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Marvel Masterworks: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
Marvel Masterworks: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Vol. 1
Having revolutionized everything from war to Westerns to good ol' superheroes, in 1965 Stan Lee and Jack Kirby set their sights on the spy game. With Cold War covert ops snagging headlines and James Bond topping the box office, Marvel's greatest minds unveiled a whole new wild world upon the comic book faithful. So break out your Priority A-1 Clearance, and get ready to dive into the world of Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
Featuring more amazing gadgets and world-dominating baddies than you can shake a Heli-Carrier at, this Masterworks collects, for the first time ever, the complete early S.H.I.E.L.D. extravaganzas. With guest stars including Tony Stark, Captain America, and Nick's trusty team of Dum Dum Dugan, Gabriel Jones, and Jasper Sitwell, not to mention the Marvel debut of comics visionary, Jim Steranko, this book is truly a watershed of Silver Age wonder! You know it. We're not going to hold you back, so say it loud, say it proud, "Don't yield, back S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
Collecting Strange Tales #135 - 153, Tales of Suspense #78 and Fantastic Four #21; written by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Roy Thomas and Dennis O'Neil; pencilled by Jack Kirby, Jim Steranko, John Severin, Joe Sinnott, Don Heck, Howard Purcell and Ogden Whitney, with a cover by Jack Kirby.
Featuring more amazing gadgets and world-dominating baddies than you can shake a Heli-Carrier at, this Masterworks collects, for the first time ever, the complete early S.H.I.E.L.D. extravaganzas. With guest stars including Tony Stark, Captain America, and Nick's trusty team of Dum Dum Dugan, Gabriel Jones, and Jasper Sitwell, not to mention the Marvel debut of comics visionary, Jim Steranko, this book is truly a watershed of Silver Age wonder! You know it. We're not going to hold you back, so say it loud, say it proud, "Don't yield, back S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
Collecting Strange Tales #135 - 153, Tales of Suspense #78 and Fantastic Four #21; written by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Roy Thomas and Dennis O'Neil; pencilled by Jack Kirby, Jim Steranko, John Severin, Joe Sinnott, Don Heck, Howard Purcell and Ogden Whitney, with a cover by Jack Kirby.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 24, 2007
27 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,567 books2,336 followersStan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 1, 2020
Nick Fury debuted in 1963, as the star of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee's World War II comic SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS. Later that year, he first appeared in the modern Marvel universe as a CIA agent (and now carrying the rank of Colonel) in FANTASTIC FOUR #21. After the 1960s "spy craze" hit, he became the star of "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.," a series running as one-half of STRANGE TALES (A Dr. Strange series took up the second half.).
This volume collects those first 19 Nick Fury S.H.I.E.L.D. stories, originally appearing in STRANGE TALES #s 135-153, 1965-1966. Also included are a crossover with the Captain America series from TALES OF SUSPENSE #78, and, as a "bonus," the aforementioned FANTASTIC FOUR #21. Jack Kirby likely provides the lion's share of the plotting for the stories, layouts for most of them, and, full pencils for some. Stan Lee edits all of them and scripts most (Dennis O'Neil, Roy Thomas and Jack Kirby each script one a piece.). John Severin, Joe Sinnott, Don Heck, Howard Purcell, Ogden Whitney, John Buscema and Jim Steranko are among the artists providing pencils over Kirby's layouts.
Today, Jim Steranko is the artist and writer most associated with the "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." series, and his run on it is the most acclaimed. Those interested only in the Steranko run should thus be warned that only Steranko's first three stories are collected in this first volume and that, for each of them, Steranko merely pencils and inks over Kirby's layouts. In terms of tone and storytelling style, they're more akin to what preceded them than what followed. Other, more complete collections of the Steranko material exist and an Amazon search will easily reveal them (I checked.).
With that "house keeping" aside, let's dive into these Kirby, Lee, et. al. tales, which I do feel have merit on their own. What perhaps struck me most about them is how they so thoroughly blend several genres. In fact, I count at least four: spies, science fiction, super heroes and war.
