The Fightin' 5 - America's Super Squad Three!

Fightin' Five Volume 2 #30 is dated December, 1964 and sports a very dramatic Dick Giordano cover. The lead story was written by Joe Gill and drawn by Bill Montes and Ernie Bache, and whole shebang was edited by Pat Masulli.

The "5" are Frenchy the Fox, Irv "The Nerve" Haganah, Granite Gallero, Hank Hennessy, and Tom-Tom. Designated according to the first letter of their name, they formed "America's Super Squad" and the word "F.I.G.H.T.", hence Fightin' 5.

"The Ransom of 'Big-D'" begins when three members of the Fightin' 5 run into problems with products manufactured by General Dynamoters Ltd., a huge firm responsible for much of the equipment produced in the United States. Called "Big D" by most folks, this is a corporation which has touched the lives of most everyone on the planet. Trouble starts when Hank Hennessy, leader of the F5 and his girlfried Bridget Darbot find the new sports car he's bought is unreliable and causes them to wreck. Hank is hurt a little and Darbot is hosptialized. Meanwhile Irv "The Nerve" Haganah is testing a parachute that fails to perform but he saves himself barely. Also Granite Gallero runs into trouble with a tank he's testing which fails dramatically. All three members share notes and realize something must be wrong at "Big D". Hank is a stockholder, so on that pretext they gather the team (Frenchy the Fox and Tom-Tom) and plan to infiltrate the mammoth plant to find out what's the issue. But they are intercepted by a "Big D" jet when they approach the plant.

"The Decadent Democracy" is a one-page story drawn by Bill Molno which showcases a drama at the Berlin Wall when an American, derided as soft helps a girl escape then he helps guard who failed to stop her.

"The Big-D Battlerground" picks up the action as the jet attacks the Fightin' 5 but is repelled when they switch on their electronic force field. They shoot down the jet and the pilot ejects. On the ground, Hank and Granite drive through the main gate while Irv, Frenchy, and Tom-Tom inflitrate the plant using the underground sewer systems. Hank and Granite bluff and force their way into a board meeting where they encounter Mr.Luckens, a well-known gangster and and his henchmen who have blackmailed their way into control of the mammoth company. Luckens tries to have the two heroes killed and put aboard a rocket which will dispose of their bodies by taking them into orbit.

"The Indian Wars" is a two-page text article detailing the battles the United States government has had with the various Indian tribes over the decades, with a particular emphasis on military tactics.

"The Instant Army" drawn by Bill Molno is a one-page story about how the U.S. military has changed and become much more mobile thanks to air support like troop transports and helicopters.

"Stolen Empire" begins when Frenchy, Irv, and Tom-Tom attack the "Big-D" plant and save Hank and Granite from being shot into orbit. Then the combined might of the Fightin' 5 battle the forces of the gangsters who have taken over Big D forcing Luckens to escape in a bomber. He plans to drop an atomic bomb on the plant eliminating his enemies but is shot down by Hank in his jet fighter. The gangsters are gathered up and arrested and authorities promise Hank that things will get back to normal at General Dynamotors and even offer him a new sports car.

"The Phantom of the Sahara" is a three-page story drawn by Bill Molno which offers a rather glowing reprise of the career of Nazi Field Marshall Rommell.

The comic was reprinted in Fightin' 5 Volume 3 #44 dated February, 1982.

I found this story very timely given the relatively recent scandals rocking the clear inspiration for "Big D", General Motors. It would be nice on some level to think the nigh-criminal neglect and cover ups which have been going at GM were in fact the result of the company having been taken over by gangsters, but alas it's sadly true they result from mere businessmen looking out for profits in the nearest quarterly report. Greed pure and simple and not out and out gangster-style criminality, though sometimes the difference is hard to detect.

This is a solid Fightin' 5 adventure, well written and well drawn by Montes and Bache who do a much better job on the storytelling in this one. Hank has emerged as the dominant member of the team, his wealth giving them access to places they'd be hard pressed to access otherwise. Their status apart from the United States government is somewhat in play here, as they seemed to pick their own mission with little consultation with the authorities.

