BEAST versus CORPORATE SPY

The Beast! (Marvel)
Where: Amazing Adventures #11 When: March 1972
Why: Gerry Conway How: Tom Sutton

The Story So Far...
Of all the mutants who joined Charles Xavier's X-Men -- Henry McCoy was a gifted youngster, indeed. Possessed of both brilliant brain and brawn, he excelled as magnificently in the laboratory as the battlefield. It's perhaps no surprise, then, that he was the first of Xavier's original class to leave the Westchester School.

Recruited by The Brand Corporation to participate in a highly secretive think tank; McCoy sets out to continue his research into genetic mutation with the benefit of state-of-the-art facilities.

Alas, those same cutting edge resources attract a web of espionage, provoking the former X-Man to take drastic measures to disguise his mutant nature while thwarting a late-night break-in. A decision that will forever transform him into his most literal namesake -- The Beast!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Beast 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Beast 6 (Genius)
Speed: Beast 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Beast 3 (Strong Willed)
Agility: Beast 5 (Cat-Like)
Fighting: Beast 2 (Average)
Energy: Beast 1 (None)
Total: Beast 26 (Metahuman)

You may know him as an erudite & mild-mannered mutant scientist, or perhaps the more recent conspiring geneticist whose morality teeters ever more precarious -- but this incarnation of Dr. Henry McCoy is a different Beast all together!

Fangs, fur, and anger define our hero in this outing, as we find him at the beginning of an amazing new chapter! A moment when he chose to consume a serum of his own making that triggers a shocking second stage in his own natural mutation! A decision that would change his life forever...

Originally The Beast merely possessed enlarged hands & feet, enhanced strength, and fantastic agility. Mutations that brought him to the attention of Charles Xavier, who recruited him as one of his first class of costumed X-Men.

In this classic guise, Beast was powerful and nimble, battling Sub-Mariner and The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, going toe to toe with Skurge The Executioner, and wrestling the lethal Lizard in the swamps of Louisiana.

Possessing both brains and brawn, McCoy continued to study in the fields of biology and genetics while adventuring, maintaining a specific interest in human mutation. Recruited by The Brand Corporation, he successfully isolated a hormonal extract that was the chemical cause of so-called "homo-superior" development.

The extract, if consumed, could trigger a mutation in a human subject, reversable if treated by antidote within an hour. A factor that led McCoy to attempt a Jekyll style temporary transformation to obscure his identity while thwarting Bennie: a spy for the Secret Empire masquerading as a Brand security guard!

The transformation further exaggerated McCoy's mutation, reducing him to a dark, silver-grey furred primitive man-Beast. He gained even more pronounced animal-like strength & agility, endurance, and accelerated healing capable of enduring multiple gunshot wounds! It also robbed him of his mental clarity and intelligence, unleashing a wild, instinctive rage in moments of stress.

This is a far cry from the blue-furred Beast that cared enough for his fellows to throw himself at Apocalypse and lock up with Spiral! It's even a very different breed to the cat-like Beast who tore through the Shi'ar Imperial Guard and Magneto-impersonating Xorn with brilliant precision after further mutating.

So how does he handle a Secret Empire spy in his first outing? Let's find out!

The Tape: Beast Ranking: Beast (#55)

What Went Down...

Bennie, he thinks to himself, "Just play this game right -- and you're home free!" A security watchman, dragging a cigarette as he prowls through the gloom, walking the empty midnight paths of The Brand Corporation lot.

He fights the uncanny feeling that someone's watching. He tells himself it's just nerves, but maybe Bennie's more intuitive than he thinks. Maybe on some sub-conscious level he can sense the dark creature walking the powerlines and skipping between rooftops just over his head -- watching his every move.

He casts his flashlight over a massive metal door. The classified entrance to Genetic Research Subdivision 12 -- "home free".

From inside his jacket, he produces a small leather pouch that unfolds to reveal a fantastic device. A small arc welder, unleashing focused heat on the steel door that briefly fills the emptiness with a shriek -- until its seal is at last breached.

The watchman moves to enter the dark of the facility, but on this night the creature that watches him will not allow it! From overhead -- The Beast pounces!

Bennie panics as he's dropkicked to the ground and The Beast -- still adjusting to his newfound strength -- effortlessly hurls him into nearby machinery!

The false guard -- a spy -- desperately draws a handgun.

The Beast orders him not to shoot with a deliberate, growling cadence as he charges towards the gunman. It falls on deaf ears.

The terrified man squeezes the trigger and The Beast's skull is creased as he contorts his massive body in a desperate bid to avoid being hit! His arm -- thrown outstretched -- shunts the spy through the air into more machinery.

Horrified and bewildered by the sight confronting him -- Bennie keeps shooting!

