Giant-Size Invaders #1 (June 1975)

The Marvel Universe has a long history of supervillains and superheroes. Many stories have unfurled and revealed this long history. One of the first major superhero teams in the Marvel Universe was forged in the fires of World War II: The Invaders. Funny thing is, the Invaders actually existed because of a retcon.

The core five members of the Invaders [Captain America (Steve Rogers), Bucky Barnes, Human Torch (Jim Hammond), Toro, and Namor] did actually have stories published during the 1930s and 1940s, but no comic of the era actually had them all team-up together. In Avengers #71 (December 1969), writer Roy Thomas and artist Sal Buscema revealed that yes, they did have adventures together during WWII. It was appropriate that Thomas be the creative mind behind the Invaders. After all, as has been discussed before when talking about his work on the Justice Society, Thomas loves Golden Age-era superheroes.

From there, the Invaders would have their own series. This series lasted from 1975-1979, 41 issues and 2 annuals. The comic we're going to be looking at here was essentially a "try-out" story, a way of testing the waters. Fans clearly wanted more Nazi-punching action, hence the first series. Let's look at Giant-Size Invaders #1!

The cover is a Frank Robbins, John Romita, and Gaspar Saladino piece. It's really cool. Yes, it is a bit basic, depicting our five Invaders, but it does work here. It feels like a Golden Age-era comic cover, which actually fits, considering the time period it's set in.

"The Coming of the Invaders!"
Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciler: Frank Robbins
Inker: Vince Colletta
Colorist: Petra Goldberg
Letterer: John Costanza
Editor: Roy Thomas
Editor-in-Chief: Len Wein

The story begins in an unrevealed city. The date: December 22, 1941. The time: 3:00 AM. Captain America and Bucky are handing a traitorous bund an early Christmas present: A good old-fashioned beating. After the beatdown, the two are approached by a group of FBI agents. They ask if Cap is familiar with a man named Dr. Anderson.

"THE NAMES! THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!"

The name gets Captain America's brain working. You see, Dr. Anderson was the man who was the head of projects in the US Government...including Project: Rebirth, the very operation that transformed the sickly Steve Rogers into the Sentinel of Liberty. We get a retelling of the origins of Captain America. So, why are they asking about him? Well, Anderson is staying at Walter Reed Hospital...because he may be dead.

Cap goes to the medical center, and thankfully, Anderson is still alive.

"They...kicked me in the boys...fifteen times..."

Where had Anderson been since the fateful experiment that created the Star-Spangled Man with the Plan? Well, in the time since, the Pearl Harbor attack happened, and the United States formally entered World War II as a result. Two nights earlier, Anderson was kidnapped by a Nazi spy dressed as a military policeman and taken to a farm in Virginia.

"They said something about milking me. I think they're very stupid."

The farm had been turned into a hidden Nazi lab. Run by a Colonel Krieghund ("War Hound" in German), he wanted Anderson to work on a little project for them: Master Man.

Hydrotherapy in the 40s was weird...

The Master Man here is Wihelm Lohmer, the original. He made his debut here. There have been a couple other Master Men in the comics since, both connected to Lohmer. The most recent Master Man (the third) was Lohmer's grandnephew Max, who debuted in Captain America #18 (July 2006). 

You see, seeing the success of Captain America, the Nazis naturally tried to duplicate him and create such a super-soldier of their own. However, they've not been able to get the formula exactly right, as Erskine died without ever writing it down. Anderson pointed out to Krieghund that the Americans also have failed to perfectly replicate the formula themselves (Captain America was intended to be the first of many super-soldiers, after all). Krieghund believes that since Erskine confided in him, he may know it himself. He places the scientist in a brain-reading machine.

"This is the ugliest hat ever!"

The Psyphon is able to extract the formula from Anderson's mind, very painfully. The Nazis then use it to awaken Master Man. The Nazi super-soldier is clearly not morning person, as he starts trashing the lab. Krieghund literally whips him into shape. They are then alerted to two objects flying towards them. 

The Torch and Toro were on their way to see a movie.

Jim Hammond, the Original Human Torch, is heading towards the farm. Naturally, at this time, he is accompanied by his trusty young sidekick, Thomas "Toro" Raymond. They came to rescue Anderson. Master Man is easily able to take down the two heroes. Krieghund tries to shoot them, but Anderson knocks him aside, causing him to accidentally shoot the lab equipment that Master Man previously damaged. This causes a fire, and Kreighund gives Anderson a bullet. Master Man and Krieghund escape. Hammond puts out the fire by absorbing it. And then he and Toro get Anderson to the hospital. And that's how he got here.

Torch and Toro are also at the hospital. Cap recalls he and Torch first met in Young Allies #1 (1941). Anderson realizes there was a reason why Krieghund wanted Master Man activated, and he tells the FBI agents to get the heroes to Chesapeake Bay. What is he up to? Well, it turns out that a British battleship is on its way to the inlet's naval base. Who knows why.

A Nazi U-Boat pops up nearby, with Master Man on board. The Nazi super-soldier stars wreaking havoc on the ship. However, one of the sailors on the ship is a disguised Namor the Sub-Mariner. The Atlantean king decides to treat the Nazi to a Mighty Punch.

"Ha! Your fishy fist cannot break THIS jaw!"

...which Master Man no-sells. Master Man knocks Namor into the water, but thanks to his Atlantean physiology, Mr. Imperius Rex is recharged. However, a fire on the ship makes him dry out quickly, weakening him again. 

However, Cap, Bucky, and the Torches arrive to back Namor up. Despite their help, Master Man proves himself to be a real powerhouse, easily taking them all on. Krieghund reminds the self-proclaimed Ubermensch that he has a mission. And his priority is getting it done and getting out of there. Master Man refuses, until he feels himself start to weaken. Realizing his power is temporary, he leaps away, his way of running for it.

Torch and Toro use their fire to heat up the sub and melt it, but the sub is able to fire a pair of torpedoes. Namor got those handled, though. He takes the torpedoes and sends them back to the sub, blowing it up.

The British ship is safe, chugging along on its way. But what of Master Man himself? Despite his fading power, he's able to make his way to shore, battling his way across traffic. Cap and Bucky pursue him. The chase ends quickly. Master Man's power runs out, causing him to shrink down into the smaller, skinnier Wilhelm Lohmer. 

Aren't the clothes supposed to shrink if you wash them wrong?

He underwent the Master Man empowerment as he was the physically smallest and weakest man in his local bund. And with that power gone, he was small and weak again. He is easily knocked out by Bucky Barnes.

With Lohmer no longer a problem, there still is one question remaining: why was Namor on that British ship? Well, he was there on a mission at the quest of the ship's very special passenger.

It was said after seeing this, Churchill really needed to get drunk.

Great Britain's then-Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. He was here to confer with then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt on how to deal with their common foe in the Nazis. He asks the five heroes to basically join forces to help take them down. The quintet of heroes agree to do so...and the Invaders are born. 

I enjoyed this story. It felt a bit like a Golden Age comic book, which I imagine was the point. It had plenty of action. I never realized this, but Master Man is very much the anti-Captain America. Which, considering his origins, is kind of the point. This story was action-packed, and all the Invaders get to do something cool. Frank Springer's art has a very rough style that very much fits this particular comic. It gives a Golden Age vibe, which fits a comic set in the 1940s starring a bunch of heroes from the time.

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2014 trade paperback Invaders: The Complete Collection Vol. 1. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, and wear a mask! See you next time!