galaxy in Realm of Kings!  Don't worry if you don't know all those names....as you haven't seen most of them in any Marvel movies as of yet, but all of this shows how big and cosmic things can get, even dealing with the Earthbound Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.! 

Hail Hydra Comics

"Hail, HYDRA! Immortal HYDRA! We shall never be destroyed! Cut off a limb, and two more shall take its place! We serve none but the Master—as the world shall soon serve us! Hail HYDRA!" was the oath taken by Hydra agents in Strange Tales #135 (August, 1965) as the villainous organization was established as the foes of S.H.I.E.L.D. (which stood for the Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division, at least at the time) and it's new director, Col. Nick Fury, himself a decorated veteran of World War II where he served as Sgt. Nick Fury....in Sgt. Fury (then later Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos, which followed his WW II adventures....)  

S.H.I.E.L.D. also appeared first in this issue, which was written by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack Kirby...but Hydra has a history both before that issue (in a stand alone tale in Atlas Comics' Menace #10 (March, 1954) where it was only a reference to an organization by a scientist in the tale "Half Man, Half...?" with art by Robert Q. Sale...but it was only a mention, and Stan and Jack created the green and yellow uniforms and the philosophy of the group...

...still, you can see the reach of Hydra extends even past its own beginnings!

Hydra vs. S.H.I.E.L.D.

Hydra was the main foe of the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Nick Fury for their entire run as half the feature of Strange Tales (from issue #135 to #168) as Nick and his team shared the book with the master of mystic arts, Doctor Strange.

The team then went to Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. for 18 issues from June, 1968 to March, 1971.

All these tales can be found in Marvel Masterworks:Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 has Strange Tales #135-153 (and Tales of Suspense #78 and Fantastic Four #21 which relate, and Tales of Suspense features stories on A.I.M. as well, which is a branch of Hydra at the time and Nick fighting them with Captain America, and the Fantastic Four story is a pre-S.H.I.E.L.D. appearance which brought Nick Fury from World War II to "modern times" and they faced the Hate-Monger).    

Marvel Masterworks:Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #2 has tales from Strange Tales #154-168 and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1-3 with story and art by Jim Steranko (and dialogue in early issues by Roy Thomas) and has battles against A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics); the Yellow Claw; as well as revealing the Supreme Hydra (who has ties to Nick's time in WW II as Sgt. Fury) and Nick's first fight with Scorpio!  
Marvel Masterworks:Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #3 has the stories from Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #4-15, Avengers #72 and Marvel Spotlight #31 (Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #16-18 were reprints of Hydra battles from Strange Tales) and finishes Nick's battle against Scorpio as well as another battle with the Hate-Monger.

Still, this didn't end the Marvel Universe's battles with the forces of Hydra, as their coda implied...they came back else where many times.  A few of their other more important appearances include...

Hydra vs. Captain America

Hydra faced Captain America in a famous storyline by Stan Lee and Jim Steranko in Captain America #110, 111, and 113 (February-May, 1969).  These stories also feature a battle between Captain America and the Hulk, Hulk's young helper, Rick Jones taking on the identity of Bucky for a time (something hinted at all the way back when Cap was found in Avengers #4), and the introduction of Madame Hydra (who later became the Viper and worked with the Silver Samurai) and established Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra as supporting characters for future Captain America stories (as Nick's own book was cancelled a little while after these stories came out...).

These stories can also be found in the Captain America Omnibus #1 and in Marvel Visionaries: Jim Steranko which also has some of the better Strange Tales issues....and you can get just the Jim Steranko S.H.I.E.L.D. tales in S.H.I.E.L.D. By Steranko: The Complete Collection which has all Jim's work on S.H.I.E.L.D. from Strange Tales and the Nick Fury book...as well as some later work from other reprints!

