Thunder Agents Archives Volume Seven!

I haven't the strength to revisit the whole meandering odyssey of the THUNDER Agents after their Tower days were done. The saga of their ownership is a confusing and at times quite dark tale. A chap named John Carbonaro got the rights from Tower to publish the T-Agents (although some say that those rights never existed and remained with Wally Wood and afterwards his estate -- it's murky). 

Carbonaro's first foray with the Agents was in the form of a black and white magazine which lasted exactly one issue. It was put together by Pat Gabriele and featured some decent art by Mark Texeira. The Adams and Kirby art advertised was vintage stuff from years gone by. It's not a sterling effort by any means, but it was new THUNDER Agents. 

Next Carbonaro took the Agents into the direct sales marketplace under his own brand of JC Comics. We got a few new tales of decent quality and a reprint series under the "Hall of Fame" title. The second issue featured a brand-new Steve Ditko cover starring Noman. 

Somehow this was tied into Archie Comics, and the short-lived run was finished under their banner in an issue of Blue-Ribbon Comics. This comic featured a new Noman story by Ditko. 

And that brings us to Deluxe Comics, the stories reprinted in the seventh and final volume of DC's THUNDER Agents Archives series. Another fellow named Dave Singer and former associate of Carbonaro claimed that the Agents were in public domain and set about to use them in a brand new spanking line despite Carbonaro's objections and eventual lawsuit. Singer seems to have been a dodgy character at best and though he promised big money to big name talents such as George Perez, Dave Cockrum, Keith Giffen, Steve Englehart and others his promises were more impressive than the reality. 

So after a couple of stunning issues the talent began to walk away and the books trudged along. There are some really sweet stories in these, such as nifty hard-edged Raven stuff from George Perez, fan-pleasing artwork from Dave Cockrum and some really weird but fascinating stuff about Lightning by Giffen. There is a definite grimness to some of it, but for the most part the characterizations rang true since most of the creators were drawn to the work by their fondness of the original Tower Comics. The storylines even recognized the old Tower days and built upon them. 

Some of the stuff had real fanboy appeal such as the exceedingly physical encounter between Dynamo and the Iron Maiden. The two had danced around one another in the 60's but here in the 80's that dance took a highly erotic turn, something the old Comics Code would not have approved of I have little doubt. Undersea Agent is incorporated into the T-Agents properly and after he's forced to be voyeur to the Dynamo-Maiden love scene he might have wanted to change his name to "Unsee Agent". 

Despite great covers right to the end, the books insides became less and less impressive. Though Perez is still around there is even in his art an unfinished quality. 

The fifth and final issue has some Jerry Ordway art and its quite handsome and the story picks up embers from the Tower days yet again, but it's too little to late. Other stories in this issue are not nearly so professional in their aspect and the writing seems to be handed off to lesser known names. Singer's venture falls apart even as his claim to the Agents turns to ashes in the courts. 

The THUNDER Agents tumble around for several more years becoming guest-stars in several Indy books before Carbonaro is able to land a deal (of sorts) with Bob Guccione's Penthouse outfit.

He has a guy named George Caragonne in charge of them now and he  proves another less than reliable fellow. There is a stunning story done with Paul Gulacy and Terry Austin but only the first chapter of three ever sees publication in an issue of Omni Comix due to the suicide of Caragonne among other factors. The Agents are in limbo yet again  until many years later DC picks them up and later still IDW takes a stab at them. 

A few more pages of the Gulacy material gets published in The THUNDER Agents Companion from Twomorrows but it's still less than satisfying not see the whole story, which may or may not still exist. This Twomorrows book has been a ton of fun to read as I've tumbled along with the Agents on this read. There are many many interviews and profiles of the talent involved with the creation of the T-Agents over the many years. The book is a bit out of date now having been published in 2005 or thereabouts. But it still makes one hunger for more good THUNDER Agents stories and I for one believe there are more of those to tell. 

Note: Only the Deluxe material and the single story for Omni Comix is included in this particular Archives edition. 

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The Peacemaker - The Golden Pharoah!

The Peacemaker #6 was never published. The Action-Hero line folded, its architect Dick Giordano move on over to DC, and Charlton returned to its focus on genre comics like ghosts, romance, and war.

But the Peacemaker story for issue #6 was written by Joe Gill and fully illustrated by Pat Boyette with Dick Giordano credited as editor. And those completed pages have been floating around the internet for several years. Here are those pages. Enjoy the "final" issue of Peacemaker.

 

And that wraps up the Peacemaker saga as it might've been at Charlton Comics. That we have this story in any form is a real treat. The artwork by Boyette looks especially crisp and you can really detect where the presses at Charlton somewhat muddied his work.