The spy genre provided the impetus for the series, with the MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. TV show and the James Bond movies being the most overt inspirations. Like U.N.C.L.E., S.H.I.E.L.D. is an acronym (We're told that it stands for "Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law Enforcement Division") and an international spy organization for the forces of good. Several other secret - or semi-secret - organizations represent evil counterparts, with Hydra being the most prominent. The series follows the Bond and U.N.C.L.E. motifs of secret headquarters and gadgets, although the gadgets here are much more fantastical (more on that later). One obvious nod to the early Bond films made me laugh: Whereas SPECTRE's "Number One" was always shown petting a house cat, Hydra's "Supreme Leader" one ups him by owning an actual panther (Leave it to Kirby to turn the volume up to 11!). All that said - it seemed to me that "Nick Fury" becomes less and less a spy series as it progresses. While S.H.I.E.L.D. is identified as a secret organization in the introductory story, its identity is clearly public knowledge 13 issues later, when a newspaper reports that Fury's job as S.H.I.E.L.D. director is in danger. Even before this, I noted that S.H.I.E.L.D. gadgets and vehicles were prominently displaying a S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem and logo.
Those gadgets and vehicles bring me to the series' science fiction elements. By 1965, Bond films (more so than the original Fleming novels) had made gadgets a spy genre convention, but Kirby and Lee "dream big" and ignore limits of contemporary technology. Thus, S.H.I.E.L.D. utilizes - among other items - flying cars, "Life Model Decoy" robot duplicates and a "helicarrier" headquarters in the sky. Meanwhile, villains launch doomsday weapons into orbit, chase Fury with flying, weaponized "eggs" and grow androids in a vat.
If all this crazy, fanciful technology brings Kirby and Lee's Fantastic Four to mind, then - well, you've earned one of Nick Fury's trademark cigars. Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. do exist in the Marvel Universe, and this is made apparent in the very first story, when Tony Stark makes a cameo appearance. Stark, who makes weapons for S.H.I.E.L.D., appears in other stories, and as I noted earlier, there is a crossover with Marvel's Captain America feature in TALES OF SUSPENSE. In that story, Cap and Fury battle a super powered robot together, and Fury, despite having no powers, holds his own. Members of secret organizations such as Hydra sport outlandish costumes (You would think that that would be counter intuitive but...oh, well), and a few stories feature outright super villains, with names like Mentallo, the Fixer and the Druid.
For all this, I agree with Kirby fan John Morrow, who, in his introduction to this volume, states that "the S.H.I.E.L.D. strip is still basically a war comic." In many ways, it's simply an update of SGT. FURY, even returning two of the same cast members - Dum Dum Dugan and Gabe Jones. Fury does little actual spying in this series, and as it progresses, S.H.I.E.L.D. seems to function more and more as a military unit, with armies of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents frequently battling armies of villains. Even the dialogue seems lifted straight from a war comic, with Fury often berating his men for coddling themselves and/or stating the obvious, while reminding them that their lives mean nothing compared to the common cause. It struck me, too, that Hydra, in particular, seems very "Nazi-like" (a trait made even more overt by later writers) and that their standard greeting of "Hail Hydra!" even sounds similar to "Heil, Hitler!" Kirby and Lee themselves were both World War II veterans, and you can see their generation's values and sensibilities on display.
Kirby and Lee's presence brings a consistency to the stories, but as noted, there's a bit of a revolving door of talent here. This isn't all bad, and it IS interesting to see a who's who of Silver Age Marvel bullpen artists taking turns at penciling Kirby's layouts. If you're a fan of the era, then there's a good chance that one of your favorites is here (Personally, I'm delighted to see John Severin's work in whatever form that I can get it.). Still...there are admittedly a few jarring moments. As much as I love Severin, for example, I did sense that he was drawing Gabe Jones as Caucasian, and I wondered if anyone told him that Gabe was an African American character (Weirdly, in this Masterworks volume, Gabe also seems to be colored gray. That's an issue with the modern coloring, and I can't compare it to the original coloring, but regardless...What the Hell?!!!). Again, Kirby's layouts and Stan's editing (and, in most cases, scripting) do provide a mostly consistent feel, but I can't help but wish that Kirby had drawn it all, nonetheless...especially since the series as a whole so strongly bears his stamp.
That gripe aside, these are fun, fast paced tales that contribute greatly to Marvel's mythos. The genre blending proves interesting, and the relatively older, grizzled Nick Fury, while perhaps a more typical hero for the war genre, nonetheless proves a striking, relatable contrast to contemporary spy genre stalwarts such as James Bond and Napoleon Solo. While the Kirby/Lee S.H.I.E.L.D. stories may not be as ground breaking as Steranko's, I'd argue that they're nonetheless worthwhile, and I personally had a blast reading these.
