Issue - 32

Title - Thunder in the East

Writer - Roy Thomas

Art - Alan Kupperberg & Frank Springer

Summary:

After foiling a Nazi plot to steal the prototype Achilles Tanks, the team is ordered to deliver the tank to the Russians. In Berlin, Hitler meets with Dr. Olsen and his assistant Hans. Olsen reveals that he has perfected a dimensional viewer which allows them to glimpse Asgard and the one and true Thor, God of Thunder. At Hitler's orders, Olsen then summons Thor to their world. Face to face with the thunder God, Hitler convinces Thor to aid the war effort by asking him to defeat The Invaders.

Notes

• Following his accident at State University, Doom became a research assistant to Norwegian scientist Dr. Olsen and worked under the name Hans.

• Events of this issue were ret-conned in Marvel Universe #2.

Issue - 33

Title - A Time of Titans

Writer - Roy Thomas

Art - Alan Kupperberg & Frank Springer

Summary:

Thor meets the Invaders and announces his mission to kill Stalin. Namor attempts to best him in one on one combat, but is defeated. However Namor manages to rescue Stalin and fly him to Moscow in his Atlantean jet. With the aid of Dr. Olsen, Thor is sent directions to Moscow where he completes his mission and kills Stalin. Back in Berlin, Olsen is overcome with guilt when he realizes the harm his discoveries will bring to the world and dies of a heart attack. Hitler then orders Olsen's assistant to operate the machine. Unknown to Hitler, Hans broadcasts Hitler's rantings to Thor who learns that he has been used. When Hitler orders Hans to open the dimensional viewer to allow Trolls to crossover, Hans sets the viewer to overload and it explodes. Hitler is caught under the rumble and calls out to Hans to help him out. Hans then reveals his true name, Victor von Doom. Doom doesn't kill Hitler only because one day he too will also earn the ire of the world and he wants to see how the world will deal with Hitler. Back in Moscow, the Invaders learn that Thor did not kill Stalin, but in fact Union Jack who disguised himself as Stalin. Having realized his error, Thor returns Union Jack to life and takes leave of Earth. As he leaves, Thor also erases all memory of events from their minds.

Notes:

• Events of this issue were ret-conned in Marvel Universe #2.
• Since Thor erases the memories of the Invaders, this means that other than Thor, Doom is only the other living person who knows of this adventure.

Comments:

Today it might seem strange to include a young Dr. Doom in WWII set Invaders story. However back in 1978, when this issue was first published, the war had ended only a little over 30 years prior. The second world war, and its ties to the Marvel Universe, were still quite strong. It was established as early as Fantastic Four #21 that Reed and Ben both served in the war. It was sensible of Roy Thomas to give us a glimpse of what Victor von Doom would be doing during the war. Though the specifics of this appearance have subsequently been changed [As it has for many early Marvel characters with WWII ties], this is still a great appearance. It can still be said that Doom foiled Hitler's plot. His speech at the end is also I think a good response to anyone who likes to draw comparisons between the two. In Doom's own eyes, Hitler is worse than he could ever be.
Bottom Line: * * * * out of 5