| Characters |
Nick Fury; Jasper Sitwell; Dum Dum Dugan; Count Bornag Royale (Ambassador for A.I.M. / Advanced Idea Mechanics); "THEM" |
| Synopsis |
Using a huge "swamp buggy", Fury & his men have tracked the "THEM" vehicle (seen in TALES OF SUSPENSE #78) to a "murky, insect-infested swamp". They ward off an attack by a squad of amphibian androids. Meanwhile, aboard the Heli-Carrier, Count Bornag Royale, the "top representative" of A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics), a "society of the greatest intellects on Earth", is offended by the heavy-handed security treatment he's given by Fury's men. In the underwater lab, the hooded scientists speak of being "geniuses", and being worthy of "THEM". Fury uses a "sonic vibrator" to blast into the base, but is trapped between 2 walls of "electric energy waves". He tells the baddies he's set "pint-sized fission bombs" to blow up the base, causing a stalemate, as the hooded types feel they are "too valueable" to "THEM" to sacrifice themselves. But a group of "hammer-hand androids" have gotten loose because of the vibrations, and stampede the evil scientists to death, smashing the electric barrier in the process. Royale tells the SHIELD board of directors he's come to offer them their services and technology, but feels he cannot do so while being answerable to men with such a "lack of intelligence" and "over-inflated ego" as Nick Fury. Fury & his men polish off the androids. Surveying the lab, Fury realizes they're "no penny-ante outfit", and compares them to the Nazis, as well as HYDRA. He also realizes, because of the "geniuses", that he's heard of another group of scientists who create & sell ideas-- Advanced Idea Mechanics! |
| Genre |
Spy |
| Script |
Jack Kirby (plot); Stan Lee (dialogue) |
| Pencils |
Jack Kirby (layouts); Don Heck |
| Inks |
Mike Esposito [as Mickey Demeo] |
| Letters |
Sam Rosen |
| Editing |
Stan Lee |
| Notes |
Part 2 of 5. Story continues from TALES OF SUSPENSE #78 (June 1966), and presumably the flashback in STRANGE TALES #160-161 (September-October 1967), which was "too secret" for anyone to talk about. The android-growing tanks appear to pay tribute to THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951). 1st published appearance of Count Royale; based on the dialogue it actually takes place after his appearance in this month's TALES OF SUSPENSE #79 (July 1966), as the readers are left unsure as to his motives in this episode (while his guilt is made clear in the Captain America episode). Tony Stark's problems with the Senate in TALES OF SUSPENSE #72-84 (December 1965-December 1966) are mentioned; his plant being forcibly shut down in SUSPENSE #78 (June 1966) presumably gave A.I.M. an "in" to peddle their technology to SHIELD. Reprints continue from NICK FURY, AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. #18 (March 1971), but skipped the story in STRANGE TALES #145 (June 1966), which was never reprinted until 2007! Part 1 of new story, "THEM!", reprinted in MARVEL DOUBLE FEATURE #2 (February 1974). |
| Reprinted |
from Strange Tales (Marvel, 1951 series) #146 (July 1966) [minus 1 page] |
| Characters |
Nick Fury; Jasper Sitwell; Dum Dum Dugan; Count Bornag Royale (A.I.M.); A.I.M. (division of "THEM"); "Clipper Charlie" (barber); Slim; manicure girl |
| Synopsis |
On returning from their latest mission, Fury catches hell from the military brass, but brushes it off and gives everyone a 10-day furlough-- except Jasper, who only seems happy when he's being "worked to death". Count Royale continues bad-mouthing Fury to SHIELD's board of directors. A general, irritated by SHIELD's seemingly-excessive security measures, explains to Fury how A.I.M. has technology they desperately need, but refuse to do business as long as Fury's in charge. This, of course, only confirms Fury's earlier suspicions that A.I.M. is not on the up-and-up as they claim! Sure enough, Royale has returned to an A.I.M. observation post, and watches as a squad invades the SHIELD barber shop. Fury, Dum Dum & Jasper save the day, the rescued manicure girl miffed as Jasper's overt shyness. Royale, meanwhile, feels Fury's rash actions have put the last nail in his coffin... |
| Genre |
Spy |
| Script |
Jack Kirby (plot); Stan Lee (dialogue) |
| Pencils |
Jack Kirby (layouts); Don Heck |
| Inks |
Dick Ayers |
| Letters |
Sam Rosen |
| Editing |
Stan Lee |
| Notes |
Part 3 of 5. Nick Caputo, via the GCD Error List (24 July 2005), believes Dick Ayers to be the inker and that the printed credit for Mike Esposito [as Mickey Demeo] is in error. Henry Kujawa confirms (7 August 2007). |
| Reprinted |
from Strange Tales (Marvel, 1951 series) #147 (August 1966) [minus 2 pages] |