An American comic book is a thin periodical originating in the United States, typically 32 pages, containing comics content. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of Action Comics, which included the debut of the superhero Superman. This was followed by a superhero boom that lasted until the end of World War II. After the war, while superheroes were marginalized, the comic book industry rapidly expanded and genres such as horror, crime, science fiction and romance became popular. The 1950s saw a gradual decline, due to a shift away from print media in the wake of television and the impact of the Comics Code Authority. The late 1950s and the 1960s saw a superhero revival and superheroes remained the dominant character archetype throughout the late 20th century into the 21st century.
Marvel Comics is the brand name and primary imprint of Marvel Worldwide Inc., formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, a publisher of American comic books and related media. In 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Worldwide's parent company.
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos was a comic book series created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee and published by Marvel Comics from 1963 to 1981. The main character, Sgt. Nick Fury, later became the leader of Marvel's super-spy agency, S.H.I.E.L.D. The title also featured the Howling Commandos, a fictional World War II unit that first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1.
Stan Lee was an American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer. He rose through the ranks of a family-run business to become Marvel Comics' primary creative leader for two decades, leading its expansion from a small division of a publishing house to a multimedia corporation that dominated the comics industry.
Jack Kirby ; August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994) was an American comic book artist, writer and editor, widely regarded as one of the medium's major innovators and one of its most prolific and influential creators. He grew up in New York City, and learned to draw cartoon figures by tracing characters from comic strips and editorial cartoons. He entered the nascent comics industry in the 1930s, drawing various comics features under different pen names, including Jack Curtiss, before ultimately settling on Jack Kirby. In 1940, he and writer-editor Joe Simon created the highly successful superhero character Captain America for Timely Comics, predecessor of Marvel Comics. During the 1940s Kirby regularly teamed with Simon, creating numerous characters for that company and for National Comics Publications, later to become DC Comics.
Richard Bache "Dick" Ayers was an American comic book artist and cartoonist best known for his work as one of Jack Kirby's inkers during the late-1950s and 1960s period known as the Silver Age of Comics, including on some of the earliest issues of Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four. He is the signature penciler of Marvel's World War II comic Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, drawing it for a 10-year run, and he co-created Magazine Enterprises' 1950s Western-horror character the Ghost Rider, a version of which he would draw for Marvel in the 1960s.
Fictional character biography
Robert "Rebel" Ralston is a native of Kentucky and a founding member of the original Howling Commandos led by Nick Fury. Rebel Ralston fought alongside the team during World War II.[1] Ralston was an accomplished horseman and was skilled with a lasso. He was also the "creator" of the Howlers battle cry "Wahoo!".[volume&issueneeded] Mr. Ralston and Mrs. Ralston were seen.[2]
Kentucky, officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state located in the east south-central region of the United States. Although styled as the "State of Kentucky" in the law creating it,, Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth. Originally a part of Virginia, in 1792 Kentucky split from it and became the 15th state to join the Union. Kentucky is the 37th most extensive and the 26th most populous of the 50 United States.
Colonel Nicholas Joseph Fury Sr. is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1, a World War II combat series that portrayed the cigar-chomping Fury as leader of an elite U.S. Army unit.
World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The vast majority of the world's countries—including all the great powers—eventually formed two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. A state of total war emerged, directly involving more than 100 million people from more than 30 countries. The major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. World WarII was the deadliest conflict in human history, marked by 70 to 85 million fatalities, most of whom were civilians in the Soviet Union and China. It included massacres, the genocide of the Holocaust, strategic bombing, premeditated death from starvation and disease, and the only use of nuclear weapons in war.
Ralston plays a prominent role when several Howling Commandos end up stranded on a strange, partially glowing island.[3]
After the war, he was one of the founding members of the V-Battalion and the Penance Council.[volume&issueneeded] He was later elected Senator of Texas, apparently with clandestine help from the V-Battalion.[4] He rejoined his old comrades in the Howling Commandos to battle a Baron Strucker robot. The Commandos and Captain America stopped the Strucker robot but the Howling Commandos' superior Captain Sam Sawyer was killed.[volume&issueneeded] He survived an assassination attempt while co-chairing the Senate Defense Committee.[volume&issueneeded] He has worked closely with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Commission on Superhuman Activities.[5]
The V-Battalion is the name of two incarnations of a fictional secret organization composed of Golden Age superheroes and their descendants appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The organization featured prominently in the original Thunderbolts series and The New Invaders.
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress which, along with the United States House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the legislature of the United States. The Senate chamber is located in the north wing of the Capitol Building, in Washington, D.C.
When Fury was seemingly killed by Punisher, Ralston and Iron Man advised the President not to attend the funeral in the event that the supervillains attack it.[6]
The Punisher is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru. The Punisher made his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129.
Iron Man is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The character made his first appearance in Tales of Suspense #39, and received his own title in Iron Man #1.
