Posted - December 17, 2024

Giant-Size Invaders 1

It is interesting to note that Roy Thomas, who wrote The Invaders for Marvel back in the latter half of the 70s also wrote The All-Star Squadron for DC in the early 80s. Both books are similar in that they take superheroes and plunge them into World War II. I am a fan of both and here, in The Invaders, not only do we get to see Captain America, the Sub-Mariner, and the original Human Torch - plus Bucky and Toro - we also get to experience Thomas weave in some stories from the 40s when these heroes where already being written and drawn under Marvel's old name, Timely Comics.

This issue is the very first outing of The Invaders and we immediately begin with some Captain America style action.

This panel really jumps out at me.

How refreshing. This was how it was between Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes in the "old days". It's a great thing to see this through the lens of knowing how much history has been added since.

After both heroes have done away with some Nazi saboteurs we are treated to a flashback Origin of Captain America. Here is Steve Rogers drinking Dr. Erskine's super soldier serum - I love the level of increasing tension that Thomas and artist Frank Robbins manage to convey in this part of the comic.

And Captain America is born!

Of all the many renditions of this origin I have to give the prize to the movie Captain America: The First Avenger.

Back in the present, Cap talks to a colleague of Dr. Erskine, Dr. Anderson, who is recovering in an hospital. We have another flashback where Anderson recalls being kidnapped by Nazis, brought to a secluded place and informed that the Reich is attempting to recreate the secret soldier serum. With some secrets they painfully extract from Anderson they manage to do so and we are introduced to the the result: Master Man!

Look at them boots!

Before Dr. Anderson's situation could deteriorate further he is rescued by the Human Torch and Toro. I would think that both torches could take on Master Man easily what with their flame-based powers but Master Man is a tougher customer than expected - he would later claim to have superior powers when compared to Captain America but that could just be Nazi trash talk.

The fight ends in a draw and the Torches meet up with Captain America and Bucky at the hospital. Anderson has one other piece of information: an imminent Nazi attack in Chesapeake Bay which the foursome lost no time in heading to.

True enough Master Man is again deployed in the bay area, this time attacking a British ship. A British ship with an unexpected bodyguard.

Once again, we get confirmation on how tough Master Mind is.

He makes a mistake though, he throws Namor into the water!

When the Sub-Mariner is within his element he becomes stronger.

The advantage is temporary, since the ship is on fire, and Namor gets weakened by the flames. Just before Master Man can deliver the coup de grace against the Sub-Mariner, the other heroes join the fray.

All in all, Master Man's power levels are really impressive. That said, something goes terribly wrong for him: he runs out of juice. That is, the serum reverses, transforming him to what he was before he become Master Man.

Needless to say, our heroes make short work of him with Bucky delivering the fight-ender.

Winston Churchill is in the British ship that they have rescued and the Prime Minister has the brilliant idea of creating The Invaders.

And that's pretty much the origin story of this group. The rest of the giant-size comic is taken up with a reprint of a 1940 Sub-Mariner tale which we won't take up here.