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Invaders #23

Jun 1977
Roy Thomas, Frank Robbins

Story Name:

The Scarab of the Nile


Synopsis

Invaders #23 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 3.5 stars

The severely wounded Toro is in surgery at a London hospital, his Invaders comrades Captain America, Bucky, Namor, and especially the Human Torch, who blames himself for his ward's injury, waiting anxiously for news of his condition. A doctor soon informs them that a bullet is lodged close to the boy's and an operation may kill him. Only one doctor has performed this type of surgery, Dr Sam Sabuki in California, USA. Namor offers his flagship to take Toro there but Spitfire arrives with orders for the Invaders to meet with their superiors at Big Ben. Bucky offers to fly Toro to the US while the others report for duty....

On their way, Spitfire tells the others that Dyna-Mite is aiding Lord Falsworth in questioning Dietrich, the captive Nazi scientist who holds the secret to restoring Dyna-Mite to his normal size....

At Big Ben, the assembled heroes are informed that the war in North Africa is precarious and a group calling themselves Sons of the Scarab, wearing ancient Egyptian garb, are supporting the Nazi cause and must be stopped. The Invaders fly down there but they are ambushed by the Sons of the Scarab; there is an explosion as the plane comes in to land but Torch and Namor save the day and the rest fight the attacking fanatics. The baddies, defeated, launch a smoke grenade and vanish in the confusion. The Invaders meet up with their liaison office, Major Harrison and a local archaeologist, Dr Faoul. They have the idea that the Sons of the Scarab have a secret hiding-place in the pyramids; Human Torch can easily burn through the tunnels to find this room and Sub-Mariner can fill them in again, with Dr Faoul checking to see that nothing valuable is damaged. At this point word comes that the Germans have started their offensive; Union Jack, Spitfire, and Cap head out to bolster the British morale while Namor and Torch go to the pyramids. After a brief dig, they come upon a scarlet scarab; Faoul reveals he has tricked them into uncovering this artifact for him. Touching it he is transformed into Scarlet Scarab, a super-powered Egyptian semi-god, intending to join the Germans in driving the British out of Egypt....

Meanwhile, the fighting at the front is going severely against the Allies; Cap tries to call Namor and Torch but he cannot get through....


 

Review / Commentaries


Invaders #23 Review by (November 5, 2018)

Review: Marvel's “Most sensational new super-villain?” The Scarlet Scarab? Really? No, what he is is yet another embodiment of a national stereotype. Roy Thomas must have gotten tired of creating these for the Brits and the Nazis and now he's branching out into other parts of the British Empire. And here we have another history lesson: not all members of the British Commonwealth were happy. The people of India certainly weren't and here we're reminded that the Egyptians were smarting under the heel of a European oppressor; Scar Scar will discover for himself next time the meaning of the phrase “lesser of two evils.” And in the meantime we can sweat over the fate of Toro, the least interesting of the Invaders, as they seek to add something more to his backstory.

Comments: Part one of two parts; part two will be in issue #25. First appearance/origin of the Scarlet Scarab.




> Invaders comic book info and issue index

Elektra

Excelsioring your collection:
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Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Frank Robbins
Frank Springer
George Roussos
Gil Kane (Cover Penciler)
? (Cover Inker)
? (Cover Colorist)


Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Bucky Barnes
Bucky Barnes

(James Barnes)
Captain America
Captain America

(Steven Rogers)
Human Torch
Human Torch

(Jim Hammond)
Spitfire
Spitfire

(Jacqueline Falsworth)
Sub-Mariner
Sub-Mariner

(Namor McKenzie)
Toro
Toro

(Thomas Raymond)
Union Jack
Union Jack

(Brian Falsworth)

Plus: Scarlet Scarab (Dr Faoul).