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Invaders #16

Nov 1976
Roy Thomas, Jim Mooney

Story Name:

The Short, Happy Life of Major Victory!


Synopsis

Invaders #16 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 3.5 stars

Steve and Bucky are at a London movie palace, watching newsreels of their exploits as Captain America and Bucky. But there's an American soldier present who is much more enthusiastic about the film, annoying the other cinema-goers by his loud commentary as his girl Julia tries to quiet him. Steve and Bucky leave the theater after the show and suddenly the lights go out, usually the sign of an impending air raid. They quickly don their hero costumes and hear a cry for help. Rushing to the scene, they find the American GI and his girl surrounded by hooded Nazi agents. The GI helps Cap and Bucky fight off the thugs and he tries to get his girl to safety but it tuns out she is a Nazi agent too. Threatening to shoot the GI, she holds Cap and Bucky at bay until all of the gang escapes with their captive....

Cap and Bucky arrive at Allied HQ along with Sub-Mariner, Human Torch, and Toro, where they learn that the Nazis were plotting to abduct an American soldier; Cap reveals that they failed to prevent the abduction of Private Biljo White. Bucky and Toro recognize that name: the captive GI is a comic book artist, famous for creating the patriotic super-hero Major Victory, whose origin is nearly identical to Cap's, even down to mentioning the Super-Soldier formula and naming Dr Reinstein. Deducing that the enemy captured White on the assumption that he knows something about the real-life serum, the Invaders (without Spitfire who left the group last issue) head to the continent in Namor's flagship, arriving soon at Berchtesgaden, Hitler's fortress estate. Their ship is shot down by Master Man whose power has been enhanced so that he can overcome all of the Invaders at once. They soon find themselves in a dungeon where they come face to face with their captor: Adolf Hitler....


 

Review / Commentaries


Invaders #16 Review by (September 17, 2018)

Review: Well, they finally got around to a visit by the real-life World War 2 bad guy, Hitler himself. This story arc is quite promising with the blackout battle being very well done. Master Man is back and bigger than ever; seemed like too appropriate a foe for the Invaders to stay gone for long. The real thrill is in the following issue with the introduction of a new villainess: Warrior Woman!

Comments: Part one of six parts. Master Man was introduced in GIANT-SIZE INVADERS #1. First appearance of Julia/Madame Ratsel who will become Warrior Woman next issue. Title appears to be taken from “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemingway though otherwise the two tales have nothing in common. Cap starts to reveal to Bucky that a top official protects them from court-martial in their secret identities but is interrupted. First meeting of Cap and Hitler in this series, though they previously met in CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #2 (1941). The young American aide to the British brass, Pvt. Lee, appears to be Stan the Man himself.

Period Pop-Culture Details: Movie producer/director Alfred Hitchcock, American boxing champion Jack Dempsey (retired 1927), Timely Comics (Marvel's 1940s predecessor).




> Invaders comic book info and issue index

Elektra

Excelsioring your collection:
DIAMOND SELECT TOYS Marvel Premier Collection: Avengers Endgame Captain America Statue, Multicolor
Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Jim Mooney
Frank Springer
Janice Cohen
Jack Kirby (Cover Penciler)
Joe Sinnott (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)
Sub-Mariner
Sub-Mariner

(Namor McKenzie)
Toro
Toro

(Thomas Raymond)

Plus: Master Man, Nazis.