Retro Comic Recap: Super-Villain Team-Up #12

Happy Wednesday, folks!

Time for me to talk about the twelfth issue of Marvel's Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover depicted Dr. Doom facing off against the Red Skull, who was riding a small rocket. The tale was titled "Death-Duel!" The issue had a cover date of June 1977.

Things were tense at Castle Doom in Latveria, as those gathered around the viewscreen in the palace's control room were watching as the Red Skull was preparing his hypno-ray from the moon, about ready to aim it at the planet Earth. Doom and the Shroud were flying toward the Skull's base on the moon, and remained in contact with Captain America back at the Latverian monarch's castle.

Crown Prince Rudolfo was being carted away for medical attention (after being shot by the Red Skull a few issues back). Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, had no interest in the current affairs, except for Doom's promise to restore his citizens back to their original states (a vow made last issue). Out in space, the Shroud donned a space suit so that he could tackle the weapon in orbit, while Doom continued to pilot his craft toward his enemy's lair.

The Red Skull was prepared for such an attack and had been readying his plans since his last encounter with Cap (in Captain America's own mag). He released a series of rockets that made a beeline for Doom's ship. Victor Von Doom's craft had no defensive weapons, save for the ones in his own armor. 

He flew from the ship moments before several rockets destroyed the vessel. Doom's lackeys prepared their master's space suit and he rode his small jet to the spot where Doom had landed on the moon. While the titans battled, the Scourge sought to deactivate the hypno-ray. The battle on the moon continued even after a ship piloted by Cap (borrowed from his friends at SHIELD) located the Shroud floating in space and used a tractor beam to bring him aboard. 

Both Doom and the Red Skull were formidable opponents, and each managed to pierce the other's suit. Doom used his glove's freeze unit to seal the wound and charged at the Skull, driving him into the ground. The Skull's ray loosed several large boulders that fell on top of both of them. Doom emerged unscathed, while his rival remained trapped under the rubble. 

Victor convinced the Skull's lackeys to see the error of their ways, and they turned to his side instead of rushing to save their former employer. The Red Skull continued to cry for help from his cracked helmet, even as Doom's next ship took off. He wasn't about to aid such a bitter enemy.

This was the end of this storyline, but the Red Skull would return in future issues of this series. Dr. Doom and the Skull had tangled before in the Astonishing Tales series (some of those stories would be reprinted in an upcoming issue of SVTU). I always did prefer Doom over the Red Skull, so for me this was a satisfying conclusion to this saga. My only gripe is that part of this story felt a bit rushed. We learned late in the story that the hypno-ray was sabotaged, but we didn't really learn just what the Shroud did to stop its activation, or what happened to him after Captain America's rescue. 

The Sub-Mariner will make his final appearance in this series in the thirteenth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up, which I'll discuss tomorrow. We'll see what happened when Namor finally returned to Atlantis, and whether or not Doom made good on his promise to help the Atlantean people. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap:: Super-Villain Team-Up #11

Happy Tuesday, folks!

Today's topic is the eleventh issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover showed Dr. Doom battling the Red Skull in the foreground, and Captain America tackling the Shroud in the background, with Namor, the Sub-Mariner, bursting through a window in the midst of the chaos. Part three of the story was called "My Ally, My Enemy!" The issue had a publication date of April 1977.

The tale began with the Red Skull and his guards opening fire on the Shroud after having wounded the false Dr. Doom (the crown prince Rudolfo). The Shroud put up a valiant effort, but eventually relented to the new occupant of Castle Doom. The Skull brought his new captive to a viewscreen, where the real Dr. Doom was on board a ship with Captain America.

The Shroud was blind, so he wasn't able to see what transpired. A beam emitted from the castle was fired at the vessel, one that sent the plane on a spiral toward the ground. The Red Skull then switched the view to outer space, where his crew was busy assembling a hypno-ray to be aimed at our planet. 

While the Skull was gloating about his presumed triumph, Cap and Doom were ejecting from the ship before it crashed. They landed in the tall grass. Moments later, they were met by snakes who were much larger than they were.