In the form of Lt. Dallas, Omnibus placed Ralston under mental control to turn over information that can used to fund a terrorist organization called "The Alliance".[7] When the Hulk was captured by Major Glenn Talbot, Ralston observed Bruce Banner in custody and refused to have Talbot kill Banner until the President has made a decision. Robert attended a briefing on "The Alliance" with Talbot, Dum Dum Dugan, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and Henry Peter Gyrich.[8] The Senator and his allies continued to debate about "The Alliance". They could not determine who "The Alliance" were and what their motive is.[9] After Hulk had claimed responsibility for "The Alliance" in order to serve as an enemy that the people can fight back against, Thor confronted Ralston and the others stating that he will confront Hulk.[10]
Robert was contacted by J. Jonah Jameson as he searched for support against Bastion and Operation: Zero Tolerance. Ralston suggested to Jameson to try Senator Robert Kelly who was more frustrated with the mutant issue than him. Jameson frustratingly then states of voting for a Republican by the next election.[11]
Ralston traveled to Sudan where he met many of his former Howling Commandos teammates (consisting of Nick Fury, Captain America, Sharon Carter and John Garrett) at Fury's Sandbox for one last party together. Fury talked with Ralston for a moment about the support for Nick's operation that would get the U.S. Senate and the Senator only asked how soon Nick will need those votes.[12] Robert listed to a good few stories from the past.[13] Ralston raised his glass in a toast to the fallen members of the Howling Commanders.[14]
Robert spoke to the United Nations about the President's plans for international funds to provide economic, political, and military stabilities in areas suffering from international terrorist threats. Ralston was appointed control over the fund.[15] The Senator picked up Jasper Sitwell and Dum Dum Dugan from the United Nations' prison and brought them to his limousine waiting for them with Nick and Garrett already inside.[16]
As part of the Marvel NOW! event, (Secret Avengers vol. 2) he attended a weapons expo where he met with director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Daisy Louise Johnson and Nick Fury, Jr. as they noticed the Iron Patriot armor on display as one of the items at the convention. A fight broke out against A.I.M., and while he tried to protect his colleagues, he was apparently killed by Yelena Belova during the fight.[17] Later, the director had been removed from office by the Security Council because of her attempt to murder the A.I.M. scientist supreme in return of the senator's death.[volume&issueneeded]
Powers and abilities
In his prime, Rebel Ralston is a trained ranger where he was usually wielding a machine gun and grenades. Besides being an expert horse rider during his days as a jockey, he was an expert at wielding a lasso.
Other versions
The Ultimate Marvel version of Robert Ralston is seen as a United States Senator. He was present during the President of the United States's hearing regarding the Winter Protocols' implementation,[18] and dies during the Maker's subsequent attack.[19]
A Life Model Decoy is a fictional android appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. LMDs duplicate all outward aspects of a real living person, with such authenticity that they can easily impersonate a specific person without casual detection. LMDs first appeared in "The Man For the Job!", a short story by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby that ran the anthology book Strange Tales #135 in which the spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. created LMDs of agent Nick Fury to use as decoys for an attack by the terrorist organization Hydra.
Timothy Aloysius Cadwallader "Dum Dum" Dugan is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is an officer of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is one of the most experienced members of Nick Fury's team, known for his marksmanship with rifles and impressive physique. He is recognized for his trademark bowler hat.
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos was an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. Running six issues before its cancellation and cover-dated December 2005 to May 2006, the series featured a fictional team set in the Marvel Universe, consisting of supernatural characters employed as a unit of the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D..
The Howling Commandos is the name of several fictional groups appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
N'Kantu the Living Mummy is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Isadore "Izzy" Cohen is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. His first appearance was in Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos vol. 1 #1.
Gabriel "Gabe" Jones is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby, he made his first appearance in World War II war comics series Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1.
Jonathan "Junior" Juniper is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, his first appearance was in Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos vol. 1 #1. He is known to be the first major character to find death in a Marvel comic and the only Howling Commando ever to die in battle.
Eric Koenig is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Dino Manelli is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. His first appearance was in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos vol. 1 #1.
Percival "Pinky" Pinkerton is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character's first appearance was in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos vol. 1 #8, in which he replaced Jonathan Junior Juniper who was killed in issue #4.
General Samuel "Happy Sam" Sawyer is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. His first appearance was in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1.
Clay Quartermain is a fictional character, a secret agent appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Jasper Sitwell is a fictional character, an espionage agent appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage, special law enforcement, and counter-terrorism agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135, it often deals with paranormal and superhuman threats.
Kraken is a name or title shared among several characters in Marvel Comics. While the original Kraken is the creature of the same name, the rest have been people who have used the name as their persona. The creature and one of the characters has appeared in other media.
Sgt. Fury & his Howling Commandos: Shotgun Opera also known as simply Shotgun Opera or Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, Vol. 2 is a 2009 comic book one-shot published by Marvel Comics. The story was written by Jesse Alexander and drawn by John Paul Leon.
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