The Fightin' 5 - Reign Of Evil!

Fightin' Five Volume 2 #37 is dated April-May 1967. The book was edited by Pat Masulli and written as always by Joe Gill. The regular art team of Bill Montes and Ernie Bache were back after one issue absent from the assignment. And for the first time they supplied the cover art themselves for the comic.

The "5" are Frenchy the Fox, Irv "The Nerve" Haganah, Granite Gallero, Hank Hennessy, and Tom-Tom. Designated according to the first letter of their name, they formed "America's Super Squad" and the word "F.I.G.H.T.", hence Fightin' 5.

"Reign of Evil" begins with a description of Alexander De Groot, a somewhat foppish descendant of European royalty, long deposed and looking to take his vast accumulated wealth and make himself ruler of the world. To that end he as assembled a small army of soldiers all wearing green jumpsuits with the family crest on the chest. Meanwhile the Fightin' 5 are training in their headquarters, specifically testing out a new bulletproof fabric. Hank briefs the team on De Groot who he says is very dangerous and will begin his reign of terror by stealing the old family crown now kept in France. A few days later De Groot does just that, using a helicopter and sleeping gas to pilfer the crown. Grimsby, the CIA liaison for the Fightin 5 arrives at their HQ and gives them the mission to go to Murania (De Groot's small country) and deal with the threat. The team board their B-58 Hustler jet and head to Europe. They are recognized but allowed to penetrate the Muranian border as part of De Groot's scheme to trap them.

"Water Wins a Victory" is a one-page text story about how a man named Peter Rustain gives the Allies critical information about water supplies in the North Africa deserts enabling them to successfully defeat the Nazi commander Rommell.

Part II "Decreed to Die" picks up the action as the Fightin' 5 attack De Groot's castle but they are anticipated and are swiftly captured. But Granite tricks a guard and the team is able to escape using a car to leave the castle full of enemies. A De Groot jet fires on them, but is only able to destroy part of the castle. The team return to their jet and fly away leaving De Groot, the Monarch of Murani to move onto his next plan for world conquest.

"Part III While a City Sleeps" shows how De Groot's forces are able to infiltrate the Paris sewers and send a powerful gas into the air which puts nearly the whole population to sleep. The Fightin' 5 fly into the area and Hank and Frenchy parachute into the slumbering metropolis. Using jet belts they attack De Groot's forces, once again forcing the leader to flee in his helicopter. Meanwhile Granite, Irv the Nerve, and Tom-Tom have dispatched more of De Groot's mercenary force. The whole team regroups and flies again to Murania only to find the De Groot castle has fallen in completely after its earlier damage. De Groot was inside and Hank suggests the petty ruler now has what he long wanted, complete control, but only of ancient ruins and dungeons deep beneath the Earth.

"Sport of Judo" is a three-page story by Frank McLauglin describing in detail two judo throws -- specifically Kata Gurama (Fireman's Throw) and Uchimata (Upper, Inner Thigh Throw). Sarge Steel narrates these instructions.

This comic has never been reprinted to my knowledge. The costumes that De Groot and his men wear seem oddly out of place for a Fightn' 5 adventure, more appropriate for a superhero comic. This is another sign that the series is seeking a bit more glamor in its action. The annual notice of publication is included in this issue and suggests that the comic is averaging over 230,000 copies per issue in circulation. Average for the time and a blockbuster run in today's diminished marketplace.

Read the actual comic book here. 

The Fight Continues. 

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The Fightin' 5 - Hidden Empire!

Fighitn' Five Volume 2 #36 is dated January, 1966. Edited by Pat Masulli and written as always by the iron man Joe Gill, this issue featured Rocco "Rocke" Mastroserio not only on the covers which he'd inked and drawn for a few issues, but on the interiors as well giving the Montes and Bache team a break.

The "5" are Frenchy the Fox, Irv "The Nerve" Haganah, Granite Gallero, Hank Hennessy, and Tom-Tom. Designated according to the first letter of their name, they formed "America's Super Squad" and the word "F.I.G.H.T.", hence Fightin' 5.

