Thunder Agents at DC Week: Noman

Noman was ever quite like, um, well Noman! Elderly scientist living on in a series of androids of his own creation. And with a cool invisibility cloak, yet!

All this while retaining that spark of humanity deficient in fellow man-made-men like the Vision, Red Tornado and Star Trek's Data. How would he be reinvented?

A cape that's worn as a raincoat? Well, that could work, perhaps? Looks a bit more like another 60's icon Uncle Fester of the Adams Family. But we'll give that a pass if his origin and motivations, as well as his humanity, is respected rather than disgarded. Time will tell...

Team-Up Tuesdays: Ageless Androids

Last Thursday we were introduced to the forgotten team, the Sensation Sentinels (of Justice, according to Helio when he first named them) and the classic team, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents (The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves). And the three graments of power worn by their members created by deceased scientists Doctor Emil Jennings and Professor Jones Kolotov. Let's pause for a moment to consider two extremely resilient androids involved with these teams: Noman and Titan:

Noman was the creation of Professor Anthony Dunn, an aging scientist who discovered the key to immortality in a strong android body that absorbed his brainwaves. He soon joined T.H.U.N.D.E.R. and wore one of the garments of power, a cloak that granted him invisiblity.

 

Titan was the creation of the mysterious Mind Bender, a renegade telepathic scientist whose true identity was never revealed. Titan first appeared opposing the Sentinels and displaying a remarkable level of self-awareness programmed into his strong android body.

These two androids would not, as it turned out, be alone among their kind. Their creators foresaw the need to create multiple bodies to house brain patterns that lost their human form. This proved essential as they were both, well, accident-prone? Or rather, disaster-prone.

Professor Dunn, through his Noman host, had a long and distinguished career serving with his fellow Agents, from November 1965 until November 1968 in all new stories. In 1983, he returned alongside his compatriots. Meanwhile, Mind Bender's plan to upload the minds of Helio and Mentalia of the Sentinels in Titan's two remaining bodies led to his and his creation's doom. Neither were seen again (nor were his foes).

Next week, we'll get back on track as we investigate the other members of these silver age teams and their actual connections to our publishers (and characters) of choice here at CvsMMLJ.

Team-Up Tuesdays: 3 Items of Power

To kick off our inagural Team-Up Tuesday, let's consider a legendary team and an obscure team only tangentially connected to either fictional universe. Both were published briefly by them, and met at least one occupant from Charlton and Mighty. And both met one occupant from Charlton. Oh...huh?

First the legendary team, originally published in the mid-1960's by Tower Comics known as The T.H.U.N.D.E.R Agents made Wally Wood a legend with his sleek artwork, and the characters have been resurrected from the publisher netherworld more times by more publishers than just about any other character or group of characters. In the early 80's this included Red Circle (at that time Archie Adventure Series) helped distribute a modest run which climaxed in Blue Ribbon Comics. Herein lies the first meeting of superstrong Dynamo and mysterious mentalist Menthor (and the guy she's speaking to in her head was Janus, the late Menthor that preceded her).

Our other consideration today revolves around perhaps the most obscure of characters over at Charlton (aside from licensed properties), the Sensation Sentinels. Or as the Sentinels...of Justice as de facto leader Helio initially labeled them (a name later adopted by other Charltonites, Charltonoids, Charltonians?). They lasted a whole six issues, never to be seen again despite the promise of continued adventures. They solely resided in the backpages of Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt #54-59. The following panel introduces us to two of the three members, the superstrong Brute and the scintillating psychic Mentalia.

By the way, the villains in the background our Uber-Awesome femme fatale Iron Maiden and an android named Titan. Both teams began their adventures once they obtained three garments of power created by dying scientists. For the agents, it was the Dynamo's belt (superstrength), a cloak (invisibility) used by an android named Nomanm and Menthor's helmet (telekinetic/telepathic abilities). Wait, two androids? Noman AND Titan??? What are the odds in the 60's of androids appearing in comics of that period? heh.

The Sentinels likewise were bequeathed three garments of power, Brute's gloves (superstrength), Mentalia's tiara (telekinetic/telepathic abilities) and a backpack (for flight or rather to "reduce weight" with propulsion added in apparently for good measure). The latter was worn by a member that was out of commission in the above panel.

During our next Team-Up Tuesday, we'll be introduced to an immortals (of sorts) that meet our cold war gladiators.