To start off my comic book review of Sgt. Fury And His Howling Commandos #9,  I have to start with the cover itself; where we have the commandos surrounded  with Hitler on a pedestal behind them.  The title “Mission: Capture Hitler!” to the right. Lastly the bubble that says it all: “The world knew  that it couldn’t be done! But Fury and his Howlers had to do it…!!” Just from looking at the cover, we know what this issue is about, and what an intense story we are in for.

Story

While the cover builds excitement,  page after page of the story inside fails to let us down.  Beginning with Nick returning from a night out with Pamela . this peaceful scene is interrupted, and manipulated in only the most appropriate ways for a comic book; maintaining the light hearted nature right though the first few pages – when the Howling Commandos get there assignment.

From there on out the tension is constantly rising right though the climax; as  the mission to capture hitler proves to be as hard as one might expect.  But never without the occasional witty remark, and the comic appeal that the Howling Commandos bring.

This issue, shows how a comic can have a strong; tense story and yet maintain a level of light hearted humor at the same time, without becoming surreal.

Artwork

Compared to Howling commandos #8, I found the artwork in this issue to be just average.  While it has its good panels  and sequences that stand out. He majority of the issue just meets expectations.  One of my favorite panels is when Nick Fury walks in to find his men all ready for the mission – before he even told them about it.  I find it sets the mood for the pages to follow, changing from the comedic start to the –slightly- more serious main story.

Originality & Continuity

In the writing of Sgt. Fury And His Howling Commandos, Stan lee and company had a lot to keep in mind.  From the real history of world war II, marvels already grand history of comics set there from the golden age (although that likely was not a huge concern) , and of course the continuity with the other titles –where we for instance already seen Fury alive in Fantastic Four #21 – having become  a Colonel.

In the case of this issue, its not so much any of the golden age , or even marvel universe stuff that I feel was at play, but the real history. Yes  Marvel’s World War II was different from the real World War II, just like  Marvels books today is different from the world today; but the company then and now set out to work in an acceptable parallel to reality; one that I feel is always on the writers minds.  In taking on a story this grand, such as capturing Hitler, runs the risk of significantly altering that parallel.  But in the case of this story,   Stan Lee succeeded greatly, Allowing the team to take on such a history altering mission, without both altering history significantly or effectively ending the war / and the series.  How did they do that? You will just have to read this book for yourself.