A few moments later, the Sub-Mariner entered the fray. He took out the Skull's guards before their master teleported to the balcony. Skull appealed to Namor, claiming that they should both be on the same side (not telling his guest that he was the one responsible for the mining in Atlantis in Doom's name). He pointed to Rudolfo, stating that he stood in the way of the democracy he was about to offer the Latverian people.

The Shroud tried to appeal to Namor's senses, reminding him of his battles against the Red Skull and his allies back in World War II. The Sub-Mariner thought for a moment before asking to confer with the Skull. Meanwhile, Victor Von Doom and Captain America were underwater, having been knocked into a sewage duct by the onrush of water after floodgates were opened. Doom saved Cap from drowning before the duo crept along Doom's prison cells.

He stopped for a moment to consider his faithful servant Boris before leading Cap further. They soon came across a window, where the Red Skull was discussing matters with the Sub-Mariner. Doom leapt into the room and struck at his larger foe. The Skull's ray still had them shrunken, but they returned to normal size just as the Skull held his small foe in his hand.

Their regrowth was due to the Sub-Mariner pressing a button on a nearby console, just before he was shot by the German villain. Cap fought off the soldiers while Doom made a beeline for his would-be usurper. The Shroud was eventually forced aside by Captain America, who reluctantly fought his fellow hero, feeling that Doom had to prevail in this particular struggle. 

Just when it seemed like the Red Skull would win, Rudolfo, still struggling after being shot (last issue) managed to grab the teleportation control and sent the Skull away. The quintet's attention turned to the viewscreen afterward. The Red Skull was now on the moon, preparing to aim his hypno-ray at Earth's population. 

This was the second issue of this title that I purchased when I was much younger. I didn't know much about the characters at the time, but I loved the pacing and action. The confrontation between Doom and Skull was inevitable, and I'm surprised they haven't clashed more often over the years. 

That's all for today. This storyline continues in the twelfth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up, which I'll cover tomorrow. Doom and the Red Skull will face off again, and we'll see how Captain America and the Shroud fit into the final climactic conflict. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Super-Villain Team-Up #10

Happy Monday, folks!

Today's topic is the tenth issue of Marvel's Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover depicted Captain America squaring off against Doctor Doom, who were both in the grasp of the Red Skull. Part one of this tale was titled "The Sign of the Skull!" The issue had a cover date of February 1977.

The story started inside the Latverian Embassy in New York City. Captain America had entered the consulate and evaded several traps before setting foot before the lord of the manor, Victor Von Doom. (The tale took place after the recent Super-Villain Team-Up/Avengers crossover). Cap had arrived to question Doom about a scepter that he held in his hand, which was confirmed to have been created in Latveria. After grasping the idol, Doom stared at it in disbelief. The baton was crafted with a swastika and a skull engraved on one side, inscriptions that could only mean one thing.

Part two of the story was called "While Atlantis Sleeps!" It began with Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, nearing his underwater homeworld of Atlantis. The protective dome was still in disrepair (due to damage incurred by Doom's ship in issue #5), and several of his people remained in their protective glass cases. Namor was about to explore further when the ground below him started to shake.

He swam outside to see more men with machines disrupting the area. They were hired to mine ore and didn't seem to care about much else. Namor lashed out at the intruders and finally captured one, who revealed that the one who employed them was in Latveria.

Back at Castle Doom, the Shroud and former crown prince Rudolfo (still in his Dr. Doom disguise) had just entered the building when they were met by guards who were loyal to the real Doom. A battle began, but it was short-lived. Rudolfo and the Shroud made their way to the control room, where the man in charge fired at the false Doom,

Meanwhile, Cap and Victor were flying back to the castle when their ship came under attack from drones issued from the palace. Captain America took to the gun turret to dispatch their pursuers, but it wasn't enough. One blast seemed to eliminate the craft. Inside the control room, the Shroud faced the man behind such machinations: Cap's old enemy, the Red Skull, who had infiltrated Doom's headquarters and was in the middle of enacting his plans to bring about a Fourth Reich, one which he would command.

