As regular Scoop readers know, during the disruption caused by the COVID-19 virus, we’ve featured reviews of individual back issues, runs, collected editions, and original graphic novels that captured and held our attention over the long haul. Now that “new comics Wednesday” has returned in some form for many around the country, we’ve decided to continue including great older comics among our features. Remember, once your store is open, checking out their back issue bins or bookshelves is a great way to #BackTheComeback.
Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1
Deluxe Comics; $2.00
Since their debut at Tower in the 1960s, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents have been the subject of a number of revivals. The best of these – and strangely enough, the one that was actually illegal – came from publisher David Singer and his company, Deluxe Comics, in 1984. Despite his protestations to the contrary, he simply had not secured the rights to publish T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comics. As a result, the series lasted only five issues.
But oh, what a glorious five issues they were, and none of them were more deserving of attention than Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1.
Under a superb George Pérez cover were three main stories. First, The Raven was featured in a tale by writer Dann Thomas with pencils by Pérez and inks by Dave Cockrum. Second up was a Menthor story written by Stephen Perry and illustrated by Keith Giffen and Rick Bryant. Third came a T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents team story by Steve Englehart and Cockrum.
All of the stories were intriguing and well produced. They were accompanied by character pin-ups by Jerry Ordway, Steve Ditko, Stan Drake, and Pat Broderick.
For readers who were not familiar with the team from its 1960s version or subsequent incarnations, this issue was a phenomenal introduction. While Giffen’s art was becoming highly stylized (and often hard to follow, though not in this case), Pérez and Cockrum were at the height of their artistic powers. The stories not only delivered, but they made you want to know more.
These stories were collected with the other Deluxe issues in the final T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Archives published by DC. However, none of the restoration or even general care that went into DC’s Tower volumes was afforded their Deluxe volume, so unless it’s a gift, take a hard pass on it and instead pick-up this series. Even if you’re familiar with the characters, it’ll change how you think about their potential.
– J.C. Vaughn