These reports have been a real joy to put together. They make me really read the stories closely with a real attention to detail. I'll have some comments to make on DC's handling of the character soon.

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The Peacemaker - The Fire World!

The Peacemaker #5 is dated November, 1967. The editor is Dick Giordano and the writer of both the lead feature and the back up is Joe Gill. The illustration on the lead and on the cover is by Pay Boyette.

Part I of "The Fire World" by Gill and Boyette begins with Christopher Smith explaining his latest invention to his secretary Nora O'Rourke. He's developed a heat-proof material which can be applied to everyday objects such as clothing making it possible for people to work in extreme heat. He's also redesigned his Peacemaker helmet, ostensibly to make better use of this fire-resistant compound. He is planning to go public with his discovery.

The scene shifts to a circus act featuring a fire-eater named Mr.Blaze who it seems catches fire during his act burning his hands. He learns of Smith's invention and makes plans to steal it when it is being delivered to its location. He burns down the mail room to cover his theft but Smith is suspicious when he hears the news, as his fabric shouldn't have burned. He introduces another invention then, an Absolute-Zero Generator, a small hand-held device.

We find Mr.Blaze now looking to maximize his stolen property when he learns of an island which is suffering volcanic eruptions, causing it to become deserted. He wants to go there and does so. He finds though after disembarking from the ship that a race of molten lava men live on the island and they destroy the ship. Blaze though is able to communicate with them and using Smith's compound is able to thrive in their world. He takes control of them and plots his next step. That comes when a plane comes by and the lava men attack it. Then Blaze develops a small device that will channel the energy of the lava men giving them and himself the ability to propel themselves through the air like jets. The head to a nuclear test site to begin their campaign. At that site is Peacemaker to observe the test.

"Peacemaker Patter" offers up six fan letters this time. Some praise the Peacemaker book, but many want the Fightin' 5 to return to their own title. Again Giordano explains the reality of publishing and that any book not selling one hundred thousand copies or more cannot survive. It is revealed that the infamous lettering machine Charlton uses is used to make the letters page and that is because the typesetting machines broke down just before printing was to begin. But it allows more letters, so they might stick with it. The same device was used on the last Thunderbolt letters page.

Part Two of the Peacemaker story has Peacemaker in the air confronting Blaze and his lava men as they fly to interfere with the nuclear test. After a brief but ferocious battle Peacemaker is captured and awakens on the bridge of the ship and watches as the lava men destroy fighter jets. The ship is overrun by Blaze and his overheated henchmen and they take the ship back to his volcanic lair. Once there Blaze has Peacemaker construct a jet that will make use of the energy of the lava and Peacemaker does so. He also recognizes his heat-proof formula as it's being used by Blaze. After Blaze reveals he will use the jet to take over the world beginning in Washington D.C., he has a lava man stop Peacemaker and send him toppling into the volcano.

Peacemaker is able to survive by using his AZG (Absolute-Zero Gun) device to freeze a pocket which generates an explosion when it melts which propels him out of the volcano. He then uses his rocket pack to return to the "Peace Palace" in Geneva. There he gets another special jet plane and goes to intercept Blaze and his forces, armed with the knowledge that Blaze's formula which he stole has a half-life which is decaying rapidly. Blaze suddenly finds he is blistering and ejects from his special plane which crashes relatively harmlessly into the Potomac. Blaze disappears but the lava men scurry back to their volcanic home and Peacemaker seals them in with his AZG device. The story ends with speculation if Blaze will return.

The Fightin' 5 return in the conclusion of "The Card Carrier" by Gill and drawn by Bill Montes and Ernie Bache. The action begins immediately as Tom Tom reports Hank Hennessey that Frenchy the Fox has followed the vandals to their hideout. He doesn't know that Frenchy is at that moment captured by the thugs but he is able to escape and make contact momentarily before being knocked out. Alerted Hank and Tom Tom get reports from Granite and Sonya. Granite Gallego reports that the man they thought was shot by the policeman was in fact dead before the attack and so the whole thing appears to be a frame with the card being a red herring. Sonya supports this report from inside the movement and the Fightin' 5 reassemble. Tom Tom has gone to assist Frenchy and comes under gunfire, and the rest appear to assist. They take down the attackers, save Frenchy and realize the whole communist plot angle was a ruse by the publisher of the right-wing paper to kindle resentment against the Soviets. The story ends as the assembled FF fly over a safe Washington D.C.

The comic book ends with the excellent "Action-Heroes? We Got'Em!!!" house ad.