Don't yield, back S.H.I.E.L.D!!!
My rating: 8/10
This volume collects those first 19 Nick Fury S.H.I.E.L.D. stories, originally appearing in STRANGE TALES #s 135-153, 1965-1966. Also included are a crossover with the Captain America series from TALES OF SUSPENSE #78, and, as a "bonus," the aforementioned FANTASTIC FOUR #21. Jack Kirby likely provides the lion's share of the plotting for the stories, layouts for most of them, and, full pencils for some. Stan Lee edits all of them and scripts most (Dennis O'Neil, Roy Thomas and Jack Kirby each script one a piece.). John Severin, Joe Sinnott, Don Heck, Howard Purcell, Ogden Whitney, John Buscema and Jim Steranko are among the artists providing pencils over Kirby's layouts.
Today, Jim Steranko is the artist and writer most associated with the "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." series, and his run on it is the most acclaimed. Those interested only in the Steranko run should thus be warned that only Steranko's first three stories are collected in this first volume and that, for each of them, Steranko merely pencils and inks over Kirby's layouts. In terms of tone and storytelling style, they're more akin to what preceded them than what followed. Other, more complete collections of the Steranko material exist and an Amazon search will easily reveal them (I checked.).
With that "house keeping" aside, let's dive into these Kirby, Lee, et. al. tales, which I do feel have merit on their own. What perhaps struck me most about them is how they so thoroughly blend several genres. In fact, I count at least four: spies, science fiction, super heroes and war.
The spy genre provided the impetus for the series, with the MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. TV show and the James Bond movies being the most overt inspirations. Like U.N.C.L.E., S.H.I.E.L.D. is an acronym (We're told that it stands for "Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law Enforcement Division") and an international spy organization for the forces of good. Several other secret - or semi-secret - organizations represent evil counterparts, with Hydra being the most prominent. The series follows the Bond and U.N.C.L.E. motifs of secret headquarters and gadgets, although the gadgets here are much more fantastical (more on that later). One obvious nod to the early Bond films made me laugh: Whereas SPECTRE's "Number One" was always shown petting a house cat, Hydra's "Supreme Leader" one ups him by owning an actual panther (Leave it to Kirby to turn the volume up to 11!). All that said - it seemed to me that "Nick Fury" becomes less and less a spy series as it progresses. While S.H.I.E.L.D. is identified as a secret organization in the introductory story, its identity is clearly public knowledge 13 issues later, when a newspaper reports that Fury's job as S.H.I.E.L.D. director is in danger. Even before this, I noted that S.H.I.E.L.D. gadgets and vehicles were prominently displaying a S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem and logo.
Those gadgets and vehicles bring me to the series' science fiction elements. By 1965, Bond films (more so than the original Fleming novels) had made gadgets a spy genre convention, but Kirby and Lee "dream big" and ignore limits of contemporary technology. Thus, S.H.I.E.L.D. utilizes - among other items - flying cars, "Life Model Decoy" robot duplicates and a "helicarrier" headquarters in the sky. Meanwhile, villains launch doomsday weapons into orbit, chase Fury with flying, weaponized "eggs" and grow androids in a vat.
If all this crazy, fanciful technology brings Kirby and Lee's Fantastic Four to mind, then - well, you've earned one of Nick Fury's trademark cigars. Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. do exist in the Marvel Universe, and this is made apparent in the very first story, when Tony Stark makes a cameo appearance. Stark, who makes weapons for S.H.I.E.L.D., appears in other stories, and as I noted earlier, there is a crossover with Marvel's Captain America feature in TALES OF SUSPENSE. In that story, Cap and Fury battle a super powered robot together, and Fury, despite having no powers, holds his own. Members of secret organizations such as Hydra sport outlandish costumes (You would think that that would be counter intuitive but...oh, well), and a few stories feature outright super villains, with names like Mentallo, the Fixer and the Druid.