The Fight continues. 

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The Fightin' 5 - America's Super Squad Two!

The second issue of Fightin' Five was Volume 2 #30 and dated October, 1964. It's the first adventure of the assembled team following their organization in the previous issue. Edited by Pat Masulli and written by Joe Gill and drawn by Bill Montes and Ernie Bache with a cover by Dick Giordano,

The "5" are Frenchy the Fox, Irv "The Nerve" Haganah, Granite Gallero, Hank Hennessy, and Tom-Tom. Designated according to the first letter of their name, they formed "America's Super Squad" and the word "F.I.G.H.T.", hence Fightin' 5.

This story has the assembled team pitted against a "college of sabotage" which was located in the Sierra Madre mountain range in Mexico. Specifically, the threat is Lev, a Soviet trainer is preparing Aztec warriors as saboteurs who will penetrate U.S. defenses and wreak havoc. Since the "college" is located in another country the United States cannot respond in an official capacity, but calls on the Fightin' 5 to solve the problem.

"The Aztec Warriors" begins when an Aztec warrior sets off a bomb aboard a U.S. ship in Seatle. Information from the surviving warrior leads the Fightin' 5 to Arizona from their Montana base where they plan to infiltrate Mexico in secret. They uncover evidence of Aztec and Soviet collaboration and confront Princess Malaxtl who eludes Hennessy and Frenchy the Fox.

"The Evil Teacher" begins after Malaxtl's disappearance when Aztec warriors appear and capture Hank as Frenchy escapes. Hank is taken to Lev but Malaxtl wishes to sacrifice the handsome leader of the Fightin' 5 in classic Aztec style. Meanwhile the other members of the team are waging a battle above ground when  Tom-Tom too is captured. After a furious struggle Tom-Tom is selected for the sacrifce.

"Allies of Hate" opens as Tom-Tom manages to escape sacrifice by breaking the traditional chains, which are interpreted by Malaxtl as a sign that gods wish the Aztecs to change their ways. She turns on Lev and the Soviets and gunfire erupts which strikes Malaxtl while Hank and Tom-Tom regroup with the other members of the Fightin' 5. Lev and his helpers have taken refuge in the giant head of a local tomb and are planning to launch atomic weapons.

"The Eyes of Death" opens as the launch is underway despite the objections by some of the Soviet agents that Lev goes too far. The Fightin' 5 penetrate the fortress head and alongside the Aztec warriors destroy the atomic missles. Granite Gallego finds the torso armor from an ancient conquistador and puts it on. This proves beneficial when the metal is able to deflect Lev's bullets and Lev finds himself trapped then killed in an Aztec trap. Princess Malaxtl has recoverd though and wants Hank to stay but the Fightin' 5 must stay together to face the next threat.

"Ballistics Talking" is a two-page text piece on the science of ballistics with a great deal of detail offered up.

"The Space Warriors" features art by Bill Molno and tells in a single page what space war might like, and suggests that soldiers will be fewer in number and the battles will last hours and not days.

"The Made a Man" is also drawn by Molno and this three-page story tells how the Philadelphia born Billy Cleve finds success as a Special Forces soldier in Vietnam.

"American Pioneer" is a one-page reprise of the history of the great Kentuckian Daniel Boone.

The majority of this comic was reprinted many years later in Fightin' 5 Volume 3 #43 dated December, 1981.

I was most struck in this story how modern the threat was. Despite the trappings of the Cold War, the idea that saboteurs (substitute "terrorists") being given special training in a remote part of the world so that they can infiltrate and destroy vital U.S. sites seems like something taken from modern headlines.

The Fight Continues!   

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The Fightin' 5 - America's Super Squad One!

Charlton comics was looking for new avenues and genres to conquer in 1964 (the previous month had seen the debut of a new Blue Beetle comic) and the spy genre was red hot with the success of the James Bond movies and The Avengers TV show among many other things.

