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Strange Tales #144 - 145 "Day of the Druid"
Plot: Stan Lee
Layouts: Jack Kirby
Penciler: Don Heck
Inker: Mike Demeo
Letterer: Sam Rosen

The mysterious Druid leads a techno cult against S.H.I.E.L.D., launching giant deadly eggs at the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Life Model Decoys of Nick Fury are unleashed to distract the 'Eggs of Satan' while Fury and his team discover an apparently misfired 'egg'. The egg is bait and the Druid appears and challenges Fury to a one-on-one fight. S.H.I.E.L.D. and the forces of the Druid duke it out.

  • Continuity Notes
  • Cover appearance on issues #144
  • Appearances by Dum Dum
  • First appearence by Jasper Sitwell in #144
  • First mention of THEM and villain appearance by the Fixer
  • Beginning with this storyline, Fury would alternate covers with Doctor Strange, appearing on every other cover.
  • Fury jokes about sending Sitwell to UNCLE, a reference to The Man From Uncle tv series
  • This story is reprinted in:
    • Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD (1) #18 (incomplete)
    • Marvel Masterworks: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Volume 1
    • S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Complete Collection Omnibus
    • S.H.I.E.L.D. by Lee & Kirby: The Complete Collection

 

Review
The low point of the Strange Tales run; silly, unimaginative and played mostly for laughs. Eggs of Satan sounds like something more in line with Dr. Strange then Fury, and as far as villains go, The Druid is one best left forgotten. The only highlight of the storyline is for the premiere of long serving S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jasper Sitwell. His enthusiasm and penchant for getting under Nick Fury's skin is on display from moment one, as are hints of Jasper's future (already Fury is thinking of having him as his boss). Sitwell and Dugan make for great sparring partners right away and there is considerable control room banter instead of actual plot. Almost as if confirming its insignificant status, when the Druid taunts Fury with S.H.I.E.L.D. not having found his underground headquarters, Fury could care less. Frankly so do I.

Rating: