Customer Reviews

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents - Archives, Volume 4

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While I'm not sure that "T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents" was running out of steam as the above review suggests, it certainly wasn't quite as snappy in 1966-7 as it was when it started. Some of that might be due to the formula of several stories per 64-page issue, as well as attempts to spin the characters off into their own series. This Archive volume reprints only one issue of "T.H.U.N.D.E.R.Agents" proper (#11). It also includes the third and last issue of "Dynamo", and both issues of "Noman". The prodigious amount of material combined with the small status of publisher Tower had to have taken its toll.

Nonetheless, under genius Wally Wood's direction, even basically average material is pretty good, and there are a couple of truly standout stories contained in this volume. The best, in my opinion, is the Noman story, "The Good Subterranean". In this story, a Subterranean scientist, one of the last of the race whose attacks on the surface world lead to the formation of T.H.U.N.D.E.R., arrives at T.H.U.N.D.E.R. h.q., seeking asylum. Noman's efforts to integrate former enemy into society are met with prejudice and hate. Ultimately, the Subterranean gives his life in a heroic manner.

What amazed me about this story is its relevance to 1966 as well as 2004. Naturally, this is a story about prejudice at the time of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S., while at the same time dealing with the aftermath of the Second World War and the Holocaust. I also connected this story with our own post-9/11 world, in which we are fighting a war against terror, while trying to distinguish between "good" Muslims and "bad" ones. The plea for education and understanding reverberates nicely.

Another fun story is "Understudy for Dynamo". As the title says, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. brass decide to create substitutes for their super-agents. "Dynamite" Dan Atkins, a member of the THUNDER Squad for the role. What follows, while cliched, is an example of pitch-perfect comedic timing, as Dan finds himself completely inept in his use of the Dynabelt, causing misery for himself and the rest of his team. I actually laughed out loud a couple of times at this story.

Whether they're fighting terrorist groups, mad scientists, unknown aliens, or super-powered communists, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is a fun ride, even today. There are, by my count, two volumes left in this series, and I look forward to both of them. Between DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics respective archive series, nostalgia fans have a lot of Silver Age material to read in affordable reprint editions.