For all this, I agree with Kirby fan John Morrow, who, in his introduction to this volume, states that "the S.H.I.E.L.D. strip is still basically a war comic." In many ways, it's simply an update of SGT. FURY, even returning two of the same cast members - Dum Dum Dugan and Gabe Jones. Fury does little actual spying in this series, and as it progresses, S.H.I.E.L.D. seems to function more and more as a military unit, with armies of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents frequently battling armies of villains. Even the dialogue seems lifted straight from a war comic, with Fury often berating his men for coddling themselves and/or stating the obvious, while reminding them that their lives mean nothing compared to the common cause. It struck me, too, that Hydra, in particular, seems very "Nazi-like" (a trait made even more overt by later writers) and that their standard greeting of "Hail Hydra!" even sounds similar to "Heil, Hitler!" Kirby and Lee themselves were both World War II veterans, and you can see their generation's values and sensibilities on display.
Kirby and Lee's presence brings a consistency to the stories, but as noted, there's a bit of a revolving door of talent here. This isn't all bad, and it IS interesting to see a who's who of Silver Age Marvel bullpen artists taking turns at penciling Kirby's layouts. If you're a fan of the era, then there's a good chance that one of your favorites is here (Personally, I'm delighted to see John Severin's work in whatever form that I can get it.). Still...there are admittedly a few jarring moments. As much as I love Severin, for example, I did sense that he was drawing Gabe Jones as Caucasian, and I wondered if anyone told him that Gabe was an African American character (Weirdly, in this Masterworks volume, Gabe also seems to be colored gray. That's an issue with the modern coloring, and I can't compare it to the original coloring, but regardless...What the Hell?!!!). Again, Kirby's layouts and Stan's editing (and, in most cases, scripting) do provide a mostly consistent feel, but I can't help but wish that Kirby had drawn it all, nonetheless...especially since the series as a whole so strongly bears his stamp.
That gripe aside, these are fun, fast paced tales that contribute greatly to Marvel's mythos. The genre blending proves interesting, and the relatively older, grizzled Nick Fury, while perhaps a more typical hero for the war genre, nonetheless proves a striking, relatable contrast to contemporary spy genre stalwarts such as James Bond and Napoleon Solo. While the Kirby/Lee S.H.I.E.L.D. stories may not be as ground breaking as Steranko's, I'd argue that they're nonetheless worthwhile, and I personally had a blast reading these.
Don't yield, back S.H.I.E.L.D!!!
My rating: 8/10
June 5, 2018
The pulse pounding saga of men trapped creating a cash-in spy comic despite running out of ideas halfway through their first story. The genuinely sinister fanatics of HYDRA lose their menace when the story details into a stock Stan Lee family drama, and after that it’s a succession of ever more pallid secret organisations before Lee bows to the inevitable and they all turn out to be HYDRA anyway (except, tragically, The Druids and their techno tree base).
This is second-rate Lee/Kirby but it maintains a baseline of fun, as never were two creators so skilled at amusing themselves. The berserk kirbytech take on spy flick super gadgets keeps the pages popping, and once Lee invents priggish fanboy Jasper Sitwell to be Fury’s foil the glee of the strip jumps noticeably up.
This is second-rate Lee/Kirby but it maintains a baseline of fun, as never were two creators so skilled at amusing themselves. The berserk kirbytech take on spy flick super gadgets keeps the pages popping, and once Lee invents priggish fanboy Jasper Sitwell to be Fury’s foil the glee of the strip jumps noticeably up.
February 21, 2021
The Presentation
is comparatively very good and the stories still enjoyable for the time, I would say- so yes, recommendable. Fun bonus to conclude.
is comparatively very good and the stories still enjoyable for the time, I would say- so yes, recommendable. Fun bonus to conclude.
May 17, 2021
This shows the development of SHIELD as a concept, and some things jumped out that I hadn't considered from all the times that I read books with SHIELD in them from the 70's to the 90's. The degree to which Tony Stark was deeply involved in early SHIELD; the degree to which the original plots were "someone is trying to kill Nick Fury because he is the leader of SHIELD and they have to kill him before they can even _start_ their world domination plan; the whole plot where people try to get Fury ousted as leader because his affect doesn't conform to the Ivy League ideal; the real origins of HYDRA. All fascinating stuff. The Fixer and Mentallo take on SHIELD plot referenced any time either of those guys shows up is in here and does a _great_ job laying out the mortal terror people would have of mind readers. Pretty much everything in here is solid stuff, not surprising given the creative time and the years of creation, even if none of it is as experimental as the Setranko volume that follows it.