The Red Skull and Doom first butted heads in the Astonishing Tales comic. That storyline was published a few years before this title. Doom and Skull proved to be good rivals. The only bad thing is that this issue's cover gave away the Skull's appearance. He would play a pivotal role in most of this series' remaining issues.

That's it from me today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the eleventh issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. We'll find out what happened to Doom and the star-spangled Avenger, and learn more about the Red Skull's plot. We'll also see what role Namor plays in this affair. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Super-Villain Team-Up #9

Good afternoon,

Winding down a nice Sunday with a recap of the ninth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover showed Dr. Doom facing off against Iron Man, with fellow Avengers Yellowjacket, the Scarlet Witch, Captain America, and the Vision around them, after a recent battle. The tale was titled "Pawns of Attuma!" The issue had a cover date of December 1976. 

The story started inside Attuma's command vessel, as the Sub-Mariner's rival observed the Avengers that he'd fitted with slave collars (in issue #154 of the Avengers' own book) were now on their way to take out Namor for him. Attuma could then focus on his plans to control the Earth.

Iron Man carried Cap in the air near Hydrobase before Shell-Head's collar started to malfunction. The two longtime friends crashed onto the beach below. A short while later, Janet Van Dyne (the Wasp) and her husband Hank Pym (Yellowjacket) reported their own failures to short-circuit Attuma's collars. The quartet was met by the Vision, who was carrying his unconscious wife Wanda Maximoff (the Scarlet Witch) in his arms. It seemed like the heroes had no choice but to obey Attuma's orders.

All of this was observed by Attuma from the safety of his ship. He soon decided that he'd seen enough, and flew off, unaware that his ship was also being watched. Back in Latveria, the Scourge (in disguise as part of the Ringmaster's Circus of Crime) stood before Namor, whom he'd knocked out moments before Doom and his guards surrounded him. 

Doom ordered his faithful servant Boris to remove all of the circus members except the Sub-Mariner and the Shroud. He learned their costumed identities from the Ringmaster, who freely admitted their role in the affair before being led out of Latveria. Doom then requested to be left alone with his new guests.

The Shroud was surprised, thinking that Doom had perished (after being run off a cliff by his own hounds two issues earlier). Doom then provided Namor with an antidote so that he could breathe normally before removing his mask, and revealing that he was actually Latveria's crown prince Rudolfo.

He explained his earlier attempts to overtake Doom and his allies, including his failure when the original castle was destroyed. That setback didn't deter Rudolfo or his loyal allies. They saw the rumors of Doom's death and the fact that Victor Von Doom often employed robot duplicates of himself as a perfect opportunity to begin their next campaign. 

Rudolfo took the place of one of Doom's robot doppelgangers and was impressive enough to deceive even Doom's most loyal servant, Boris. While Rudolfo and the Shroud went on toward Castle Doom, the Sub-Mariner flew off to assist his people. Those transgressions were witnessed by another costumed individual who reported back to his superior.

As for the real Doctor Doom, he was still at Hydrobase, being tended to by Namor's people, who believed his claims that he could cure those who had become water-breathers and whose skin turned green (due to a series of events recounted in the Sub-Mariner's since-cancelled title). Namor's cousin Namorita demanded an update. Doom announced that he'd found a cure as he walked toward a machine.

This gave Victor an excuse to contact his lackey Gregor via his wrist plate communicator. It seemed all was progressing for a certain transaction with an undisclosed buyer. Before Doom could respond further, his device was blasted by Namorita's pistol. Doom was about to strike the Atlantean in retaliation when Iron Man burst through the wall behind them.

The Avengers burst into the room and quickly engaged in a battle against Doom, Namorita, and Tamara. While that conflict continued, the Beast and Wonder Man helped the Whizzer (who was believed to be the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver's father at the time) recover in his hospital room. They appeared to be the only Avengers left and entered a waiting Quinjet to face pending threats.