"Part 1 Hidden Empire" introduces Dr. Hubert Nijus, a world-famous scientist focused on oceanography. We meet Nijus as he is meeting with one of his volunteers, one of many young men, and he gives the willing subject a pill which is designed to enable the terrestrial human the ability to function for long periods underwater. We see other volunteers who have progressed farther along who have actually developed fins on their bald heads and a purple color to their skin. The United States government is concerned and sends J.D. Leonard of Special Section to investigate. He finds Nijus and sees a "Fin Man" but before he can take Nijus captive, he is captured, taken in a tube to an underwater complex Nijus has built on the bottom of the ocean. When Leonard does not report the government contacts the Fightin' 5 to take a look. They fly and meet a man named Basil, the Chief of Special Section to get the details. Meanwhile a scientist leaves their meeting and makes his way through a hidden trapdoor into the water ultimately riding a powered sled to report to Nijus.

"The Strongsword" is a one-page text story about a Saxon named Edward who flees his homeland after the arrival of William the Conqueror and finds his way to Japan by way of China where a Japanese warlord named Yoritomo is much impressed by his large and powerful sword. He is made a samurai and helps them in a number of ways, specifically tactically in battling other clans and is given the named Kyianoto.

"Part 2 City of Missing Men" picks up the action when the Fightin' 5 reveal they saw lab assistant leave and follow him into the depths using their scuba equipment. They are soon attacked by Fin Men using sharks as weapons. The Fin Men then capture Hank, Granite, Irv the Nerve, and Tom-Tom in a net and take them to Nijus. Frenchy the Fox escapes but maintains radio contact with Hank. Nijus boast of his ability to turn men into his undersea servants and shows off his vast complex including submarines he has developed to deliver atomic weapons he has built. He then takes Hank and begins the transformation process on him.

"Part 3 The Fishy 5" sees Tom-Tom and the other captured Fightn' 5 members get the Fin Man treatment, but they seemed relatively unconcerned. Meanwhile Frenchy has located the powerhouse for the undersea city and blows it up. The seemingly transformed Fightin' 5, still using their scuba gear to ease their transition approach various of the Fin Men and offer them a cure for the Nijus treatments. Some agree and some don't. A battle erupts when Frenchy returns. Dr.Nijus fearing defeat runs into his base and blows it up, killing himself. After his death, all the Fin Men accept the cure and they head for the surface.

"The Treasure Pirates" is a three-page story by unknown talents which talks about how scuba gear has made treasure hunting of old sea wrecks much easier. Sadly pirates still are on the prowl for successful hunters and the story shows how they take the prize only to find themselves later held at gunpoint by the savvy hunter.

The comic was reprinted in Fightin' 5 Volume 4 #48 dated December, 1982. The cover is somewhat altered and notably the distinctive purple color of the Fin Men is dropped in this reprint. The treasure hunt story is also reprinted but the text story is changed to "Expendable Except", a yarn about an O.S.S. mission to rescue a scientist and his daughter during WWII.

While there have been a few high-tech details in the Fightin' 5 stories to this point, mostly the use of jet belts, this is the first story which could be categorized as a pure science fiction adventure. It was a interesting turn after the rather gritty story from the previous issue. 

Read the actual comic book here. 

The Fight Continues. 

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Thunder Agents Classics Volume Five!

I've very much enjoyed reading these vintage stories as IDW has continued the reprints despite the failure of the new material to find a footing. Wally Wood's influence is still evident, but his role is beginning to diminish in these stories as the series continues to its inevitable end. This features the first of the THUNDER titles without a Wood-esque cover, but rather clearly a Gil Kane effort (see below).

Dynamo continues to have problems with his powers, specifically his belt. Seems he's always getting captured and NoMan in particular gets weary of having to turn the belt on for him. So. in an attempt to improve the belt the powers at THUNDER give it the ability to respond to a word. If Dynamo's similarity to Captain Marvel (now Shazam) wasn't already strong it is made more so when he has only to say "Excelsior" to gain his strength and invulnerability. I can't help but think that there's a nod to Stan "The Man" as well. Later he goes to a distant planet to fight mysterious aliens on their home turf. Dan Adkins is taking a stronger hand in the work at this point. Len Brown's love life is mostly a disaster as always. 

