This issue kicks off with our hero’s training techniques for the forthcoming D-Day, while Hitler summons Baron Von Strucker, ordering him to come up with a plan to get rid of the Howling Commandos. Strucker sets out to counter them with a squad that mirrors the Howling Commandos in composition. Thus, as the title suggests, “The Blitzkrieg Squad” is born.

Each member of this squad (unnamed in this issue, though I’ve included names in the character list) mirrors a defining trait of one of the Howling Commandos. But matching the Commandos man-for-man isn’t enough. Strucker sets a trap with a series of fake V2 rockets, positioned so that they can’t be easily bombed from the air, forcing ground troops to take them out. The trap is sprung when these rockets are spotted, leading the Commandos to receive orders to go destroy the missiles.

Story

Overall, the story is compelling, with a well-crafted plan, solid action, and a strong pace. I enjoyed watching the plan unfold from the opening through to the last page. The writing and dialogue kept me engaged, moving smoothly from one page to the next.

Characters & Development

This is where the issue falls a bit flat. Forget that it’s the status quo for our main cast; while a new counter group is introduced, they are, in my opinion, underused after their initial assembly. This could be partly due to the limited page count, which doesn’t give enough room to do them justice. That lack of development for the Blitzkrieg Squad was one of my biggest takeaways after finishing the issue.

Originality & Continuity

We’ve seen storylines before where a team is assembled to counteract another group, but it’s executed effectively here and offers potential foils for our heroes if the Blitzkrieg Squad sees further development. It fits within the continuity and builds on the ongoing storyline, especially for Strucker. Perhaps the subtext here, more than in other issues, is that these stories are meant to align loosely with the events of World War II. And in that respect, I feel the creators take care to make this issue feel authentic to its historical backdrop.