Not far away, the Sub-Mariner flew into a Russian air patrol. He made quick work of the jets before grabbing one of the pilots. Namor learned the details of Attuma's plot and the super weapon that he planned to use before setting off to join the fray.

The penciler for this issue was future Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter. This was a fine crossover with the Avengers' mag, but it wasn't exactly a groundbreaking storyline. Crossovers between different titles were still a relatively new concept in the Seventies. The saga concluded in the 155th issue of the Avengers.

Tomorrow, I'll return with a summary of the tenth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. Doom and Namor fight their own battles, and the Shroud and Rudolfo face off against a different enemy, one whom longtime Marvelites were probably expecting to appear in this series by now. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Super-Villain Team-Up #8

Good morning, folks, 

Hope all's well. Time for me to discuss the eighth issue of Marvel's Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover showed Namor, the Sub-Mariner, battling the Ringmaster, who was atop an elephant that was about to stamp one of his feet on a child below him. An image of Doctor Doom was shown in the background. The story was called "Escape!" The issue had a publication date of October 1976.

The tale began in Atlantis, where Doom had just been whisked to by members of Namor's nation. Namorita and Tamara had captured the Latverian monarch and demanded the Sub-Mariner's release. Victor Von Doom quickly tried to defuse the situation, stating that Namor was his ally, despite what members of the Fantastic Four had told the occupants of Hydrobase (last issue). He claimed that he could cure the green-skinned individuals (who had been afflicted in a storyline in Subby's own mag) and return them to their normal human selves.

His hosts were naturally skeptical, but decided to take a chance on the possibility that there may be some truth in Doom's words, and set off for Latveria. Shortly after their arrival, Doom's faithful lackey Bela informed his master of Namor's escape. Doom was angered and berated his servant.

Doom's guests still had reason to be wary, even as their host explained that their ruler must be elsewhere in his small European nation. Their guard was assigned to watch Doom closely while the two Atlantean women conferred. Meanwhile, Namor and the Shroud were huddled at a nearby body of water. The Sub-Mariner's strength had returned, and they continued to venture further on foot.

The Shroud led his new colleague toward his plane, which he found had been discovered by locals, who were demolishing the craft. The efforts were being led by Doom's longtime associate, Boris. Before long, some of the guard dogs (who we saw last issue) were drawn to the strangers' scents and moved to attack. The conflict drew the attention of the villagers, who ran to attack those whom they had assumed had killed their leader (the dogs chased Doom to the edge of a cliff in the previous issue, and it was assumed that their master had died after vanishing from the cliffside). 

Namor and the Shroud fled. Their escape attempt brought them to a rope bridge. They made it through to the other side before the Shroud took out a knife and ensured that the angry mob would be delayed at least temporarily in their quest for revenge.

By then, Doom and his captors had returned to Hydrobase. Victor met with Dr. Henry Croft and examined some of the machinery while remaining in contact with Boris. He asked to be alerted should Namor and the Shroud return to the castle.

The Sub-Mariner and the Shroud had wandered into a small town, one that was hosting what appeared to be a circus. The festivities were produced by the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime. The exhibition appeared on the surface to be legitimate, but the veteran criminal and his friend Clown engaged in a melee with the intruders shortly after Namor asked for assistance in leaving Latveria.

Not even the Ringmaster's most seasoned employees could defeat the newcomers. Afterward, the Ringmaster agreed to disguise them as part of the evening's parade through the town. However, as Namor walked along, he spied Doom observing the proceedings from a balcony. 

The Sub-Mariner thought that Doom was dead, so seeing his erstwhile ally alive again led to an argument with the Shroud. The Shroud knocked out Namor, drawing the ire of Doom. As his guards surrounded him, the Shroud wondered how he was going to escape alive.

It was good to see the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime again, although they didn't really put up much of a fight. I've seen better battles in other Marvel comics over the years. The appearance of Doom toward the end of this story was a bit of a surprising twist, until you consider the fact that Doom has had many doppelgangers throughout his illustrious career. 