In this issue Peacemaker seems more like a regular run-of-the-mill superhero than in in any other issue. Mr.Blaze, a carny turned world-beater is a cliche and undermines the international flavor of the stories told to this point. The story relies on an awful lot of coincidence too, more than is often the case in stories like this. I did like the new Peacemaker helmet, and it points to the notion that Peacemaker would indeed have altered his equipment for different missions. That would've been a neat thing for future issue. But alas this is the final published installment of Peacemaker.

To read the complete comic book go here. 

But it's not the last report. Check back in next time for one more installment.

Surprisingly, there' more to come.

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The Peacemaker - The Origin!

The Peacemaker #4 is dated September, 1967. The editor is Dick Giordano, the scripter for both features is Joe Gill. The artist on the lead and the also the cover is Pat Boyette.

The first part of the lead Peacemaker story begins with an introduction to Nora O'Rourke, an American citizen but born in County Cork Ireland. She shows up at Christopher Smith's chateau dubbed "The Peace Palace" to apply for the position of secretary for Smith. Apparently others were to come with her but she is alone and explains that a man tried to stop her but she fought back successfully, getting a black eye in the process. While they talk and Smith gives some of his back history a sniper takes aim out the window. Smith says he learned science very young and was inspired by his father to pursue more adventurous activities. His big break came when he was asked by the military to help develop an experimental jet, the X-17. Just then a bullet is fired and Smith retaliates with a curious looking pistol and hits the sniper. O'Rourke is concerned but is told the bullet was non-lethal and the sniper will be dealt with through the authorities.

After dinner Smith is convinced Nora is right for the job and reveals to her his identity as Peacemaker and gives her a tour of his facilities and weapons. He gives her a rundown of his previous adventures, saying his battle with Emil Bork (shown in the Fightin' 5 issues) was his first time as Peacemaker. He also reprises his battles against Bork, The Commodore, and others. Nora is impressed, but just then a jet flies over the chateau and releases a bomb.

"Peacemaker Patter" offers four fan letters. Three are very enthusiastic about the new Peacemaker book, though they lament the loss of Fightin' 5. One letter though is very critical and says that Peacemaker is pretty bland compared to the other Action-Heroes.

Part Two of the Peacemaker story is titled "The Hostage" and begins with the bomb burst and afterwords a ground assault on the chateau led by Colonel Uz, a Bulgar arms thief. Peacemaker battles the invaders but is subdued when a lab explodes and is kidnapped, the force leaving in a jet with him. Nora and Peacemaker's assistant Paul try to figure out what to do. Uz confronts Peacemaker (who it is revealed is heavily armed just by wearing his costume though he doesn't appear to have weapons) and reveals he wants Peacemaker to repair some of the high-tech weapons he's stolen, but which don't a present work. Peacemaker does indeed fix the weapons, sabotaging each and every one in ways which will not be immediately detectable. Then Peacemaker is shown that Nora has fallen into the clutches of Uz and so he goes ahead and begins his escape. Uz's men are helpless to stop him as their weapons malfunction and explode around them. Peacemaker confronts Colonel Uz who flees in a jet which falls apart around him in mid-air. Rescued Nora remarks to Peacemaker that her first few hours of working for him have been exciting ones indeed.

The Fightin' 5 story is titled "Card Carrier" and is part one of a multi-part tale. It begins in an alley with a grenade assault on a publishing company. A policeman shows up and pursues the vandals, shooting and wounding one of them, but not being able to capture them. The scene shifts to Hank Hennessey, leader of the FF who is briefing Granite Gallego about a membership card belonging to one Rober Heddon found at the scene of the crime and how it points to the problem of spies who might be using a liberal political group to do espionage work. Despite there persistent doubts about her it is agreed that Sonya is best suited to infiltrate the group.

Meanwhile Tom Tom and Frenchy the Fox stake out the publisher's office thinking another attack might be imminent. Two men do show up to finish the job but are intercepted and followed by Tom Tom, who hands the pursuit off to Frenchy. Thinking they have escaped, the two thugs goe their hideout in the sewer system and Frenchy follows. Granite reports in from the police station that the card carrier Roger Heddon has been found in the river dead from the gunshot wound received during the crime. Frenchy though is discovered following the thugs as the installment ends.

Though this issue purports to be an origin for Peacemaker, we get precious little new information. The first chapter of the story almost felt to me like one of those later chapters in a movie serial, the ones they use to extend the whole shebang by recounting earlier parts of the story. Nora seems a good addition to the Peacemaker landscape, as clearly Smith couldn't do what he does without a goodly sized support staff. Seeing those people would make the whole Peacemaker thing a wee bit more logical, and we get a glimpse of his set-up in this issue.


One thing I noticed preparing this report is that one of the poses used on the cover of this issue was adapted very slightly and used on the Action-Heroes house ad I esteem so highly. Neat.