Hydra vs. the Hulk

Hydra faced the Hulk in the Incredible Hulk #132 (October, 1970) in a story by Roy Thomas with art by Herb Trimpe and John Severin, wherein the evil organization convinced Hulk's helper, Jim Wilson, into trying to capture the Hulk.

It didn't work out so well for Hydra (and they tried to attack him again in Incredible Hulk #154, August, 1972 by Archie Goodwin and Herb Trimpe, with the help of Spider-Man foe, the Chameleon, shrinking the Hulk, who got some help himself from Hank Pym....the Ant-Man!).  Oddly, Hulk usually spent more time fighting the army (with General Thunderbolt Ross and Major Glenn Talbot) or S.H.I.E.L.D. itself than Hydra...

Hydra vs. Captain America II

Hydra faced Captain America, his new partner the Falcon (Sam Wilson, who changed from his orange and green costume to a red and white one in the first issue of this run), and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s new Femme Force (a group of female agents including Agent 13/Sharon Carter and Nick Fury's lady love, the Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine, who had first appeared back in Strange Tales) with a run in Captain America #144-148 (December, 1971 to April, 1972).

The stories by Gary Friedrich and art by John Romita, Gil Kane and Sal Buscema also reenforced the idea of Hydra as factions, with a few Spider-Man villains (they had ties to organized crime...) being revealed as agents of Hydra (and tying a major Captain America foe as Supreme Hydra as well....a scene one kept waiting for in the Captain America: Winter Soldier movie...).

Hydra vs. the monsters

Hydra faced off against the Cat (Greer Grant Nelson), and severely injured the young heroine...so much so that her mentor, Dr. Joanne Tumulo, revealed her own history as a member of the ancient race of cat people and changed Greer into the were-woman Tigra.

As Tigra, Greer helped defeat this group of Hydra with the help of the Werewolf by Night, Jack Russell in Giant-Size Creatures #1 (July, 1974, by Tony Isabella and Don Perlin).  Tigra had a brief solo feature in Marvel Chillers #3-7, and worked with Spider-Man, the Thing and the rest of the Fantastic Four here and there, and eventually joined the Avengers (briefly on the east coast, and was a founder of the West Coast Avengers offshoot).

Hydra vs. Daredevil and Black Widow

From Daredevil #120-123 (April-July, 1975) by Tony Isabella and Bob Brown, Hydra worked on the west coast, facing off against Daredevil (who had stopped Hydra from crashing the wedding of Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Girl in Fantastic Four Annual #3) and the Black Widow (as well as the Contessa Val, Nick Fury and Dum Dum Dugan of S.H.I.E.L.D....who were also going to recruit Daredevil's friend, Foggy Nelson as an agent!).

Another Supreme Hydra is revealed (...yet another Spider-Man crimelord, different from the previous one mentioned earlier), as well as a few other villains (Daredevil foes like  el Jaguar and Blackwing, and Spider-Man/Cat foe the Man-Killer from the Cat's last appearance in Marvel Team-Up #8 were revealed to be Hydra agents, connecting a few disconnected storylines....).

Hydra vs. the Thing and Shang-Chi

Hydra's hordes attacked martial artist (and son of Fu Manchu) Shang-Chi and the Thing in England in Marvel Two-In-One #29 (July, 1977 by Marv Wolfman and Ron Wilson) as the two attempted to rescue scientist Dr. Kort.  This was part of a larger story from Marvel-Two-In-One #26-34, which started with the Thing helping Nick Fury against super powered Hydra agents Mentallo and the Fixer (who premiered back in Strange Tales), led to them pulling cyborg Deathlok from the future (and the Hydra agents taking control of his mind to have him kill the President), a quick detour with the Sub-Mariner, the work with Shang-Chi the Master of Kung Fu, a meeting with Spider-Woman (who was recently rescued from Hydra by Nick Fury) and battles against a mystery menace and help from the rest of the Fantastic Four, mostly the Invisible Girl, and a past mystic named Modred...all to help free Deathlok.  Deathlok, traitorous agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., plots against the United States and Hydra...sound familiar?