Andor shows up in a Wally Wood story titled "Return Engagement" with pencils by Steve Ditko and Dan Adkins, and his outsider outlook is strengthened by his change to a hippie of sorts, albeit a hippie with powers. Ditko is also well represented with a delightful story featuring Weed titled "Once Upon a Time". Lighting continues to have problems with his own powers and ends up the volume in suspended animation when his body rebels. Raven gets a makeover and thanks to Gil Kane takes part in a wild action-packed adventure that changes his direction. NoMan plows ahead losing bodies by the dozens but still stopping SPIDER, the new gangsters on the scene. 

With the cancellation of UNDERSEA Agent we get a story from that series stuck in to help pad out an issue. It's good and all but out of place in tone and art. 

Here are the issues in this volume.  Issue twelve's cover was apparently based on a Larry Ivie design. Ivie being a person who seems to take a bit too much credit for his contributions to the Agents, though he was present. 

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The Fightin' 5 - Green Death In Vietnam!

Fightin' Five Volume 2 #35 was dated November, 1965. Edited by Pat Masulli and written by Joe Gill, this issue was drawn by the team of Bill Montes and Ernie Bache. The cover is by Montes and inked by Rocke Mastroserio.

The "5" are Frenchy the Fox, Irv "The Nerve" Haganah, Granite Gallero, Hank Hennessy, and Tom-Tom. Designated according to the first letter of their name, they formed "America's Super Squad" and the word "F.I.G.H.T.", hence Fightin' 5.

"Green Death in Vietnam" begins with some information on the nature of the struggle between the Viet Cong and the South Vietnamese government assisted at the time by the United States. The Fightin' 5 are training in their headquarters, specifically using the M16 rifle. They get a call from a General in the U.S. military who orders the team to go to Vietnam and deal with a particular Viet Cong leader named Chu. Hank was serving in Vietnam before he was tapped to lead the Fightin' 5 and he is quite up to date on the problem. The team fly to Southeast Asia on a Convair B-58 and report to Major Harry Becker who knows Hank. While the regular forces will continue to battle the Viet Cong on the military front, the Fightin' 5 are given the specific mission to undermine the charm of Chu and render him powerless. The fly into the bush and immediately engage in a deadly firefight which reports of make Chu quite angry. He leads his forces in a stealth attack using reeds to breathe underwater to hide their approach as they take over a local village. The Fightin' 5 story continues as the team use a jet belt to reconnoiter after they come across the attacked village. and find Chu's forces.

"Danger and Delicatessen" is a one-page story about Sgt.John Hailler who is part of the Quartermaster Dept. and while visiting a local delicatessen finds a man who is eager to defect. He takes great pains to accomplish this and later is rewarded when he finally gets his food.

"Part 2 A Legend Dies" begins with the Hank leading a counter-attack against Chu's forces. It causes the leader to retreat and lose considerable face when he runs out. Later the team build a raft to follow Chu down river and eventually locate his base of operations. After infiltrating his base Irv the Nerve and Frenchy blow up his munitions. While they use their skills to destroy Chu's communications and infrastructure Hank challenges Chu to hand-to-hand battle. Hank wins the duel and Tom-Tom dumps the humiliated and diminished Viet Cong leader into a puddle. Having accomplished their mission the Fightin' 5 report to their superiors and prepare to return home.

"The Green Badge of Courage" is a three-page story illustrated by Ernie Bache which details the skills and training of the United States Special Forces soldier and suggest this type of warrior is the future of warfare.

This issue was reprinted in Fightin' 5 Volume 4 #47 dated August 1982.

Charlton was one of the very few comics companies that set stories in Vietnam during the actual war itself. Other war comics were set comfortably in the remote and heroic World War II. Vietnam was still pretty controversial. But at Charlton the war was real, at least as real as any war gets in comics.

Read the actual comic book here. 

 
The Fight Continues.

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The Fightin' 5 - Death Rode The Red Wind!

Fightin' Five Volume 2, # 34 is dated September 1965. Edited by Pat Masulli, this issue like all the rest was written by Joe Gill who actually is credited by name. Also credited are Bill Montes and Ernie Bache, the regular artists. Montes supplied the cover art this time which was inked by Rocke Mastroserio.

The "5" are Frenchy the Fox, Irv "The Nerve" Haganah, Granite Gallero, Hank Hennessy, and Tom-Tom. Designated according to the first letter of their name, they formed "America's Super Squad" and the word "F.I.G.H.T.", hence Fightin' 5.  

