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.

Continuity Notes: Bucky raises, for the second time in these past sixteen issues, the point that he and Steve have not been court-martialed yet despite the fact that they constantly go AWOL for Invaders business. And again, Cap cryptically begins to explain why that is, but is interrupted. I'm not sure if Roy Thomas actually plans to ever reveal anything about this or if he's just making it a running gag, but in any case, I need to comment that I find it bizarre that Captain America is maintaining a secret identity in the armed forces while stationed in London. Back in the U.S., I somewhat understand (though even there I feel that it's more trouble than it's worth) -- but overseas, what's the point of it? He could simply have a civilian identity for when he wants to go incognito, but to remain a soldier when all he ever does is run around with the Invaders is just silly.

Private White's kidnapping is facilited by an undercover German Nazi agent (as opposed to her henchmen involved in the kidnapping, who are all British Nazi sympathizers) named Julia, who had been posing as White's girlfriend in order to get him into position for the ambush. She will become much more important next issue, so stand by! (And in fact, if you check out the next issue blurb below, you'll get a pretty big clue as to her destiny.)

Cap notes that whoever publishes MAJOR VICTORY is "...giving even Timely comics a run for their money!" Timely was, of course, Marvel's name back in the forties.

As the Invaders fly to Germany, they discuss the mysterious departure of Spitfire, Lord Falsworth, and Dyna-Mite last issue.

My Thoughts: So the good news is that this issue finally gets away from the pitfall I've mentioned a few times recently, of feeling a little light in terms of content and pacing. There's nothing here that feels like "filler" in the way some of Thomas's other opening chapters have. I mean sure, Cap and Bucky watching newsreel footage of themselves for three pages might feel extraneous, but it's only those three pages, and they do serve to set up the duo's encounter with White's kidnapping. From there, it's all story as the Invaders tumble to the Nazis' plan, head out to stop it, fight Master Man, and get captured.

But that last point is where I have one minor gripe with the story. We just saw the Invaders captured by Nazis and thrown into holding traps two issues ago, when Colonel Eisen had them. Namor even makes reference to it in the panel above. It's too reptetitous, too soon. But if Thomas needed the heroes incapacitated for a meeting with Hitler, I'm not really sure what other way there might've been to do it. I just find it odd when the entire team is captured twice in such quick succession.

Beyond that, I would've perhaps enjoyed a check-in with Spitfire and company rather than the Invaders simply talking about them, but that's a minor complaint. Overall, as far as first chapters go, this one stands way above some of the others we've gotten recently!