Hydra vs. the Invaders

Hydra had a history that reached all the way back to World War II.

In a group led by Baron Strucker (a Nazi foe of Sgt. Fury's who first appeared in Sgt. Fury #5 in January, 1964) in Marvel Universe #1-3 (June-August 1998 by Roger Stern and Steve Epting), Hydra faced the World War II superheroes the Invaders (Captain America, the android Human Torch, Namor the Sub-Mariner and the Whizzer) as well as detailing a little of Hydra and the baron's past (like his battle with Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders in Captain Savage #2-4, March-July, 1968).

Hydra did indeed have a history stretching back to World War II!

Hydra vs Sub-Mariner

Why didn't the Sub-Mariner remember Hydra...well, he had lost his memory sometime in the 1950s, and had become a homeless man wandering New York, and before Johnny Storm (the Fantastic Four's Human Torch) found him, Namor encountered the hordes of Hydra and the Fixer (Paul Norbert Ebersol)..in Thunderbolts -1 (July, 1997) by Kurt Busiek and Steve Epting.  The Fixer joins Hydra at this time (before his first appearance back in Strange Tales #141), and a little of the history of Baron Zemo is detailed as well, and sets up all the villainy that Hydra and its agents start.  It IS all connected!  Hydra has appeared in many more places in the Marvel Universe, and one never knows when they will show up again!

Hope you enjoyed Hydra's greatest hits, and the how the heroes of the Marvel Universe hit them back!

Captain America: Winter Soldier Reads

With any luck, you've gone and seen Captain America: Winter Soldier at your local movie house.

But, now that you have, you might be wondering...hey, what comics should I read dealing with Captain America that would help me appreciate that movie and find out about the man behind the mask.

Well, here's a few collections for you to check out to help you appreciate the movie!

Captain America's Tales of Suspense

Captain America returned from World War II into modern times with Avengers #4 (March, 1964), but his solo tales in the present started with Tales of Suspense #59 (November, 1964, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...and Captain America was also in the previous issue, but that was in a battle with Iron Man in Iron Man's feature).

All of Cap's solo Tales of Suspense issues (#59-99)  are gathered in the first Captain America Omnibus, along with Captain America #100-113.

These stories are all written by Stan Lee, with art in most issues by Jack Kirby (Captain America #110-113 were drawn by Jim Steranko).

These tales include basic retellings of Cap's origin (as well as the origin of the Red Skull), as well as the first appearances of Batroc (Cap's savate fighting foe), Agent 13 (Sharon Carter), the Sleepers (robotic agents of the Red Skull working in the here and now), some flashback tales to World War II with Cap's partner, Bucky and the evil Baron Zemo (who created the rocket that sent Cap into the ice and Bucky plunging to his apparent death), working in the here and now with Nick Fury and the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and even facing Madame Hydra (who would later be known as the Viper) and her Hydra agents (and quite a bit more not mentioned here!)...this takes us almost to the introduction of Captain America's friend...the Falcon!

Captain America's High Flying Friend...the Falcon!

Sam Wilson first met Steve Rogers while he was in exile, and fighting the Red Skull, but Steve and Sam became fast friends (starting with the tale in Captain America #117, September, 1969 by Stan Lee and Gene Colan).

Sam even got a costume out of the deal (though a rather nasty green and orange one)...becoming the Falcon (who, along with his bird, Redwing) joined Captain America for many adventures (and even sharing cover billing starting with Captain America #134 through Captain America #222, getting his more familiar red and white costume in Captain America #144, December, 1971).