"Death Rode the Red Wind" begins with wild scene of the complete Fightin' 5 under attack in the desert called "The Inferno" by mounted nomadic warriors and WWII vintage Stuka aircraft. The story itself begins when Dr.Gray and his Nurse Anne Loomis are kidnapped by a band of desert warriors led by Kifa-Ray, who it turns out is the twin brother of the leader of the region, King Fazam-El. The King has sent for the Fightin' 5 to help rescure the two kidnap victims. They turn up soon enough and use camels to penetrate the desert in search of their Gray and Loomis. At a remote fort formerly a base for the Foreign Legion Kifa-Ray consults with his mentor, a Nazi officer Wolfgang Kuss who has at least three Stukas and their pilots under his control. He sends one of the Stukas out to attack the Fightin' 5 but their combined firepower brings the plane down and they then quickly penetrate the fort and rescue Loomis, but are surprised by Kifa-Ray who gets the drop on the team.

"Cut a Coupon" is a one-page text narrative which describes how the use of coupons attached to propaganda for free food were crucial in waging the psychological war in Vietnam.

"Part 2 Tools of Treason" begins when the Fightin' 5 drop their weapons after Kifa-Ray has re-captured Loomis and all of them are put into cells. Later it is determined they are free to leave, but their only way out is across the deadly "Inferno", the desert which surrounds the area. Hank  refuses to leave without their weapons and finally Kifa-Ray and Kuss agree. On foot the Fightin' 5 and the rescued duo are confronted with the "Red Wind of Death" a deadly sandstorm which they survive by using some high-tech pliofilm sheets which encase their bodies but still allow them to breathe. They then face the two deadly Stukas which they again shoot down. They rescue the pilots who reveal they are more than willing to turn against Kuss. As the section ends they agree to return to the fort.

"Part 3 The Red Wind Blows" begins when they arrive at the fort and penetrate the walls by use of a hidden cave entrance. Using smoke grenades they ultimately defeat Kuss and Kifa-Ray who has also turned against his mentor. Kuss is seemingly killed when the fort is exploded and Kifa-Ray is returned to the care of his twin bother the King. The Fightin' 5 then fly home, the mission completed.

"The Sport of Judo" is a detailed three-page story drawn by Frank McLaughlin showing various moves in the sport and reminding readers to be careful and seek out professional training before trying the holds and flips. The piece is narrated by Sarge Steel. 

This issue was reprinted in Fightin' 5 Volume 3 #46 dated June, 1982.

 I was a bit surprised by the use of WWII vintage villains in this issue. Certainly unreformed Nazis were common enough in the 60's, but these particular ones seem not to have changed at all. It was a little bit jarring in a book which had a sense of its time up to then.

 Read the actual comic book here. 

The Fight Continues! 

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The Fightin' 5 - Cult Of The Black Dragon!

Fightin' Five Volume 2, No. 33 was dated July, 1965. This Pat Masulli edited comic feature a very handsome Rocke Mastroserio cover featuring all of the Five in action. The F.I.G.H.T. name is clearly explained right on the cover. The main story was written as usual by Joe Gill and drawn by Bill Montes and Ernie Bache.

The "5" are Frenchy the Fox, Irv "The Nerve" Haganah, Granite Gallero, Hank Hennessy, and Tom-Tom. Designated according to the first letter of their name, they formed "America's Super Squad" and the word "F.I.G.H.T.", hence Fightin' 5.

"The Cult of the Black Dragon" begins with a description of how Comrade Fang has developed a cult following in an effort to achieve world power in the face of Communist power in China. To that end he's moved his operations to Africa, a continent ripe for conquest. He develops his forces and creates a monster-like black tank which resembles a dragon. President Johnson himself bemoans how little the United States can do officially, but assigns the CIA man Mr.Smith to go to the Fightin' 5 and recruit them to go to Africa to deal with Fang. Armed with the latest equipment (rocket belts and tactical nukes) the go to Africa and stir up trouble and attacking Fang's forces. But they come under fire as Part One closes.

"Always Airplanes" is a one-page text piece which details the value of high-tech planes which can use short runways and advanced communications equipment.