The Beast lunges once more towards the gunman, absorbing his shots directly to his torso. It ignites a fire across his furry chest -- a chorus for the throbbing percussion of pain that pounds in his head!

Enraged, but enduring -- The Beast vaults himself on one hand to deliver a furious dropkick to the shooter!

Suddenly the night air is filled with the whip of bullets as a swarm of soldiers rushes the gates of Genetic Research Subdivision 12!

The Beast's night of action has been for nothing. He could have left the alarm to alert better suited men to the break-in. His heart fills with rage, but instinct compels him to use his incredible agility to leap into the shadows, remaining hidden from the armed forces coming from outside.

Beast hides among the machines while Bennie foolishly tries to trade shots with no less than eight heavily armed soldiers! His fear seals his fate!

The Hammer...

We're wandering off the beaten path to visit upon a classic I've been enjoying in my reading time, which I might argue is an often-underrated piece of the Marvel horror comics boom. Perfect subject matter for the Halloween season!

Amazing Adventures #11 is a famous issue for fans of the X-Men, and I was very excited to finally get a chance to read my own copy, albeit in a reasonably priced Epic Collection I picked up on sale.

The journey was long. I can't tell you how many times I saw that cover reprinted in places like Wizard Magazine. Often cited for its significance in the development of the Beast character; I'm pretty sure there was a lauded copy hanging over the comic store I used to frequent as a youngster, where I intuitively understood it was the moment the classic 'big foot' Beast became the hairy icon.

Despite all this, no amount of trivia, osmosis, or passing familiarity could prepare me for just how exciting the shift in tone & style of the interior pages really is!

Some of us might be prone to remembering some of the stuffier and more clunky comics produced throughout the 1970s, but I would rank this era of Amazing Adventures somewhere in the company of Jim Starlin on Captain Marvel, and Jim Aparo drawing Aquaman, for revelatory experiences from the decade.

This was the era when X-Men was on life support. A strange and unfathomable period that ran from the end of 1970 to 1975, when the series reprinted issues by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, creating a gap between X-Men #66 and #94 where no original stories were produced. This was basically Classic X-Men -- but the main title itself was taking four years off for reruns less than a decade old!

To the benefit of us all -- somebody clearly saw the potential in the characters and brand. They kept them alive long enough to reach the new era sparked by Giant-Size X-Men #1, utilizing occasional guest spots in those intervening years, with one character chosen for a shot at spinning out into his own adventures!

It's pretty wild to think Beast was the breakout hero, but it's a little less surprising when you see how radically different his spin-off into Amazing Adventures was.

The midnight setting, and deep inks, immediately cast the adventure in a very different light. This is a darker, edgier, more atmospheric outing from the very first page. You can see it in the featured fight recap [above].

Ostensibly a complete rethink; Amazing Adventures #11 repurposes Hank McCoy for a genre-bending horror, sci-fi, espionage, romance book, with trace elements of super-heroics.

The horror element is what stands out most, especially in this first issue, but it almost feels like they're hedging their bets on any genre becoming the hot new fad to carry the character forward. All options are available, even if it quickly begins returning to superhero roots in the next couple of issues.

Hank McCoy isn't exactly James Bond, but the reference is self-evident as his work in genetic research immediately overlaps with the Mata Hari of it all. Hank gets pretty hot & heavy with assistant Linda Donaldson toot suite, adding a whole lot of angst & drama to the series as he attempts to hide his transformation in subsequent issues, while Donaldson pursues a relationship, working for the same Secret Empire behind our hapless featured fighter, Bennie the Corporate Spy.

I can't help but think of our collectively regained familiarity with the story of Oppenheimer to further contextualize the rapid romancing going on with our science hero. Cillian Murphy's portrayal reminded us all of the perils of lusty nerds in possession of state secrets. Not that it's an isolated incident in Marvel Comics.

This type of overlap between frontier science, espionage, and ways of the heart draws very obvious comparisons with the earliest issues of Incredible Hulk, not to mention its notable twist on horror-tinged classic creature features.

Both begin with Jekyll & Hyde transformations, but while Bruce Banner becomes a Frankenstein type, Beast is more like the Wolfman. Unsurprising then that the two characters are drawn together when Beast's solo outing extends beyond the short-lived starring spot in Amazing Adventures. A battle we will surely spotlight.

Hulk will be naturally drawn into a resurgence of horror comics in the seventies, but Beast quickly drifts back to the world of super-heroics, becoming an Avenger, and reconnecting with the X-Men. Which is probably why the character's horror bona fides, and role in the revival, aren't talked about as often as they could be.

1972 is a significant time for horror in comics -- especially at Marvel. They were starting to unravel the restrictions imposed by a Comics Code Authority entrenched in the 1950s, and Frederic Wertham-led book burnings.

