Invaders 12

To the Warsaw Ghetto!
By Roy Thomas, Frank Robbins, Frank Springer
Jan 1977

Human Torch visits Prof. John Gold (aka the Blue Bullet) where he is being held prisoner in the Tower of London. Turns out that he is Jewish. (I wondered about that.) He lived in the Warsaw Ghetto but fled and made his way to England. He was only working for the Nazis because they threatened to kill Jacob, his brother, if he didn't help them.

Once again there is s recap of what has happened in earlier issues starting with the end of the battle with Baron Blood. This time Human Torch is the narrator.

Human Torch returns to Invaders HQ. He tells them Prof. Gold's story. They decide to go to Warsaw to rescue Jacob Gold. Jacqueline goes with them in her new costume and using the code name Spitfire. They try to talk her out of it but she won't hear it and in the end they agree to let her join them. Spitfire's look is wild and streaky, especially when she runs fast.

The Invaders arrive in the Warsaw Ghetto at night. They have a quick fight with some German soldiers who are accosting a young Jewish woman. She repays the Invaders by leading them to Jacob Gold's home.

Captain America tries talking Jacob into leaving with them but Jacob won't.  He tells them about the legend of the Golem. A German tank rolls into the neighborhood. The Invaders attack but are forced to surrender after the Germans threaten the lives of innocents. The issue ends with Jacob saying something cryptic: and so the die is cast!

Not great but fun. I usually enjoy these stories of superheroes behind enemy lines. This one was no exception. It would be nice if there was some actual character development in this story but maybe that's asking a bit much considering the decade from which it emerged.

3/16

GCD: https://www.comics.org/issue/30671/