If I’m in trouble I can think of greater heroes to choose. One who will actually show up for starters.
Thunderbolt v3 #59
Charlton Comic Group (September, 1967)
Okay, when comes to the main story, I’m not sure if “Assassins” is supposed to be a title or not. Editor Dick Giordano credits Pat Boyette (with P.A.M as series creator) as having researched a story that Peter Cannon denies happening, which serves as the framing device.
The Sensational Sentinels: “Night Of Doom”
WRITER: Sergius O’Shaugnessy
ARTIST: Sam Grainger
EDITOR: still Dick Giordano
Peter and Tabu take a boat to England to report on…something…in London. The Hooded One decides to come off the mountain, using three stolen wax figures and the spirits of an old sacrificial alter to bring the figures to life: a gangster, a Roman soldier, and a minotaur. Even Peter is easily talked into putting on his costume and facing the threats after defeating the gangster at his hotel. The soldier attacks him at a mod club, and the Hooded One sends his flunky to bring Thunderbolt to face the minotaur, but neither is a match for him. Peter would rather forget it all happened but Tabu is putting it in his files anyway, convinced no editor would touch it…though Peter knows the comic’s editor would.
I’m sorry, but outside of ditching the catchphrase I have nothing positive to say about this story. Tabu being seasick just feels like a weird way to start. I don’t know why this had to be in England. The idea of the Hooded One, who for part of the story dresses without a hood in favor of hat and trenchcoat, sending wax warriors after his enemy might have worked if they weren’t so weak. I was actually bored reading this, and I don’t think it’s just because I’m tired today.
As for the “sensational” Sentinels, we left them with the Brute under Mind-bender’s mind control. The villain wants to use the remaining heroes that he can’t yet control because reasons as mental energy banks for more of his androids. Helio manages to escape with a clever use of his flying powers (there’s your complement) and use Brute’s gloves to confront Mind-bender until the Brute needs them to save Cindy. During the fight the machinery goes haywire and the villain is seemingly killed by a fall into his own machine. Brute fails to get some alone time with Cindy.
Yeah, this story is kind of lame, too. Things happen for the sake of the plot, the fight between Helio and Mind-bender isn’t all that interesting thanks to the hero constantly underestimating the villain, who pretty much trips himself into losing. There are time I can tell why the original Charlton comics closed and this comic is one of them. Nothing was interesting in this issue and I don’t have high hopes for the few that are left. Why did DC want Thunderbolt? Beats me, but the fact that they did nothing with the Sentinels makes sense at least.
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