October 25, 2025
A solid start to the collection that brings Sgt Fury into the 'modern day' of the 60s, following Captain America and his reappearance. Here Nick Fury first begins with SHIELD in some classic Lee-Kirby stories, with the art chores being taken over by a number of artists, often following Kirby's distinct layouts. It was in the latter issues that Steranko joined, inking at first, then following layouts, then taking over writing and art as we head into volume 2.
The enemies are the classic Hydra, and also some with AIM, both of whom featured in Captain America stories in Tales of Suspense. There's some spy vibes in parts, but often it feels more hi-tec military in style, like the Bond finales rather than the espionage build up. It's wonderfully silly in places, with the LMD card pulled out a little often, an inevitable mind-control plot, and a fun Supreme Hydra who hides their real face behind amazing disguises and infiltrates SHIELD.
All over a great read if you like the classic 60s Marvel and cheesy stories with Fury's grumpy dialogue.
The enemies are the classic Hydra, and also some with AIM, both of whom featured in Captain America stories in Tales of Suspense. There's some spy vibes in parts, but often it feels more hi-tec military in style, like the Bond finales rather than the espionage build up. It's wonderfully silly in places, with the LMD card pulled out a little often, an inevitable mind-control plot, and a fun Supreme Hydra who hides their real face behind amazing disguises and infiltrates SHIELD.
All over a great read if you like the classic 60s Marvel and cheesy stories with Fury's grumpy dialogue.
March 26, 2019
Nick Fury assumes command of SHIELD and starts an all-out war against the forces of Hydra. Kooky Kirby designs run wild under the finishing pencils of other Marvel Age greats like John Severin, Don Heck, John Buscema, and newcomer Jim Steranko. Taking part in the high-tech spy craze of the 60's this introduction to SHIELD and its gruff director is a fun bit of Marvel history.
January 30, 2022
Never yield, back shield..
Good color artwork. And several issues worth in a multi pack. This introduces Shield , Aim, Hydra, Them. Hydra reborn. Features Fixer, mentallo, Druid, Hatemonger. Guest appearances by Captain America and the Fantastic Four. Jack Kirby and Stan Lee were at their best. They sell this for 99 cents on occasion, what an incredible bargain.
Good color artwork. And several issues worth in a multi pack. This introduces Shield , Aim, Hydra, Them. Hydra reborn. Features Fixer, mentallo, Druid, Hatemonger. Guest appearances by Captain America and the Fantastic Four. Jack Kirby and Stan Lee were at their best. They sell this for 99 cents on occasion, what an incredible bargain.
May 30, 2017
Starts off slow, then Steranko gets involved and everything gets better.
September 13, 2019
Fun, swinging 60s, James Bond-style stories.
October 15, 2022
Jack Kirby's art is just so bonkers.
April 16, 2023
I find it very funny that within vol. 1 we've already had stories saying "the end of hydra" "the end of AIM" and I'm here in 2023 like ... no sir I think those are still around lol
September 24, 2012
The past few Marvel movies (especially The Avengers) got me interested in Nick Fury, a character I'd never really given much thought. So I tried the first volume of Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Volume 1 from the Marvel Masterworks series, which covers Strange Tales #135-153 as well as two comics where Fury makes important appearances, Tales of Suspense #78, and Fantastic Four #21.
You have to remember the time: the mid-60s, which means not only the Cold War, but the enormous popularity of the James Bond films and espionage shows like The Man from U.N.C.L.E. You've got a lot of cloak-and-dagger stuff, spy missions, gadgets, secrets, and a big group of baddies known as Hydra, who appear in just about all of the first seven or eight stories. (The Nick Fury Strange Tales stories run for 12 pages each, since Fury also shares the mag with Doctor Strange.) This is all pretty much boiler-plate, routine (and sometimes laughable) stuff. These are comic books, after all. But they are fun.
The first several issues of Fury's appearances in Strange Tales chronicle how Fury got the job at S.H.I.E.L.D., but say little about how he hasn't aged in 20 years since fighting in WWII. (Those tales are told in Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos.) Hmmmm..... I won't say any more about that, but I will say that if you're expecting the same Nick Fury as portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in the Marvel films, forget it. Jackson's Fury is an articulate, well-spoken man who carries a sense of power and determination, all of which is under control. The comic book Fury? Forget it.
