Story
Featuring
Captain America
"Hey!"
Storyline
While Captain America is training, Nick Fury turns up looking for info on the secret organization THEM. A flying craft lands outside Avengers Mansion, and an android attacks. In a lab, members of THEM observe by remote camera while watching over a battalion of androids growing in a hydroponic garden. Captain America and Fury barely manage to stop the android. Fury tells Captain America it's S.H.I.E.L.D.'s job and to stay out of it. But he gives Captain America a S.H.I.E.L.D. Priority A-1 badge to make getting in touch easier in the future.
Story Notes
Part 1 of 5. 2nd-ever meeting of Cap and Fury, following the story in SGT. FURY #13 (December 1964). 1st on-camera appearance of "THEM", following mentions in STRANGE TALES #142-143 & 145 (March-April, June 1966). The hooded outfits worn by the evil scientists appear inspired by the ones worn in the 1st James Bond film, DR. NO (1962). Identity of "The Imperator" would not be revealed until STRANGE TALES #156 (May 1967). Cap and Fury team-up to battle mysterious invaders in the flashback in STRANGE TALES #160-161 (September-October 1967), apparently shortly after this episode. Meanwhile, this story continues directly into STRANGE TALES #146 (July 1966), while "THEM" also continue to appear (peripherally) in the next several issues of TALES OF SUSPENSE. The android-growing tanks appear to pay tribute to THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951). Thanks to Jack Kirby, D.N.A. experiments would play a large part in SUPERMAN'S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #133-148 (November 1970-April 1972). The "flying shock rollers" are identical to the ones used by Obi-Wan Kenobi to train Luke Skywalker in the film STAR WARS (1977)!