| Characters |
Nick Fury LMDs; Dum Dum Dugan; Nick Fury; Jasper Sitwell; The Druid; The Fixer |
| Synopsis |
SHIELD sends out a squad of Fury LMDs in hope they can be used to track down whoever's trying to kill Fury. Dugan can't understand why Fury wants to work with Sitwell, then badgers Jasper until Fury compares them to Laurel & Hardy. Fury also wonders when Gabe will return from his vacation. Jasper says Fury's always been his hero, while Dugan says "Personally, I used to go for Betty Grable." Instead of capturing the LMDs, The Druid's eggs have been destroying them. But he decides to draw Fury out into the open, as once Fury's dead, his "cult" can spread across America. Fury questions The Fixer about the eggs, and a miniature brain found on him. The Fixer seems sure the eggs are not connected with "THEM," and also says he was captured before "THEM" could give him his final orders. SHIELD arrives at the site of an exploded egg, which turns out to be a trap. Fury takes on The Druid one-on-one, worried that his men will be targeted if he fails. Sitwell manages to drive a fleet of armored eggs from hiding, and all hell breaks loose. The Druid brags that his main HQ has not been found, and Sitwell offers to uncover The Druid's true identity. Fury finds himself wondering just how ambition Sitwell is, and how he'd feel if they tried replacing him with a younger man. |
| Genre |
spy |
| Script |
Jack Kirby (plot); Stan Lee (dialogue) |
| Pencils |
Jack Kirby (layouts); Don Heck |
| Inks |
Mike Esposito [as Mickey Demeo] |
| Colors |
Stan Goldberg |
| Letters |
Sam Rosen |
| Notes |
Part 2 of 2. Nick Fury looks into the mystery of "THEM" and meets Captain America in TALES OF SUSPENSE #78 (June 1966), then teams with him in flashback in STRANGE TALES #160-161. |
| Reprinted |
in Marvel Masterworks: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 |
| Characters |
Dr. Strange [Dr. Stephen Strange]; Mister Rasputin |
| Synopsis |
Mr. Rasputin, descendant of the original, amasses magical & scientific knowledge as part of his plan to rule the world. Strange senses evil in the area, and that someone has used the "Forbidden Ritual of Ikonn". He confronts Rasputin, who, no match for his magic, resorts to non-magical means: he pulls a gun and shoots Strange! Recovering at a nearby hospital, Strange informs the police about Rasputin, but when they can find no trace of him, Strange realizes the villain may be at his own sanctum! As Strange investigates, a hit-man Rasputin hired enters the hospital to finish the job. Following a tense battle, Strange emerges victorious, and hypnotizes Rasputin to forget all he knows of magic, and for both he & his henchman to confess all their crimes to the police. |
| Genre |
Occult |
| Script |
Steve Ditko (plot); Denny O'Neil (dialogue) |
| Pencils |
Steve Ditko |
| Inks |
Steve Ditko |
| Colors |
Stan Goldberg |
| Letters |
Artie Simek |
| Notes |
Part 16 of 17. Not really connected with the episodes in the last or next issues, a sort of "lull before the storm" of the next issue's big climax. |
| Reprinted |
in Giant-Size Defenders (Marvel, 1974 series) #1 (July 1974); in Essential Dr. Strange (Marvel, 2001 series) #1 (2001); in Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange (Marvel, 2003 series) #2; in Essential Defenders (Marvel, 2005 series) #2; in Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders (Marvel, 2008 series) #2 (2010); in Hulk E I Difensori (Editoriale Corno, 1975 series) #2 |