| Characters |
Nick Fury; A.I.M. (division of "THEM", really HYDRA); Dum Dum Dugan; Jasper Sitwell; Count Bornag Royale (A.I.M.); Number Nine (The Secret Empire) [Gabe Jones] |
| Synopsis |
A squad of A.I.M. men make off with a Nick Fury Life Model Decoy-- or so they think! As Dugan hangs back awaiting Fury's signal, the SHIELD squad wonders what's going on. The answer comes soon, as the Fury "L.M.D." turns out to be the genuine article! On the Heli-Carrier, chaos follows Fury's "unorthodox exit", and as Count Royale bolts, Jasper plants a transmitter on him using a "respiratory-powered projectile hurler" (pea-shooter!), then takes control of the situation, to the amazement of the board or directors and top military brass! A pair of A.I.M. agents, fleeing the fight with Fury, are picked up on the road by "Number Nine" of "The Secret Empire"-- which turns out to be another branch of "THEM"! But as they drive off, the A.I.M. men are gassed unconscious, as "Number Nine" turns out to be the long-missing Gabe Jones, working undercover! Fury clues in the V.I.P.s as to the situation, while Jasper trails Royale to A.I.M.'s mountain-side hidden base-- just before the entire place is destroyed in a colossal explosion! Dugan comments on how they preferred blowing themselves up because they were discovered, while Fury feels "someone bigger" finished them off when their usefulness ended. Gabe arrives, and after everyone compares notes, Fury decides to check the "SHIELD Museum" for clues on HYDRA. When they're almost killed by a mysterious energy ray, Fury realizes "THEM" and HYDRA are one and the same, and it's up to SHIELD to find them, before they strike first. |
| Genre |
Spy |
| Script |
Jack Kirby (plot); Denny O'Neil (dialogue) |
| Pencils |
Jack Kirby (layouts); Ogden Whitney |
| Inks |
Ogden Whitney |
| Colors |
Stan Goldberg |
| Letters |
Artie Simek |
| Notes |
Part 5 of 5. Secret Empire storyline continues from Hulk story in TALES TO ASTONISH #83; then concludes in Sub-Mariner stories in TALES TO ASTONISH #83-85 (September-November 1966). "THEM" is revealed to be a cover-name for HYDRA; as they supplied The Fixer who appeared in STRANGE TALES #141-143 (February-April 1966), this means HYDRA has never really gone away at this point! It's revealed that Count Royale was not killed in the massive explosion, in the Captain America story this month's TALES OF SUSPENSE #82 (October 1966), as Cap winds up facing one more of A.I.M.'s artificial androids. |
| Reprinted |
in SHIELD [Nick Fury and His Agents of SHIELD] (Marvel, 1973 series) #2 (April 1973) [minus 2 pages]; in Marvel Masterworks: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 |
| Characters |
Dr. Strange; The Ancient One; Kaluu; Demons Of Danak |
| Synopsis |
Following 500 years of exile in the "Nameless Dimension", Kaluu returns to destroy his once-friend, The Ancient One. Sealing Strange's sanctum in an impenetrable barrier (thru which not even Strange's ectoplasmic form can pass), he summons the Demons Of Danak, other-dimensional monsters, to attack. Knowing they cannot be stopped while in contact with their master, Strange & his mentor wait until the creatures penetrate the barrier. As the battle continues, it draws the attention of the police, but Kaluu freezes them in place. Finally striking out in a destructive force of energy, Kaluu enters the house, only to find his foes have vanished among the wreckage... |
| Genre |
Occult |
| Script |
Bill Everett (plot); Denny O'Neil (dialogue) |
| Pencils |
Bill Everett |
| Inks |
Bill Everett |
| Colors |
Stan Goldberg |
| Letters |
Sam Rosen |
| Notes |
Part 3 of 22. |
| Reprinted |
in Essential Dr. Strange (Marvel, 2001 series) #1 (2001); in Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange (Marvel, 2003 series) #2 |