In classic Charlton fashion, the title Space War had its title changed to Fighin' 5 (Charlton had a squadron of books in the war genre featuring the word "Fightin'") and the number continued. So the debut issue of Fightin' Five is Volume 2 #28 dated July, 1964. In the debut story edited by Pat Masulli, written by Joe Gill, and drawn by Bill Montes and Ernie Bache with a cover by Dick Giordano, we meet the members of the new squad which are to wage a clandestine war against America's enemies across the globe.

The "5" are Frenchy the Fox (Last name never revealed), Irv "The Nerve" Haganah, Granite Gallero, Hank Hennessy, and Tom-Tom (Real name never revealed). Designated "FF1", "FF2", "FF3", "FF4", and "FF5" according to the first letter of their name, they formed "America's Super Squad" and the word "F.I.G.H.T.", hence Fightin' 5. It was a bit tortured but in tune with an era which gave us S.P.E.C.T.R.E., U.N.C.L.E., S.H.I.E.L.D., and T.H.U.N.D.E.R.

The debut story titled "Introducing The Fightin' 5 - America's Super Squad" begins with a brief intro to each of the five members. They are introduced in the order in which they fit into the F.I.G.H.T. code name. 

Then with Chapter I "Frenchy is Found!" introduces Frenchy the Fox who is skin diving on the Riviera where his mission is to reclaim a stolen necklace. The CIA show up to offer him a job. 

Chapter II "The Private Eye" shows Irv the Nerve David (not yet "Haganah - more below) who is in an unnamed city rounding up some art thieves. He too is contacted by the CIA. 

Chapter III "Granite Gallero Joins" takes us to a U.S. weapons proving ground where Gallero is showcasing some new potent weapons for the military when the CIA shows up. 

Chapter IV "Hank Hennessy...Special Forces U.S. Army" introduces Hank who is a devoted soldier in Vietnam and a rich playboy who handles a masher than quickly answers the call when the CIA asks.

Finally in Chapter V "The Retiring Wrestler" we meet Tom-Tom who is in a bout as the bad guy and makes contact with the mat and the CIA simultaneously.

Chapter VI "The Assignment" shows the team in uniform and firing on a castle. We quickly then learn the back story which involves the abduction of former German scientist Ernst Von Essen by the Eastern Block. The Fightin' 5 are briefed and swiftly fly to Europe to get him back. The attack is swift and well= coordinated and each team member is required to show his special skills, especially the ultra-strong Tom-Tom who bends the bars of Von Essen's cell with is bare hands. Using specially designed rocket-packs the team safely get the scientist to safety aboard a helicopter which gets him out of harm's way. The team return to the U.S. aboard a B-58 and the story closes at their hidden base discussing their next mission since they've decided to stay together as a team.

"The Looter" is a text story which tells of a former Nazi named Eric Wanderman who sneaked out of the fallen Reich with a hoard of stolen loot. An agent is sent with the help of a woman who can identify Wanderman. After some intrigue and betrayal, the Nazi is killed.

"Jungle Death" is a two-page war story drawn by Bill Molno which tells of the heroic sacrifice of a soldier named Simms who clears out a Japanese machine-gun nest with a grenade and the cost of his own life.

"The Story of the Medal" is a three-page story with art by Molno again and relates how medals have been traditionally the province of the nobility but have in more recent years been made available to all soldiers to recognize their dedication and sacrifice.

This story has been reprinted twice. The first time in Fightin' 5 Volume 3 #42 dated October, 1982 which picked up the original numbering of the series after many years.

The story is also reprinted in 1998's The Power of 5 from ACG Comics in glorious black and white.

This is a rock-solid debut installment for the series. The story takes pains to carefully introduce our five heroes and points out the special talents of each. The story by Joe Gill is typically well crafted and the artwork by the hard-working team of Montes and Bache has their virtues and their weaknesses. They had a flair with finishes which was very handsome, but the storytelling is alas suspect in several places. Without captions the action would be hard to follow at times.

