INVADERS #16

"THE SHORT, HAPPY LIFE OF MAJOR VICTORY!"
Author/Editor: Roy Thomas
Guest Artist: Jim Mooney | Embellisher in Residence: Frank Springer
Colorist: Janice Cohen | Letterer: John Costanza

The Plot: Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes watch a newsreel of a recent Invaders misson to France. Afterward, when London suddenly blacks out, they change to costume in time to stumble onto the kidnapping of an American soldier by Nazi agents. Cap and Bucky intervene, but are unable to prevent the abduction.

Soon, the duo regroups with the other Invaders, where they are briefed by their superiors on a Nazi plot to kidnap an American soldier. Cap explains that the kidnapping has already happened, and gives the soldier's name, which he overhead: Private Biljo White. Toro and Bucky realize White was the artist on the hottest new American comic book, MAJOR VICTORY, and Cap knows that since he was drafted, he has been drawing cartoons for the armed forces' Stars and Stripes newspaper. When Cap shows everyone the most recent issue of MAJOR VICTORY, the group is shocked to see that White's origin for the title character mirrors Cap's own origin very closely. Realizing that the Nazis believe White harbors some secrets about the Super Soldier formula, the Invaders head out to find him.

Deducing that the Nazis would have brought White directly to Hitler's fortress, Berchtesgaden, the heroes head there -- but upon arrival, they are attacked by Master Man, empowered once more and now able to fly. Master Man takes out the entire group with ease. When the come to inside the fortress, the Invaders find themselves face-to-face with Hitler himself.

MOON KNIGHT: THE GUEST APPEARANCES

The MARVEL SPOTLIGHT stories were published in 1976. The HULK! magazine stories, which we’ll begin to cover next time, came out in 1978. But from 1977 – 1979, Moon Knight had a handful of appearances in other series, chronicled by writers other than his creator, Doug Moench. In a nutshell, these are those tales:

DEFENDERS #47 - 50
“NIGHT MOVES!” | “SINISTER SAVIOR!” | “RAMPAGE”
“SCORPIO MUST DIE!” | “A ROUND WITH THE RINGER!” (excerpt)
Writer: David Kraft | Penciler: Keith Giffen | Editor: Archie Goodwin

Co-Plot: Roger Slifer (#47) | Script: John Warner (#47)
Inks: Klaus Janson (#47 & 51), Dan Green (#48), Mike Royer (#49),
Keith Giffen w/Mike Royer, John Tartaglione, & Dave Cockrum (#50)
Letters: John Costanza (#47 & 50), Annette Kawecki (#48),
Irving Watanabe & Mike Royer (#49), Bruce Patterson (#51)
Colors: David Kraft (#48-49), Don Warfield (#50), Phil Rache (#51)

The Plot: Moon Knight becomes involved with the Defenders as they attempt to rescue their friend, Jack Norriss, from the clutches of the villainous Scorpio.

My Thoughts: I haven't read much by David Kraft, but I have at least read his run on the original SAVAGE SHE-HULK series. These issues read nothing like SHE-HULK, so I'm guessing that perhaps Kraft is emulating the style of previous DEFENDERS writers here (I've never read any of DEFENDERS outside of these five issues). The story is dark, the script is ponderous and the dialogue is occasionally unnatural. The characters, good and bad alike, all seem very disenfranchised with the world and even depressed and generally unhappy. This isn't typical Marvel "soap opera"-style angst -- it's the adventures of a bunch of mopey sad sacks. These are not fun comics, and I doubt I'll ever read them again.

(Also, what's with all the weird references to beer strewn throughout these issues?)

Artistically, Keith Giffen performs an acceptable Jack Kirby impression, but his work looks best when inked by Klaus Janson in a more traditional style. Also, Giffen seems to have misinterpreted Moon Knight’s ability to glide on his cape as the power of flight, showing him zooming around an enclosed room alongside Nighthawk several times.