Welcome to Level Seven

Unofficial Marvel Cinematic Universe Podcast

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
    • Agent Carter
    • Daredevil
    • Jessica Jones
    • Luke Cage
    • Iron Fist
    • Defenders
    • Inhumans
    • Runaways
    • Cloak and Dagger
    • Movies
    • Comic Episode
  • Reviews
  • About
  • iTunes
  • Book Store
  • Support
  • Feedback

Strange Tales #135 (Comic Files)

July 4, 2013 by Daniel Butcher Leave a Comment

Strange_Tales_Vol_1_135

Preamble

How did Army officer Nick Fury become a member of S.H.I.E.L.D.? What did early S.H.I.E.L.D. look like? When did they get flying cars? These questions can all be answered in reading Strange Tales #135 from August 10, 1965.

 

Situation Report

As the story , “The Man for the Job”, opens Colonel Nick Fury is being fitted for a Life Model Decoy (LMD). Fury is told about Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-Enforcement Division or S.H.I.E.L.D. and recruited to help counter the security threat HYDRA. Fury is introduced to the Council governing S.H.I.E.L.D and Tony Stark who creates special weapons for the spy organization. Fury claims to not be the right man for the job, a simple sergeant at heart not a Colonel or super spy. But when a HYDRA attack creates chaos on the Heli-carrier, Fury takes charge of the situation.

The S.H.I.E.L.D. story is followed by a Doctor Strange tale. Doctor Strange faces off against magical villain Baron Mordu. Sadly, Nick Fury is not present.

 

Level Seven Analysis

The more things change, the more they stay the same. This first S.H.I.E.L.D. story has plenty of story elements that will be kept throughout the history of this spy organization. On the very first page we see LMDs, the Heli-carrier is present (though spelling has changed) and yes there is even a flying car. Perhaps Agent Avery’s guess about Lola’s undercarriage is even more correct than I want to guess. Young Fury’s S.H.I.E.L.D. is very much a familiar organization.

This story is very much James Bond. Fury wears a simply blue suit. Tony Stark feels more like Bond’s Q than Iron Man. HYDRA feels like SPECTRE as seen in the movies. In the years before publication the movie audience had already experienced Dr. No, From Russia with Love, and Goldfinger while hitting newsstands months before Thunderball. Sean Connery’s Bond was a hit, and clearly Marvel was attempting to tap into that. There use of an established character without super powers and reworking him as Bond like makes perfect sense when looking at the popular culture of the time. Honestly, the penalty for failure within Hydra feels like a life straight out of the SPECTRE policy and procedure manual!

This Nick Fury is far from the polished super spy we all know and love. This Fury is a simply Colonel from the Army’s G-2 unit (Intelligence) who stated as an enlisted man. He does not see himself as someone who will have an impact on international events. How wrong he is! What the story makes clear is that Fury is the right man for the job, because despite any inexperience he has Fury still is a man of action.

 

Conclusion

Nick Fury, I think you can thank James Bond for the promotion. As I read through the Marvel universe, I see S.H.I.E.L.D. everywhere. It all started here in Strange Tales #135. And what I find the most amazing is how many things have stayed the same!

 

S.H.I.E.L.D. Roster

Agent Fury (Sr.)

 

S.H.I.E.L.D. Associates

Tony Stark

 

 

 

Tweet1
Pin1
Share5
7 Shares

Filed Under: Comics, Reviews Tagged With: Doctor Strange, Marvel, Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D., Strange Tales, Tony Stark

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Listen

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Stitcher
  • Podcast RSS
  • Android

Follow us!

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Polls

What's your favorite MCU TV series so far?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive

Categories

  • Agent Carter
  • Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
  • Binge Rewatch
  • Books
  • Cloak and Dagger
  • Comic Episode
  • Comics
  • Commentary
  • Cool Comic Covers
  • Daredevil
  • DC Universe
  • Defenders
  • Disney
  • Disney+
  • Fan Art Expo
  • Hawkeye
  • Helstrom
  • Infinity Initiative
  • Inhumans
  • Iron Fist
  • Jessica Jones
  • Loki
  • Luke Cage
  • Marvel Cinematic Universe Comics
  • Marvel Studios Legends
  • MCU Comics
  • Moon Knight
  • Movies
  • Ms. Marvel
  • Netflix
  • Personnel Files
  • Podcast
  • Poll
  • Post-Credit
  • Punisher
  • Reviews
  • Runaways
  • Season Five
  • Season Four
  • Season One
  • Season Seven
  • Season Six
  • Season Three
  • Season Two
  • She-Hulk
  • Specials
  • Superheroes on the Small Screen
  • The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
  • Uncategorized
  • WandaVision
  • What If

Notice

Welcome to Level Seven™ is an independently produced fan podcast and not affiliated with ABC Studios. The views of the hosts do not necessarily reflect the views of ABC Studios or the cast and crew. Screenshots and sound clips from Marvel's Agents of SHIELD © 2013–2014 ABC Studios. Welcome to Level Seven is a trademark of Ben Avery, Daniel Butcher, and Noodle.mx Network™.

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in