To read the complete comic book go here. 

More to come.

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The Peacemaker - Our Future World!

The Peacemaker #3 is dated July, 1967. Dick Giordano is listed as editor for the first time on the lead feature, and Joe Gill gets his first credit as the writer. He is referred to later in the letters page as the creator of Peacemaker. Pat Boyette is the illustrator and he did the cover.

"Our Future World" begins by describing Gerda Hain, world beauty and scientist, and how she has been chosen to be part of a select group of humans who will survive the coming nuclear holocaust. Others mentioned are mountain climber Hilary Smythe-Jaynes, football star Tony Holusky, and typist Eileen McGowan. These are people chosen by Enrico Lucetti, a physics prodigy who speaks directly to the reader and describes how man will survive the coming disaster by going deep into the sea and he reveals how he's created underwater men himself to help this endeavor.

The story then cuts to the present day and follows Christopher Smith and Gerda Hain as they take a date on the beach. Gerda wants a quick dip in the sea before they have some champagne but she is abducted by Lucetti's mermen. Smith investigates, swimming through shark-infested waters and he is also attacked by the mermen. He goes back to shore and gets his gear to become Peacemaker. As Peacemaker he quickly subdues the mermen and finds Lucetti's underground city under a great shell at the bottom of the sea. He sees Gerda being taken inside and attacks, but eventually he sees it smarter to let himself be taken captive. Inside he confronts Lucetti who describes his plan to Peacemaker and Hain (who by the way immediately recognizes Peacemaker as Smith as does Lucetti). Hain will join Lucetti's paradise and Peacemaker will become a merman. Peacemaker attacks and he and Hain look to foil Lucetti's plans as Part ends.

"Peacemaker Patter" offers up five fan letters. Most are complimentary of the new book but one laments the loss of Fightin' 5 in their own book. Suggestions are made to have Steve Ditko take over the art. There is some discussion about the fact that Peacemaker should eschew his laser and stick to more conventional weapons, an idea Giordano throws out to the fans for more comment. One writer wonders how Charlton can have such a quick response time on letters, getting them in the very next issue most of the time, and Giordano explains they wait until literally hours before press time. This is one of the quirks that made Charlton different for sure.

Part 2 of "Our Future World" begins with Peacemaker and Gerda Hain trying to escape Lucetti's dome. They fend off sharks, but Peacemaker is convinced that Lucetti will want to trigger the nuclear holocaust he's preparing for and indeed Peacemaker finds a battery of nuclear missles at Lucetti's dome city. Peacemaker and Hain are recaptured and again taken before Lucetti. Peacemaker is imprisoned in a hard transparent shell that is resistant to his laser and specially designed penetrating shells. Confident Lucetti ignores Peacemaker when he fogs up the shell making himself invisible. Lucetti prepares for the launch of his missiles while Peacemaker is burning through the floor. He finds Hain below and they find the missile controls which Peacemaker quickly destroys. The missiles self-destruct and Peacemaker and Gerda escape. A desperate Lucetti though finds himself at the mercy of his own sharks.

The Fightin' 5 return in a story titled "Special Prisoner" written by Joe Gill and drawn by Bill Montes and Ernie Bache. The story begins with a U.S. official named Lowell Sims being abducted by U.S. forces for safekeeping. It turns out that Granite Gallego, a member of the FF is a double for Sims and the plan developed by the leader Hank Hennessey is for him to become Sims and get kidnapped by enemy agents who have already kidnapped an important nuclear scientist named Dr.Roy Farney. This is arranged and Granite is quickly taken prisoner and flown to Farney's location. Meanwhile Frenchy, Tom-Tom and Sonya follow and parachute into the location to rescue them both. After some exchanges the do indeed rescue the pair and escape the enemy base. A sidebar to this action has been Sonya and her attempts to win the respect and trust of her colleagues. Granite especially is tough on her though we find it's because he's romantically interested too.

The book closes with another outstanding Charlton Action-Heroes house ad, this one announcing the debut of Blue Beetle and the coming of the Big "C" on the covers.

This is solid issue of Peacemaker, with enough intrigue and a neat science fiction element. This nod to science fiction gives the Peacemaker a broader flavor, making it more than just an espionage story, albeit an espionage story with super weapons. This was my very first issue of Peacemaker, and for many years the only one I saw. The cover is superb, very dramatic and very romantic in the broad sense pitting the Peacemaker and a Merman against each other with Gerda looking on. This cover is a fave of Fred Hembeck too, and you'll see his homage above. And even the Fightin' 5 feature this time seemed complete and the storytelling was tighter too. All in all one of the stronger issues of the Action Hero run.

To read the complete comic book go here. 

More to come.

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