One oddity is the naming of Irv "The Nerve" Haganah, who in the first story is actually presented as having the last name of "David" and is listed as having served with the "Haganah" (Hebrew for " Defense"), part of the Israeli military. At some point in the story "Haganah" becomes his last name and serves as such for the rest of the run. Joe Gill wrote them fast, and I guess he lost track.

The Fightin' 5 also have the international flavor most famously demonstrated by the Blackhawks. But based on their personalities, I'd say the 5 owe more to the Howling Commandos than the Blackhawks. Tom-Tom in particular evokes the sound of Dum-Dum as in Dugan, the strongman of the team.

The Fightin' 5 is a series which has a good grounding in the real world with several topical references, but also had some shout outs to the science fiction crowd with the rocket belts. A super-spy saga with a real Charlton flavor.

The Fight Continues.

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The Silver Age Of The Teen Titans Volume One!

If any single comic book spoke to the era of the 1960's, at least as imagined by the mature creators of comics at the time it was the Teen Titans. The kid sidekicks who were a staple of the Golden Age had lingered on in comics as manifested by Robin the Boy Wonder, Aqualad, and Speedy. Kid Flash had quickly been created in the pages of the Silver Age Flash and Wonder Girl began life as Wonder Woman as a young woman much like Superboy, but that got altered when she was needed by Bob Haney and company. 

Apparently, the success of the Justice League of America made the folks at DC keen to find another comic which would follow in its wake and it made rather obvious sense to reach down to the many sidekicks to make up that team -- like the JLA but younger. The place was The Brave and the Bold where the JLA had been birthed and the first team of teens was just three -- Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad. The writer was Bob Haney and he cooked up a zany plot about a curse on a small coast town,  and their need for super help. It seems the towns teens are being blamed for some of the nonsense afflicting the town and so they logically call on teens for help. Bruno Premiani was the artist and his rendition of the sidekicks was in keeping with their look in the other comics but really wasn't going to cut it for the long term as we'll see. Needless to say the team are successful though they bicker a bit and the teens and the town are made happy when the villain Mister Twister is brought low.  

Three becomes four and they get the official name of "Teen Titans" in their second appearance a full year, also in the B&B pages. This time they are helping a single youth who is defending his jailbird Dad accused of a series of bizarre crimes committed by a villain called the "Separated Man" who an appear a bit at a time, a giant hand here, an enormous foot there such like. Wonder Girl joins the ranks and she adds some necessary spice to the life of the boys who have something else to focus their attention on other than bickering with one another. A girl always makes thing better, though she does look rathe gobsmacked in that sidebar image on the cover by Nick Cardy. Cardy is not the artist inside the comic as Premiani is on hand again to draw Haney's script. 

Six months go by and it is in Showcase that the Teen Titans reappear at long last before they kick off their own series. With this appearance they welcome their signature artist Nick Cardy who drew the heroes a tad older than Premiani had done. This made them look like true teens and allowed a slightly older audience to identify more readily with them. In this third outing the team have to prove the innocence of a trio of pop singers called "The Flips" who among them are iconic of several interests of teens such as motorcycles, surfboards and such as that. 

Finally Teen Titans #1 hits the stands with the four established teens battling a weird villain who evoked ancient native gods. The team is called upon to sort of join the Peace Corps and head to South America in a remote area in the Andes called Xochaton. There they encounter a deadly giant Conquistador.  Despite being drawn by Cardy this is a rather lackluster cover but is informative for sure. 

In the second issue the Titans help out a teenager with a difference, he was unfrozen from prehistoric ice. This is a wacky one for sure and team has a time with an implacable monster from beyond time. This is the first issue that shows the Titans cave "clubhouse" and it's also the first time I noticed them using a helicopter with their name emblazoned on it. Note that his issue is the first with the famous Go-Go Checks. 

Number three is a fun issue with the team running afoul of Ding Dong Daddy, a malevolent maker of hot rods who is using unwitting teens to help his theft ring. This one features some truly weird threats for the heroes.