Falcon even had a few solo adventures, and if you want to read those (his first solo, from Marvel Premiere #49 (August, 1979 by Mark Evanier and Sal Buscema) as well as his first mini-series, Falcon #1-4 (1983-1984), where Sam faces a Sentinel from X-Men and Electro, who is Spider-Man's foe...being a one man Marvel melting pot...tying together plots from Amazing Spider-Man 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past...well, if those franchises were part of the connected Marvel movie universe....)....then you would want the Avengers: Falcon book (which also tells a little of Cap's history with Falcon, and stories from Captain America #117-119, #220 and #276-278).

Captain America's Spy Support....the Black Widow

Natasha Romanova started her career as a spy for the KGB, and faced Iron Man (starting with Tales of Suspense #52, April, 1964 by Stan Lee and Don Heck) and even recruited new hero Hawkeye to help her against the armored one...

Hey, what does this have to do with Captain America?

Well, from Avengers #43-44 (August-September 1967, by Roy Thomas and John Buscema), Black Widow (along with Captain America, Hawkeye and a few other Avengers like Goliath, Wasp, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch) have to deal with that past and the Red Guardian (a Russian version of Captain America).

You can find these tales in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Volume #5...where Hercules joins the Avengers (and you find a little history of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, which will help you get ready for the next Avengers movie, Avengers: the Age of Ultron as well as many Avengers villains you haven't seen on screen yet!).

Black Widow didn't spend much time in Captain America titles in the 1960 or 1970s, instead pairing with Daredevil after a short run of 8 issues in Amazing Adventures didn't work out...(and sporting her more familiar jumpsuit gotten in Amazing Spider-Man #86, July, 1970 , and she finally joined the Avengers at this time with Avengers #111, May, 1973, while battling Magneto!).  Find her first appearance, the Amazing Spider-Man issue, all 8 of her Amazing Adventures issues and Daredevil #81 in Black Widow: The Sting of the Widow as well (but Cap is not to be seen there...)

Captain America At His Best

A great run of Captain America stories by writer Roger Stern and artist John Byrne is gathered in Captain America: War and Remembrance.

Collecting the stories from Captain America #247-255 (July, 1980 to March, 1981), these stories fix a few problems that have cropped up over Cap's (and Marvel's) long history.

Many things happen...

having Captain America in an adventure with Dum Dum Dugan (an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as a former Howling Commando) against the Machinesmith (and old Daredevil foe, as well as Magneto and Baron Strucker?), a fight with Batroc (and another old Cap, Daredevil and Thor foe...Mr. Hyde), a little work in England against Nazi vampire Baron Blood and helping Union Jack (a friend of Cap's from his days in the Invaders....a group of World War II heroes, that included the Sub-Mariner, Bucky and the original android Human Torch), as well as one of the more comprehensive retellings of Cap's origin (and even a possible run for president for Steve Rogers?).

About the only thing missing was the Red Skull (but his presence was felt...oh, and one more thing was missing....).

Captain America: Winter Soldier

All these issues...and still nothing about the Winter Soldier?

Well, they do tell that tale...kind of.  But, you need to read the two volumes of Captain America: Winter Soldier, collecting Captain America #1-14 from January, 2005 to April, 2006) by writer Ed Brubaker and artists Steve Epting and (Michael Lark and Alex Schomburg for flashbacks).  These stories tie a good deal of what has gone before together...while also introducing the Winter Soldier (and who he is rocks the very Marvel Universe to its very core, taking an event that people thought was...and making it into something more!).

Reading all those previous stories give you a better understanding of current events (and why who the Winter Soldier was was such a shock to poor Steve Rogers....as, in the comics, it had been quite some time before he had to deal with that issue!).

Still, there are many more tales around (times when Steve wasn't Captain America...

...being instead the Nomad or the Captain), his fight against Deathlok, his battles against Hydra, the Secret Empire, the Serpent Society, adventures with S.H.I.E.L.D. and Nick Fury, dealing with the legacy of others who took over as Captain America, and oh so many fights with the Red Skull...but, hopefully, after reading these tales you'll want to search the others out...as they are all connected and winter is here and Captain America soldiers on!