T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Archives, Vol. 2 by Wallace Wood

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Archives, Vol. 2 Reviews

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  Louie the Mustache Matos

  After having read the first volume, and loving the concept, history, writing, and art, how could I not search out the entire run at Tower Comics of the iconic T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents? I previously stated that Tower Comics was completely aware of what they had in this little series. They were planning to expand the line when suddenly they went financially bankrupt in 1969. Some of the stars had received their own titles such as Dynamo who his issue #1 is included in this compilation along with T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #5, 6, and 7. The first four T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents issues are included in the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Archives, Vol. 1 trade paperback.
  
  The concept of having a United Nations team protecting the world from global terrorist threats was brilliant and coupled with the creative talents of Len Brown and Wally Wood were the immense talents of Gil Kane, John Giunta, Dan Adkins, Steve Ditko, George Tuska, and Bill Pearson. This second volume is stronger than the first because by this time the writers and artists had a better handle on the types of stories they wanted to tell. Another wonderful and historical addition to the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents ethos.
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  Brannigan

  I really liked the first volume for its artistic and historic value. The second volume was even better in my opinion and I’m starting to like these stories for the characters and imaginative storylines.
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  Sylvain Lafrenière

  Was very innovative when it was created. Still a good read, but a mirror of it's era.
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  Dominick

  Wood and his various collaborators, including other big names (Ditko, Kane, Tuska, Crandall) turn out some pretty decent 1960s superhero comics here. The concept is certainly ambitious--a superteam that has adventures as a group and solo, intended to serve as the basis for a comics line--and it does some interesting things with the idea of state-sanctioned superheroes, notably with how the government bureaucrats see the heroes as employees and are worried about costs. The stories themselves, though, don't do as much with the concept as they might. They look good, to be sure, especially the ones drawn by Wood and/or Ditko, but the stories are generally not all that successful. The series does pull off a somewhat more effective kill-off of a major character in this volume than it did in the last--and killing a major character at all in any 1960s comic is pretty daring--but the effect is still pretty minimal. Nevertheless, well worthwhile for anyone interested in 1960s superhero comics.