There's little doubt that this villain dubbed the "Demon Dragster" on the cover is a spin on Ed "Big Daddy" Roth who is most famous today for his creation of Rat Fink. 

The Titans are called upon to save world peace when a terrorist organization called "Diablo" threatens the Olympics. Speedy joins in with the regular team of four to keep the dream of the Olympics from being demolished. This cover by Cardy is a right stunner. 

On a more personal level the fifth issue has the team battling "The Ant". This is a superbly conditioned villain who it turns out is the brother of a young man who pleads with the Titans to help save his brother from getting into further trouble with the law. Turns out he's being blackmailed into helping a gang and by the end the Titans have saved the day. The theme of adults and teenagers finding common ground and trusting one another is well developed in this one. 

Nick Cardy steps away from the penciling chores to be replaced in this issue by Bill Molno. Haney brings in the Doom Patrol and specifically Beast Boy who is trying his hardest to find a place in the world. When the DP won't let him join, he tries the Titans and when they rebuff him because he needs parental consent, he joins up unknowingly with a criminal circus outfit. 

This issue is remarkable in that showcases a key Teen Titans villain, the Mad Mod. He's a smuggler who is using a pop singer to unwittingly carry his misbegotten goods. The Titans have an unusually tough time with a villain who seems to have a mod outfit for every occasion. The team head to London for the wild hijinks in this issue, and Cardy's last as penciller for a time.

Irv Novick steps in as the regular penciler with Cardy inks for several issues of the series at this point. Yet another town is in crisis when a secret project called "Honey Bun" is stolen and foreign-exhange students are suspected. Turns out of course they are innocent but the ring that has stolen the deadly machine prove a substantial threat to the Titans. 

The ninth issue is the very first issue of Teen Titans I ever read coming by a coverless copy when I was a mere lad. With some robust Novick and Cardy art this one is one pays service to all those beach party movies with two mobs of college kids descending on a beach and promising trouble. The town reaches out to the Titans for help and they turn the teen energy for rumble into positive work to help stop beach erosion. The modern pirate Captain Tiger pops up to give everyone someone to fight against. This issue is the first I believe to show that the Titans cave headquarters is hidden behind a giant billboard for the Batman TV Show. Some of the Titans even express remorse that they might miss an episode because of this adventure. 

One of the problems with the Teen Titans is the same with the Justice League of America, they collectively are too powerful for normal threats. But despite that obvious fact they constantly have a hard time against just regular people, like the motorcycle gang that shows up to spoil a "Ramble" in an isolated desert town on its last legs. This is a threat that Wonder Girl or Kid Flash should be able to mop up in no time, but it takes a full issue and all of the team to put it down. One very cool addition in the story is the motorcycle Robin rides. It would become a staple of his stories for years to come. 

More espionage in the eleventh and final issue in this collection which also features the return of Speedy. The cover is pretty dramatic and also pretty misleading as the lamprey monster in the comic is not quite so impressive. This is another one in which a super-smart teen is pressed to commit crime to protect his parent's reputation much like second Titans adventure in The Brave and the Bold. The stories seem less bout the threats really and more about the esprit d' corps the Titans have fighting together and helping one another when they get into hard places. Note that the Go-Go Checks have checked out with this issue. 

More 60's Teen Titans action next week at this same time.  

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Captain Science!

Roy Thomas has used the PS Artbooks to gather up material which otherwise would never see the light of day again, lost forever in the dusty back issue boxes of decades long gone. Captain Science ain't a great comic book by any means, but inspired by the more famous Captain Video, it's a joyous glimpse of a time and place when comics were simple yarns of adventure and low-grade thrills.

The artists are names like Gustav Shrotter, Walter Johnson, Tex Blaisdell, Rocke Mastroserio and Bill Molno -- not exactly the most famous or revered artists in the field though many are quite competent. A few issues of this run were by Joe Orlando and Wally Wood, which is why they still resonate, but thanks to those famous talents we get a glimpse at other work of the day in this collection and many others across the years. These aren't great stories, but for folks who like this genre, they are fun.

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