Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #20:The Blitz Squad Strikes

Review By:

Posted:

In this issue, the Blitzkrieg Squad returns, launching an operation in Scotland to rescue captive Nazis being held in a castle. The Howlers are called into action, deployed to face off against Baron Strucker and his squad while also rescuing the men who had been guarding the captured Nazis—men who are now prisoners themselves.

Originality & Continuity

This issue revisits themes from Sgt. Fury #18, particularly the fallout from Pam’s death. We catch a glimpse of how this loss still affects Fury, though it’s explored subtly through a side-story “fight” between him and McGiveney. The return of the Blitzkrieg Squad, last seen in issue #14, provides a perfect foil for the Commandos.

The Blitzkrieg Squad gets a bit more development this time around. While still somewhat shallow (typical for the era), the small parallels between the two groups add some depth. Notably, skipping the (peaceful) travel sequence of the Howlers saves pages and allows more room for action—a smart choice that keeps the pace brisk.

Overall, while this issue leans on a familiar formula, it’s a formula that works exceptionally well for Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos, so I can’t complain much.

Characters & Development

Sgt. Bull McGiveney stands out here, both for his role in the story and his larger dynamic within the series. As the leader of the rival Maulers and a constant thorn in Fury’s side, McGiveney serves as an envious counterpart to our main hero. He’s a rival—though more of a wannabe rival—and a classic bully.

This issue gives us a peek into McGiveney’s psyche, revealing his envy and desire to prove himself against Fury (even if he ultimately chickens out). It’s a nice layer of complexity for a character often relegated to “antagonistic brute.”

Story & Art

This issue delivers a fun, compelling story that fits seamlessly into the ongoing narrative while also serving as an excellent jumping-on point for new readers. The artwork remains dynamic and entertaining. While it doesn’t push boundaries the way the previous issue did, it’s still far from disappointing. The visuals bring the story to life with plenty of energy and excitement.

Book Information:
Cover Date: Jul 1965
Read At:
Credits:
  • Stan Lee
  • Dick Ayers
  • Frank Ray
  • Art Simek
Review Ratings:
Originality And Continuity&#9733&#9733&#9733½&#9734&#9734
Character And Development&#9733&#9733&#9733¾&#9734&#9734
Story&#9733&#9733&#9733¼&#9734&#9734
Art&#9733&#9733&#9733½&#9734&#9734
Overall&#9733&#9733&#9733½&#9734&#9734
Cast:
  • Howling Commandos
    • Corporal “Dum-Dum” Dugan
    • Dino Manelli
    • Gabriel Jones
    • Izzy Cohen
    • Percy Pinkerton
    • Robert “Rebel” Ralston
    • Sgt. Fury
  • Sergeant Bull McGiveney
  • Captian “Happy Sam” Sawyer
  • Hans Rooten
  • Nazis
    • Blitzkrieg Squad
      • Baron Strucker
      • Ernst
      • Fritz
      • Ludwig
      • Manfred
      • Otto
      • Siegfried

by

Tags:

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *