Wednesday, February 25, 2015

NOT REALLY SECOND STRING -- THE T.H.U.N.D.E.R. SQUAD !!!


We all know are familiar with the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents - Dynamo, NoMan, Lightning, Menthor & maybe even Raven. But are you as familiar with the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad? Who didn't swoon over Kitten?

The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad members were Guy Gilbert (later to become Lightning), Kathryn "Kitten" Kane, Dynamite (John Adkins), Egghead (James Angor) & Weed (William Wylie.) The Squad was illustrated by Mike Sekowsky, Wally Wood & Dan Adkins.

The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad was there at the death of Menthor!



T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1
"T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad"
Introduction of the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad.
Death of Squad member Egghead. 

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #2
"Death of Egghead"
The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad is sent to San Bolivar to stop the takeover by General Bestia.


T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #3
"T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad"
Profile of the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad.   
Kitten on the cover. 

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #4
"The Deadly Dust"
Origin and first appearance of Lightning.
"Return of the Iron Maiden"
Dynamo tracks down Dr. Death but is captured. The Iron Maiden gives her life to allow Dynamo to escape.
Weed & Dynamite of The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad appear in this Dynamo story.
Both stories reprinted in T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #20.

  
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7
"A Matter of Life and Death"
With NoMan, Dynamo, Lightning & T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad. Menthor dies vs. Warlords. 
Reprinted in T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #18.

 
Feature on the THUNDER belt!
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #11
"Understudy for Dynamo"
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad Agent Dynamite wears the THUNDER belt. vs. SPIDER.
This time the Squad made the cover.

Original Wally Wood cover art!
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #12
"The Road to Spider HQ"
Lightning, NoMan & T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad vs. SPIDER.



T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #13
"The Quick and the Changing"
Shapeshifter Mock-Man makes fools of the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents. 
Kitten makes an appearance in this Lightning story and on the cover! 


T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #17
"Weed out West"
George Tuska art.  



JC Comics came out with JCP Features the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents magazine & a short lived T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comic book, both of which featured the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad. The magazine contained stories illustrated by Jack Kirby & Neal Adams!



The THUNDER Squad also appeared in Archie Comics' Blue Ribbon Comics #12, originally slated for JC Comics' T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #3.


Next came Deluxe Comics' Wally Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents. We even saw the return of Egghead in this series. 


And who can forget Penthouse's Omni Comix #3 with Paul Gulacy illustrating the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents! Kitten was there. Even a Steve Ditko NoMan! Unfortunately, a conclusion to this story was not to be. 
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Archives Vol. 1 through 6 cover the Tower Comics series.
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Archives Vol. 7 covers the Deluxe Comics series.
To me, this is an integral part of comic books, the human factor. The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad brought a lighter touch to much of the drama in the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comics. I looked forward to them just as much as Dynamo or Noman. 
  

Have some fun, check them out, give them a second chance if you haven't already. I think you'll like it.

Nothing like a great piece of Steve Ditko art!
 

Live Large My Friends!

Thank You! 
 
A must have magazine for any T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agent's fan.!
George Perez art for Deluxe Comics series.
Always loved seeing these ads!


 


 
 

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