This version of Doom will be explained later today, in my summary of the ninth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. We'll also learn more about Doom's actions at Hydrobase and the role he plays in the crossover storyline with the Avengers' title. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Super-Villain Team-Up #7

Hello there,

Hope everyone's been enjoying the weekend. Today's topic is the seventh issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover depicted the Shroud battling Dr. Doom on a castle walkway, with the Sub-Mariner sailing to the scene and several hungry-looking dogs in the background. The tale was titled "Who Is...The Shroud?" The issue had a cover date of August 1976.

The story started right where the previous issue left off. The Fantastic Four were walking out of Castle Doom after being told by Latveria's newest ally, Henry Kissinger, that he'd signed a non-aggression pact with the small Latverian nation. Joining the group was Namor, who had just turned on the FF against his own wishes.

The American heroes were still quarreling on their way back to the Fantasticar. Their team leader, Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), wasn't happy with the situation, but felt they had to obey the laws. His brother-in-law, Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), was angered by that perspective. He felt that Doom was just as dangerous as Hitler and felt they had to do something. Reed's college roommate, Ben Grimm, felt similarly, but wasn't quite as eloquent in explaining his frustration. Johnny's sister Susan (the Invisible Girl) tried to calm the tensions, adding that her husband Reed was still the group's leader. 

Shortly afterward, Victor Von Doom bid Kissinger farewell, and the diplomat departed via helicopter. Doom and Namor were left to discuss matters, and still clearly had opposing views. They parted ways, and Namor went into one of the lower levels of the castle. There, he met the mystery figure he'd spotted earlier: a new costumed vigilante who went by the name of the Shroud. 

After introductions were made, the newcomer explained his reasons for being there. It started when he suddenly became an orphan one evening after walking home with his parents after a concert one evening. A crook robbed them of their jewelry and fired his gun at the adults (a scenario that's very similar to the origin story for the Distinguished Competition's caped crusader). The boy then vowed to spend the rest of his life fighting crime.

He trained in criminology, science, and physical conditioning. The lad noticed the rise in prominence of superheroes and set out to be a force of good. He eventually flew to Nepal, where he came upon the Cult of Kali. He was welcomed into the group and learned their ways and methods. As a rite of passage, the man was branded with the Kiss of Kali and robbed of his sight from that day forth.

The man ran into the snow, dropping face forward to soothe his burning skin. His vision was gone once he arose, but he knew that he no longer needed it. He also noticed that the temple itself had suddenly disappeared. The man later returned to the U.S. and created his costume and heroic persona. 

He told Namor that he wanted to kill Doom, feeling that if he was successful, he would become Earth's premier superhero. If he failed, the Shroud presumed that it would be a noble way to expire. The Sub-Mariner thought that the intruder was insane and was reluctant to help.

Meanwhile, the Fantasticar wasn't about to head home just yet. Reed made a detour to Hydrobase. Upon landing, he informed the residents about something important that he felt they needed to know. 

Early the next morning, Victor was walking his loyal hounds before entering the family home of some of his citizens. He announced that he was exercising his droit de seigneur, his right to the company of any female in his nation. Doom took the couple's daughter, who realized there was nothing they could do to obstruct such a longstanding tradition in their country.

Von Doom led the girl to a cliff, where he was about to set the dogs on a hunt, since they had longed for the taste of wolfish blood. Before more could be done, the Scourge appeared from behind, demanding the woman's release. The girl named Gretchen stood aside before Doom mounted his first attack.

It became apparent immediately that the Scourge wasn't going to surrender. He engaged the monarch in a heated battle. Both combatants used their own unique weapons in the melee. The Shroud threw a net over Doom, which held him long enough for Doom's iron chest plate to be removed. That put him at the mercy of Doom's own ravenous dogs. 

The dogs chased their master, who ran off the end of the cliff, seemingly to his own demise. The Shroud celebrated his victory, thinking that his opponent had perished. He later returned to the castle to proclaim his victory to the Sub-Mariner. 