"Part 2 The Jungle King" picks up the Fightin' 5 action as Hank and Granite fend off attacks from the Black Dragon tank and then go to back up their comrades. Frenchy is captured and despite some rough treatment manages to turn the tables on his captors. (Strangely the scripting mistakes Frenchy for Irv in this sequence.) Hank, Granite, and Tom-Tom invade Fang's stronghold and Hank using his jet belt is able to save Frenchy.

"Part 3 The Flames of the Dragon" begins as Hank and Frenchy descend to attack the Black Dragon tank, but are taken aback when they realize Granite has commandeered it. He uses it to destroy Fang's fortress then destroys the tank itself. Fang is furious and orders the Fightin' 5 killed immediately but they reorganize at their jeep which carries their nuke cannon and use that weapon to defeat Fang once and for all. The local officials try to hire the Fightin' 5 as mercenaries, but they decline and fly back home to the good old U.S.A celebrating a job well done.

"Peace Corp Patsy" is a three-page story which describes how a Peace Corp volunteer, a farmer by trade is rejected by the local forces and collaborates with the local populace to fight back. He reveals his training as an infantryman in Vietnam prepared him well for this work.

(Some of the cover art elements of this issue were used for an advertisement.)

And that's a wrap. This issue has never been reprinted to my knowledge. It's always interesting to see an American President recognizably portrayed in a comic. Maybe that's why they did reprint this issue,but I doubt it.

 Read the actual comic book here. 

The Fight Continues.

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The Fightin' 5 - Image Of Glory!

Fightin' Five Volume 2 #32 is dated May, 1965. The cover is by Dick Giordano. The lead story was written by Joe Gill and features art by Bill Montes and Ernie Bache. The editor was Pat Masulli.

The "5" are Frenchy the Fox, Irv "The Nerve" Haganah, Granite Gallero, Hank Hennessy, and Tom-Tom. Designated according to the first letter of their name, they formed "America's Super Squad" and the word "F.I.G.H.T.", hence Fightin' 5. 

"Part I Image of Glory" by Gill, Montes and Bache begins with a description of Joshua Forbes, a demagogue who preaches health and has developed a following in the Appalachian Mountains among the economically depressed population there eager for an uplifting message. The story begins at the Fightin' 5 headquarters where the team trains and they watch Forbes in one of his television presentations. At the same time a Forbes follower are keeping the team under surveillance and are discovered by Tom-Tom who promptly pitches him into the river. The team assembles and flies to the Forbes compound in the Appalachians when they come under missile attack. They avoid the missile but barely and are forced to parachute into the mountain terrain where Hank is promptly caught.

"One More Mission " is a three-page story drawn by Bill Molno which tells of the World War II bomber "Ugly Anne" and the final mission behind enemy lines. The crew deliver their deadly cargo and barely return to England having to strip the plane down to its essentials to land safely for the final time.

"Part 2 Forbes' Secret Fort" picks up the action with Hank falling after being grazed by a bullet. Tom-Tom descends on parachute and eliminates one attacker while Frenchy punches another. Hank recovers and dispatches his opponent too. Reassembled the team infiltrate the Forbes estate and defeat the force there. Meanwhile Forbes is on television where the threat he poses to the tranquility of the nation is most evident. He boards a helicopter and heads back to his base.

"Part 3 The Fate of the World" begins with a counterattack by Forbes and his forces who capture the Fightin' 5 but then lose control when Hank openly attacks Forbes himself. Forbes tries to flee in his helicopter but Hank catches hold of a stray safety rope and climbs up where he confronts Forbes again. Fearing for his safety Forbes has the pilot descend and Hank then knocks out the demagogue once and for all. Forbes is turned over the proper authorities where he is committed to an asylum, the last image of the great leader showing him playing with paper dolls.

"Always Alert" is a one-page text piece which gives lots of solid technical information on the TOW missile.

"Fightin' Facts" is a two-page story drawn by Rocke "Rocko" Mastroserio where Uncle Sam himself appears to talk about the sundry skills and attitudes it takes to succeed in the Special Forces.

 The main Fightin' 5 story has never been reprinted to my knowledge. The "Fightin' Facts" piece was reprinted in Fightin' 5 Volume 3 #46 dated June, 1982.

I've noticed that some of the Fightin' 5 stories have very strong premises, but wrap up so quickly that they undermine the climax. This one a bit of that problem sadly. Still, it was a stirring adventure.

Read the actual comic book here. 

The Fight Continues.

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