The Stan Lee/Jack Kirby Fury is a cigar-chomping, wise-cracking, in-your-face type of guy who's always barking orders, issuing commands and diving head-first into dangerous situations, usually spouting the worst grammar of any action hero (and that's saying quite a lot). Again, these tales are pretty standard, ho-hum fare until we get to issue #146. It's here that the plots get more complex, less one-dimensional. More characters are brought onboard and you start wondering about characters and their motives.
The last few issues in this volume feature the artwork (actually the inking) of Jim Steranko, whose three-issue run on Captain America (#110, 111, 113) is still held by many to be the best work ever on Captain America. Steranko would eventually take control of the Fury tales and turn them into some of the most innovative comics work of the era. You can see things heading in that direction in the last portion of this volume leading into Volume 2, which covers Strange Tales #154-168 and Fury's own solo mag, Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1-3. Recommended.
You have to remember the time: the mid-60s, which means not only the Cold War, but the enormous popularity of the James Bond films and espionage shows like The Man from U.N.C.L.E. You've got a lot of cloak-and-dagger stuff, spy missions, gadgets, secrets, and a big group of baddies known as Hydra, who appear in just about all of the first seven or eight stories. (The Nick Fury Strange Tales stories run for 12 pages each, since Fury also shares the mag with Doctor Strange.) This is all pretty much boiler-plate, routine (and sometimes laughable) stuff. These are comic books, after all. But they are fun.
The first several issues of Fury's appearances in Strange Tales chronicle how Fury got the job at S.H.I.E.L.D., but say little about how he hasn't aged in 20 years since fighting in WWII. (Those tales are told in Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos.) Hmmmm..... I won't say any more about that, but I will say that if you're expecting the same Nick Fury as portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in the Marvel films, forget it. Jackson's Fury is an articulate, well-spoken man who carries a sense of power and determination, all of which is under control. The comic book Fury? Forget it.
The Stan Lee/Jack Kirby Fury is a cigar-chomping, wise-cracking, in-your-face type of guy who's always barking orders, issuing commands and diving head-first into dangerous situations, usually spouting the worst grammar of any action hero (and that's saying quite a lot). Again, these tales are pretty standard, ho-hum fare until we get to issue #146. It's here that the plots get more complex, less one-dimensional. More characters are brought onboard and you start wondering about characters and their motives.
The last few issues in this volume feature the artwork (actually the inking) of Jim Steranko, whose three-issue run on Captain America (#110, 111, 113) is still held by many to be the best work ever on Captain America. Steranko would eventually take control of the Fury tales and turn them into some of the most innovative comics work of the era. You can see things heading in that direction in the last portion of this volume leading into Volume 2, which covers Strange Tales #154-168 and Fury's own solo mag, Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1-3. Recommended.
December 21, 2013
Growing up and watching Marvel cartoons, S.H.I.E.L.D. and Nick Fury we're given a mixed portrayal. While generally, the villains hated them, they also ended up fighting heroes like Spider-man and even the Hulk. This portrayal has gotten more nuanced with the militaristic S.H.I.E.L.D. being viewed with distrust in the wider Marvel Continuity.
However, it wasn't always so. In the 1960s, with James Bond and the Man from U.N.C.L.E. a phenomena, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby launched Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. as a regular half-issue feature in Strange Tales. This book collects the 12-page stories from Issues 135-153 of Strange Tales plus a crossover with Captain America in Tales of Suspense #78 and Fury's first post-World War II story which appeared in Fantastic Four #21 and had Fury as a CIA Agent.
The stories are great, the villains are superb classic 1960s bad guys on an epic scale. The supporting cast is strong as well with Fury supported by fellow World War II Commandos Dum Dum and Gabriel Jones, as well as conscientious rookie Jasper Sitwell, who also brings a bit of comic relief.
However, the star is the big feature and it's Nick Fury. The silver age incarnation of this tough as nails World War II commando turned super spy could only have been effectively played by John Wayne. Fury is wise-cracking, ornery, and courageous with a firm and steady admiration between him and his men. Fury is the type of hero they just don't make any more. Truly, a great character in all of his quirks such as his cigars and his tendency to appear shirtless (some times without any explanation.) This was a blast and I can't wait to read Volume 2.
However, it wasn't always so. In the 1960s, with James Bond and the Man from U.N.C.L.E. a phenomena, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby launched Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. as a regular half-issue feature in Strange Tales. This book collects the 12-page stories from Issues 135-153 of Strange Tales plus a crossover with Captain America in Tales of Suspense #78 and Fury's first post-World War II story which appeared in Fantastic Four #21 and had Fury as a CIA Agent.