While the two left the castle, Doom awoke to find two females before him. His chest had been bandaged. Doom was now back in Atlantis, the same area that he'd attacked a few issues earlier.

I didn't expect Doom to be bested so easily, especially by a novice hero. The Shroud would be featured in a few more issues of this title. He would also appear in a Spider-Man issue of Marvel Team-Up and Spider-Woman's first regular series. The Shroud would later work with the West Coast Avengers, have his own limited series, form the hero group known as the Night Shift, and pose as Moon Knight after Marc Spector's passing. An interesting character whose origin was obviously copied from Batman in some areas. His powers and abilities put him on par with Daredevil, Iron Fist, Spider-Man, and other similar superheroes. 

That's it for today. I'll begin tomorrow with a synopsis of the eighth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. We'll learn more about why Doctor Doom was sent to Atlantis, and see the villains that the Shroud and Namor encounter in that story. Hint: they're already well-known in the Marvel Universe. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Super-Villain Team-Up #6

Happy Friday, folks!

It's time for me to discuss the sixth issue of Marvel's Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover depicted Namor, the Sub-Mariner, battling the Fantastic Four with images of Dr. Doom and the Shroud in the background. The story was called "Prisoner!" The issue had a publication date of June 1976.

The tale began with Namor behind bars, trapped inside Castle Doom. The Sub-Mariner yelled the name of his captor, and moments later, the Latverian monarch entered the room. He admitted that he'd been watching his Atlantean guest through the eyes of the portrait behind him.

Doom knew he had the upper hand, and soon left Namor. He walked down a hallway, noticing the arrival of the Fantasticar as he entered a control room. Aerial defenses ensured that the Americans would not have an easy landing. Susan Richards (the Invisible Girl) projected an invisible force sphere around the craft as it found a deserted spot not far away to set down.

Shortly thereafter, she, her husband Reed (Mr. Fantastic), brother Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), and Reed's former college roommate Ben Grimm (the Thing) tackled the first wave of Doom's lackeys. The commotion was loud enough to draw Subby's attention. Namor also spotted the Shroud walking around a short distance away. The newcomer was too intent on observing the Fantastic Four's battle to think that he might be being watched himself.

Doom was paying attention to the conflict outside from the safety of his castle, along with an unnamed witness, who was gradually shown many of Victor Von Doom's other defensive weapons. Doom was in the middle of a toast with his potential new business associate when an underling burst in. Victor ushered him into a side hallway where they could speak in private. 

He came to inform his master that the Fantastic Four had defeated the androids. Doom thought that might happen, and sent Bela off so that he could focus on the Sub-Mariner. He instructed him to stop the FF before opening the doors to his room.

A short while later, the Sub-Mariner flew right into the Thing. He apologized for the assault, adding that he was simply following orders. Another conflict swiftly ensued, one that Namor did not win. With the Sub-Mariner defeated, the Fantastic Four were just setting foot inside Castle Doom when they heard a familiar voice. 

It was the words of Doom's newest guest, Henry Kissinger, who announced that he'd just formalized a non-aggression pact with Latveria. From then on, no American forces would be allowed to interfere with any of Latveria's internal affairs. Kissinger went on to say that America needed Latveria to help keep world peace and security, even though Doom's longtime rivals knew their enemy's true motives. 

The Fantastic Four started to leave, talking amongst themselves all the while. Little did they know that the Scourge was perched in the rafters, watching and listening to everything that transpired. He was ready to enact his plan against Doom, an adversary who didn't even know he existed. 

Kissinger was the mystery character that was billed in this issue and the last. He definitely wasn't the type of person you'd expect to see in a comic book, but one who put a wrinkle in the Fantastic Four's plans. I was rather surprised that Namor gave up his free will so readily, since Doom had given him no real proof during this plot that he could make good on his threats. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll kick off the weekend with a summary of the seventh issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. The Shroud will finally get his chance to face off against Doctor Doom, and we'll learn the backstory of this mysterious character. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.