Professor H Reads Comics: March 1967

(Continued from February 1967)

Only ONE book reviewed this month so far.

STRANGE TALES 154
cover by MARIE SEVERIN

"BEWARE... THE DEADLY DREADNOUGHT!"

Synopsis:
While the AUTOFAC computer works out the true identity of the Supreme Hydra, Fury plans to have Bronson transport Laura to SHIELD's West coast HQ. In the Personal Effects Dept. Fury is given a new weapons-laden outfit. Just in time-- as moments later, he's attacked by The Dreadnought, a deadly 8-foot-tall HYDRA killer robot. Laura suspects Bronson may be the Supreme Hydra himself, and her suspicions are confirmed by AUTOFAC, but before she can pass on the info, "Bronson" overpowers her. Fury just barely manages to beat The Dreadnought, but finds Laura is missing-- and AUTOFAC names her as the Supreme Hydra!

Indexer notes:
Part 5 of 9. Fury's "Repulsor Watch," capable of deflecting bullets, later turned up in the film LIVE AND LET DIE (1973), though in the movie, it was only used to attract metal, not deflect it. SHIELD would build their own "Dreadnought," a tunneling machine, which would turn up in STRANGE TALES #167 (April 1968). HYDRA's "Dreadnought" would turn up again in DAREDEVIL #121 (May 1975).
(8-15-07)

"CLEA MUST DIE!"

Synopsis:
Thru trickery Strange manages to escape The Mindless Ones. Using the Eye of Agamotto, he spies on Umar in her castle, as she plots to to grind each dimension in turn under her heel. Seeking to free the prisoners in Umar's dungeon, Strange encounters Veritas, the "Embodiment of Truth Incarnate", and takes him to the castle past as swarm of flying demons. Umar is shocked and cannot bear the sight of herself as she really is (thanks to Veritas), but as Strange confronts her, see sends forth a mystic bolt of death-- toward Clea!

Indexer notes:
Part 8 of 22; part 4 of Umar sequence. The flying demons around Umar's castle are strikingly similar to those seen in the 1968 SPIDER-MAN cartoon, "The Evil Sorcerer".
(8-15-07)

FANTASTIC FOUR 60
cover by Jack Kirby & Joe Sinnott