T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Archives, Vol. 6 (Archive Editions (Graphic Novels)) [Hardcover]

Dan Adkins (Author), Reed Crandall (Author), Steve Ditko (Author), Gil Kane (Author), Chic Stone (Author), Wally Wood (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2006

An action-packed adventure of espionage and heroics, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS ARCHIVES VOL 3 reprints the classic 1960s tales of the secret team of super-technology-powered policemen. Utilizing the amazing powers of the thunder belt, the cloak of invisibility, and the psionic helmet, the agents of The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserve fight against the evil Warlord and his plans for world domination. Featuring the introduction of Raven, the newest T.H.U.N.D.E.R. agent, this beautiful book also includes battles against alien invaders, subterranean monsters, foreign spies, killer robots, and undead zombies.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A byproduct of the sixties' love of superheroes, sci-fi, and acronymed spy organizations, the agents of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. (The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves) were a short-lived creation of Wally Wood at a small publisher called Tower Comics. Probably best known for his work at EC Comics or on the early Daredevil, Wood wrote and drew stories for T.H.U.N.D.E.R and also enlisted the help of some of the more popular talents of the day, including Steve Ditko, Gil Kane, George Tuska, and Chic Stone. The sixth volume of the T.H.U.N.D.E.R Agents Archives series reprints the final six issues (15-20) of the series, most of which piled four or five individual stories into each whopping 40- to 50-page issue (no wonder they cost a quarter!). The stories mostly centered on a single agent--Dynamo with his strength-enhancing Thunderbelt; the ghostly NoMan, who wears an invisibility cloak and when in peril can instantly transfer his mind to another android body; Lightning, the swift agent whose superspeed shortens his life--though occasionally featuring a combination of heroes or some of the non-superpowered agents in the T.H.U.N.D.E.R force. Villains included the members of S.P.I.D.E.R. (Secret People's International Directorate for Extralegal Revenue), the dimension-shifting Warp Wizard, or enemies from Red China (this was during the cold war, but the Soviet Union was not supposed to be painted as bad guys since they were member of the United Nations). While the stories are on the short side and ultimately slight, they're still a fun time capsule of the comics scene in the '60s. The T.H.U.N.D.E.R Agents were briefly revived in the '80s and '90s. --David Horiuchi

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (February 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401204163
• ISBN-13: 978-1401204167
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 0.8 x 10.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,675,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The fitting end of a series of Archive titles, March 21, 2006

By 

George Hales - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Archives, Vol. 6 (Archive Editions (Graphic Novels)) (Hardcover)

This brings an end to the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents' Archives series from DC.

Masterminded by the great Wally Wood in the 60s, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents' series, with its heroes Dynamo, Noman and others were never quite a match for DC's Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern and others, nor Marvel's Fantastic Four, Spider-man and Avengers.

Nevertheless, for a young boy who found them among the other comics on the racks in those days they were a breath of fresh air.

I have been eagerly collecting the series and although they may not have withstood the test of time as say Green Lantern, the Flash or the Fantastic Four, for example, they still have brought back fond memories for me.

I have also been collecting the Doom Patrol Archives and am eagerly awaiting the one on the Metal Men. Though I liked the more popular characters, the more quirky heroes such as these and the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents will always be fondly remembered.