The stories are great, the villains are superb classic 1960s bad guys on an epic scale. The supporting cast is strong as well with Fury supported by fellow World War II Commandos Dum Dum and Gabriel Jones, as well as conscientious rookie Jasper Sitwell, who also brings a bit of comic relief.
However, the star is the big feature and it's Nick Fury. The silver age incarnation of this tough as nails World War II commando turned super spy could only have been effectively played by John Wayne. Fury is wise-cracking, ornery, and courageous with a firm and steady admiration between him and his men. Fury is the type of hero they just don't make any more. Truly, a great character in all of his quirks such as his cigars and his tendency to appear shirtless (some times without any explanation.) This was a blast and I can't wait to read Volume 2.
April 24, 2016
This Masterworks edition collects Strange Tales #135–153, Tales of Suspense #78 and Fantastic Four #21.
It is on the stories on these pages that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby reinvented their WW2 hero Sergeant Fury (of the Howling Commandos) as the fearless leader of the greatest spy organisation in the Marvel universe, S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-enforcement Division). Kirby is mostly on layout duty, with a few exceptions (including the opening issue) where he's doing the full pencils, but John Severin, Joe Sinnott, Don Heck, Howard Purcell, Ogden Whitney, John Buscema and, in the final three issues, Jim Steranko (who would make a name for himself on the pages of the issues following the ones in this volume) all do a really good job.
This is fun, high tech, spy/agent adventure stories, establishing S.H.I.E.L.D. on the marvel map for sure, and Nick Fury even more so. Fighting off menaces like Hydra, Them, A.I.M., etc, Fury and his band of fearless agents while clearly "children" of their time, show just how much fun these types of stories can be. Especially when given the 60s Marvel treatment.
The included Takes of Suspense issue gives us a team up between Captain America and Colonel Fury, while the bonus inclusion of FF #21 provides us with a bridge between Fury's days as a sergeant in WW2 and his days as leaderof S.H.I.E.L.D. In this story, Fury (already a colonel) appears, working for C.I.A., and helps the FF with the villain called the Hate-Monger (or perhaps it is the other way around).
It is on the stories on these pages that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby reinvented their WW2 hero Sergeant Fury (of the Howling Commandos) as the fearless leader of the greatest spy organisation in the Marvel universe, S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-enforcement Division). Kirby is mostly on layout duty, with a few exceptions (including the opening issue) where he's doing the full pencils, but John Severin, Joe Sinnott, Don Heck, Howard Purcell, Ogden Whitney, John Buscema and, in the final three issues, Jim Steranko (who would make a name for himself on the pages of the issues following the ones in this volume) all do a really good job.
This is fun, high tech, spy/agent adventure stories, establishing S.H.I.E.L.D. on the marvel map for sure, and Nick Fury even more so. Fighting off menaces like Hydra, Them, A.I.M., etc, Fury and his band of fearless agents while clearly "children" of their time, show just how much fun these types of stories can be. Especially when given the 60s Marvel treatment.
The included Takes of Suspense issue gives us a team up between Captain America and Colonel Fury, while the bonus inclusion of FF #21 provides us with a bridge between Fury's days as a sergeant in WW2 and his days as leaderof S.H.I.E.L.D. In this story, Fury (already a colonel) appears, working for C.I.A., and helps the FF with the villain called the Hate-Monger (or perhaps it is the other way around).
August 29, 2015
Like so many other characters in the 1960s, Marvel war hero Nick Fury went Bond with the Agents of SHIELD series. To his credit rather than a pale imitation, the comic-book setting allowed them to come up with more spectacular gadgets and weapons than SPECTRE or MI6 ever managed. The stories are uneven—the opening arc with Hydra is effective, but the Druid is a loser. A fun run, though not first-ranked for the Silver Age.
May 3, 2025
I read Strange Tales #135-#150(The Fury tales) in "Shield The Complete Collection" but now reading this collection which also has #151=#153, plus The Fantastic Four #21 (The Hate Monger"), where Nick Fury makes a guest appearance.
October 9, 2014
Excellent reprint of these rare silver age stories. I enjoy these collected editions of the comics I remember reading as a kid. Great art and plot for the early days of Marvel Comics rebirth. Very recommended to any comic fan
January 11, 2013
Not my favorite Marvel title. Some terrific Kirby work though.
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