Morbius, The Living Vampire had debuted as an antagonist under the cover of the massive success of Spider-Man in 1971, while Werewolf By Night played it more straight -- introduced just a month prior to this new Beast, in '72.

A new wave of horror was coming for our children and I'm sure they were all incredibly grateful for it! Marvel's Tomb of Dracula, Ghost Rider, and subsequently Blade, Son of Satan, and more followed the trend. A cavalcade of enduring horror-hero icons who've stayed the course for the company, which is something Beast didn't really do within the genre.

Yet, in this foremost issue of the revamp, it's the animalistic quality of Beast that is really apparent. His loss of self is integral to the drama. Evocative narration puts the reader in the mind of the transformed, keeping us intimately aware of his snarling lips, fangs, and uncontrollable urges. It is we, the reader, who is culpable for the chaos and bloodshed of this dark night.

Key to the thrills of the episode are the pencils of Tom Sutton, whose figures and layouts are a perfect fusion of horror comics and superheroes, rendered under heavy inks by Syd Shore. Colours are uncredited, but vital to the episode as well.

Like the Hulk before him, this version of Beast will undergo a colour change, from a grey-ish hue of purple this first outing, to his more iconic blue fur a few issues later. I like the 'dark, silver-grey' that evokes the werewolf, but there's no denying that the blue is more memorable. I don't know if this change was for style, or a similar issue with maintaining grey consistency in printing that turned Hulk green.

In the end, I wonder which force was strongest to push Beast away from the horror flavour of this story. It's interesting, but probably not quintessential or unique enough to keep the character rooted. Morbius is the better monster-scientist, and Werewolf By Night the better man-beast. With John Jameson becoming the Man-Wolf a year after this, there probably just wasn't enough room to warrant a Beast remaining in the darkness.

I think this issue is awesome and I'm very pleased to have finally be able to enjoy it and share the experience with you. I very much hope to return to more of the Beast's solo outings at some point in the future. If that's something you think I should do sooner, you might like to consider supporting the site on Patreon.

Henry McCoy needed corporate backing to do his research into mutant enzymes and with your help we can learn the secrets of superhero smackdown! Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has already documented well over 700 battles and ranked more than 1,000 of your favourite characters! You can find them all by diving into the Secret Archive for an index ordered by publisher, series, and issue number.

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Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#55 (--) Beast
#1033 (new) Bennie

CAPTAIN AMERICA versus PROFESSOR POWER

Power Struggle (Marvel)
Where: Captain America #338 When: February 1988
Why: Mark Gruenwald How: Kieron Dwyer

The Story So Far...
Confronted with an ultimatum from the United States Government: Steve Rogers chooses to walk away from the shield & stripes of Captain America rather than re-enlist.

Having determined the mantle is intellectual property of the government: The Commission of Superhuman Activities installs former rival John "Super-Patriot" Walker as a new Captain America!

Fighting alongside his own Bucky the new Cap battles right-wing militant group The Watchdogs in his first successful missions. Now he takes on his first super-human threat as The Commission deploys the duo to take down wealthy scientist turned terrorist Professor Power!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Professor Power 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Professor Power 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Captain America 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Professor Power 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Captain America 2 (Average)
Fighting: Captain America 4 (Trained)
Energy: Professor Power 5 (Lasers)
Total: Professor Power 26 (Metahuman)

John Walker is still relatively early in his career as Captain America and today's battle represents his first serious test against a super-villain!

He and partner Lemar "Bucky" Hoskins have already fought through droves of costumed Roman Centurions, Mandroid-style robots, and the giant-size henchman known as Leviathan. All that waits is their primary target: Professor Power!

Anthony Power grew disillusioned with modern America when his son Matthew returned catatonic from the Vietnam war. He used his considerable fortune to establish a scientific think tank, and a Roman inspired private army intent on carrying out terrorist plots to provoke America to strength and greatness.

At his most extreme Anthony Power seized control of The Secret Empire and attempted to start a nuclear war with Russia. He was thwarted by The Defenders and subsequently re-engaged in a private vendetta against his best known adversary: Charles Xavier and his X-Men.

Power's hatred was first inspired when he attempted to force the mutant telepath to restore his son's broken psyche -- inadvertently causing its destruction!

The grieving father eventually had his mind transferred into his son's healthy body, which he outfitted with a powerful battle suit that allows him to fly, fire an energy beam from his hand, and greatly enhances his strength & durability.

John Walker underwent the Power Broker's process to gain super-human strength and durability of his own. We saw him notably out muscle Steve Rogers later in his tenure as the new Cap [Captain America #350], and even compete with Wonder Man in a weight lifting contest in West Coast Avengers Annual #5!

