Thunder Agents at DC Week: Menthor

The tragic yet triumphant trooper in the Thunder Agents was double agent turned superhero Menthor. Originally evil inclined, his disposition was transformed into a longing for justice.

Still, he was not long for the world he was born into, and soon he met a grizzly end while saving the lives of his teammates.

Can we say Doctor Doom, or Iron Man, or even Man in the Iron Mask? Not exactly the look one would expect for this mental mastermind. Whats more, the business suit look is fine if it is a classy design. But this more pedestrian color scheme and sloppy look just doesn't do him, well, justice. And speaking of which, is his agenda still on the right and wrong side of the law, or something of a departure from that concept? Will he prove an ally or adversary to Thunder?

Team-Up Tuesdays: More on our Obscure Teams!

Let's once more revist two grovy gangs of good guys from the mid-60's, which we had discussed earlier, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R Agents and the Sentational Sentinels of Justice. First the highflying Helio and Raven:

Both men wore special gear that allows them to fly. While Helio was all around good guy Rick Strong, natural born leader of the Sentinels, Raven was one time con artist Craig Lawson, who finds the Agents' heroic ways rubbing of on him.

Meanwhile, a pair of mentally powered rogues were waiting in the wings (no pun intended) to frustrate our noble teams, Menthor and Mind-Bender.

Due to the device he wore, Menthor (John Janus) eventually turned good, first while wearing it and later it influenced him full time. Mind Bender (identity unknown) apparently never had a compulsion towards the welfare of his fellow man, either before or after his accident.

Helio soon clashed with Mind-Bender after this mad man brainwashed Brute. During the course of a lengthy battle, gravity got the better of Bender leading to a gruesome demise for the arch villain.

Menthor however met his ultimate fate valiantly warning his allies of a death trap, showing his heroic spirit.

Years later, he apparently returned via a residual mental presence housed inside his helmet, now worn by a mysterious new heroine as Menthor.

While Helio's further adventures, if he had any, were left unchronicled, Raven returned years later alongside his T.H.U.N.D.E.R. compatriots to battle an early 80's alien invasion then return to relative anonymity. Next week we will touch on the fascinating connection of these teams to our publishers!

Team-Up Tuesdays: 3 Items of Power

To kick off our inagural Team-Up Tuesday, let's consider a legendary team and an obscure team only tangentially connected to either fictional universe. Both were published briefly by them, and met at least one occupant from Charlton and Mighty. And both met one occupant from Charlton. Oh...huh?

First the legendary team, originally published in the mid-1960's by Tower Comics known as The T.H.U.N.D.E.R Agents made Wally Wood a legend with his sleek artwork, and the characters have been resurrected from the publisher netherworld more times by more publishers than just about any other character or group of characters. In the early 80's this included Red Circle (at that time Archie Adventure Series) helped distribute a modest run which climaxed in Blue Ribbon Comics. Herein lies the first meeting of superstrong Dynamo and mysterious mentalist Menthor (and the guy she's speaking to in her head was Janus, the late Menthor that preceded her).

Our other consideration today revolves around perhaps the most obscure of characters over at Charlton (aside from licensed properties), the Sensation Sentinels. Or as the Sentinels...of Justice as de facto leader Helio initially labeled them (a name later adopted by other Charltonites, Charltonoids, Charltonians?). They lasted a whole six issues, never to be seen again despite the promise of continued adventures. They solely resided in the backpages of Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt #54-59. The following panel introduces us to two of the three members, the superstrong Brute and the scintillating psychic Mentalia.

By the way, the villains in the background our Uber-Awesome femme fatale Iron Maiden and an android named Titan. Both teams began their adventures once they obtained three garments of power created by dying scientists. For the agents, it was the Dynamo's belt (superstrength), a cloak (invisibility) used by an android named Nomanm and Menthor's helmet (telekinetic/telepathic abilities). Wait, two androids? Noman AND Titan??? What are the odds in the 60's of androids appearing in comics of that period? heh.

The Sentinels likewise were bequeathed three garments of power, Brute's gloves (superstrength), Mentalia's tiara (telekinetic/telepathic abilities) and a backpack (for flight or rather to "reduce weight" with propulsion added in apparently for good measure). The latter was worn by a member that was out of commission in the above panel.

During our next Team-Up Tuesday, we'll be introduced to an immortals (of sorts) that meet our cold war gladiators.