“You know, maybe civilization isn’t so bad after all.”
Thunderbolt v3 #58
Charlton Comics Group (July, 1967)
“Encore: The Hooded One”
CREATOR/WRITER/ARTIST: PAM
Sentinels: “Into The Lair Of The…Mind-Bender”
WRITER: S. O’Shaughnessy, which Comic Book Plus claims is Denny O’Neil
ARTIST: Sam Grainger
LETTERER: Bob Agnew
EDITOR: Dick Giordano
A girl’s plane crashes in the Himalayas, and Thunderbolt takes the opportunity to go home and confront the Hooded One. Returning to the time-forgotten world beyond the Cave Of Peaks, Thunderbolt confronts the Hooded One, fights a pterodactyl, fights a pair of lions, and finally a giant ape (not King Kong sized) and the villain’s army of dwarf warriors to rescue the girl. She may not know Peter Cannon is Thunderbolt, but when she wakens in the llamasary to see Peter and Tabu, she decides they’re her actual rescuers and now she belong to them. Or she thinks Peter’s really cute. Can’t tell.
What they got right: PAM (Peter A. Morrisi) references the story from last issue by the guest writer as both stories end up in the same place. The action’s pretty good, and we see that our hero isn’t unbeatable. Plus, Tabu doesn’t have to beg him to be helpful for once, even if it is because his old enemy is involved.
What they got wrong: Three times we get the catch phrase, and I’m counting the interrupted one when he gets knocked out. I’m also noting PAM’s curious interest in Peter’s sinewy body. I’d also like to know HOW Peter knew the Hooded One was involved since the reasoning for him going after the girl, surviving a plane crash like the one that damaged his face, is kind of stretching.
Over with the Sentinels, they find out unnecessary guest Sarge Steel is under Mind-Bender’s control and Mentalia barely manages to free him. Doctors care for Sarge and tell the team that Helio will soon recover from his amnesia–with no explanation. Cindy and Crunch have to start the concert without him, but Mind-Bender takes over the crowd, and it’s only Rick’s appearance as the only one who brought his gear that allows them to escape. Later that night, Rick gets a call from Crunch, but it’s a trap. Mind-Bender, revealing his name as John Linden like an idiot, has taken over Crunch’s mind and will kill the team with his own…can we call him a friend? He’s hot for Cindy, hates Rick’s guts with no proof she’s into Rick, and it’s like the anti Fantastic Four minus one. I really don’t know what brought these three together but I’m only rooting for them because of the villain they’re fighting.
What I think overall: At least the title hero finally did something willingly by his usual writer. I’m still not interested in either of these stories, but luckily we only have two issues left to go.
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