The eventual USAgent is very strong, but would ordinarily struggle to match the might of Professor Power. Lucky for him he's catching Power in a weakened state after being psychically assaulted by Moondragon and having to escape SHIELD.

The Tape: Professor Power Ranking: John Walker (#144)

What Went Down...

Having spotted Professor Power being lowered into an escape rocket: the new Captain America and Bucky scramble to take out his army of Centurion guards and reach the vessel before it takes off!

With no time to spare: Captain America throws his mighty shield -- sending it careening towards the rocket's propulsion engine. It smashes into the rocket, sending it lurching from the launch rail and into a nearby wall!

Unnaturally powerful hands rip through the hot metal of the wreckage, uncovering an unconscious Professor Power.

Just as Captain America goes to check for vital signs -- the Professor stirs and summons enough energy to lift his hand and fire a concussive beam right at Captain America's mid-section!

The point blank blast is strong enough to knock John Walker back and ignite his "guts" with pain, but he quickly blocks the attack with his shield and returns fire with a super-human charging punch!

The devastating blow would've toppled any man, but in his poor condition Professor Power goes down easily. That isn't enough for John Walker, though!

In a rage Captain America mounts his floored opponent and begins raining down unrelenting blows! With every punch another frustration boils over!

When the new Bucky catches up with his partner it's already over.

Captain America stands solemnly over the body of Professor Power -- now in a pool of its own blood. The mission is over.

The Hammer...

On the surface it may seem like a victory, but the cracks are beginning to show, and even John Walker seems to recognize he's gone too far.

Bucky congratulates him on a successful mission, but Walker knows what he's done. Professor Power is dead. By using lethal force he has crossed a line that his predecessor never would've. The result may be good enough for their superiors in The Commission, but it isn't good enough for Captain America.

It's an interesting moment of introspection that forecasts, and perhaps allows for, John Walker's future redemption as USAgent. He isn't a completely irredeemable character operating as a self-appointed executioner. He is, however, a man with obvious character flaws, and a serious issue with losing control.

Walker goes even further off the rails by the time he faces off with Steve Rogers, already driven to lethal extremes after watching the murder of his parents by The Watchdogs, and being set upon by armed enemies. Its all part of an orchestrated campaign by the Red Skull to discredit Captain America by pushing the easily exploited John Walker over the edge. It's a pretty short trip.

The subject of lethal force in superhero comics is an interesting one, especially when the hero in question is a sanctioned soldier.

Usually we accept that soldiers may be required to kill through the course of their duties, but it's also true that there are rules of engagement, and soldiers cannot indiscriminately murder whomever they please. Principles of justice and humane treatment dictate international law, and superheroes take that restraint further.

Opinions vary as to whether or not it should be assumed Steve Rogers killed Nazi soldiers during the Second World War, but it's generally accepted that he stands for higher ideals. The ability to achieve his objectives without killing is what elevates the super-hero and super-soldier. The goal is preservation of life.

I'm reminded of What If...? (Vol.2) #51, which explored the ideals of Captain America through the prism of a reality where Frank Castle became the new Cap.

The veil of fiction often allows us to enjoy The Punisher with the presumption of some degree of moral impunity, but as many stories show, his judgement is not infallible. He's ultimately a violent psychotic whose methods inevitably lead to unjustified killing. His approach is an appealing power fantasy on the page, but in practise its a simplistic and deeply flawed way to view the world. Far below the aspirations that inform the super-hero archetype, and Captain America.

When John Walker killed Professor Power he violated basic principles of justice by giving in to base aggression, and using excessive force on an already subdued opponent who was little to no threat. Tantamount to an act of cowardice and the beginning of a proverbial slippery slope.

Comics being what they are: Walker was responsible for the death of Matthew Power's body -- but Professor Power lived on when his psyche returned to its original body. This allowed Professor Power to continue to appear in later stories such as the Spider-Man and X-Men crossover in Spectacular Spider-Man that I most associate the character with.

As noted in The Tape section: Anthony Power had his mind transferred into his son's strong, youthful body when Matthew's psyche was accidentally destroyed in a telepathic battle between Mentallo and Professor X. Xavier had been unable to help the shell-shocked soldier recover from his time in Vietnam. War is hell.

We've looked at some heavy themes in today's featured fight and we'll continue to explore John Walker's ill fated time as Captain America at a later date. If you'd like to get the drop on the story you can read the whole issue collected in Captain America: The Captain. By using Amazon links provided you'll get yourself a  good deal and ensure Amazon supports the site at no extra cost to you!

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Winner: Captain America (w/ Bucky)
#80 (+64) USAgent (John Walker) [+1 kill]
#610 (new) Battlestar (Lemar Hoskins) [+1 assist]
#953 (new) Professor Power