Review by Karl Verhoven

S.H.I.E.L.D. has long been the Marvel universe’s go-to global military solution, and over a creative opening chapter Al Ewing adds to the mythology by re-introducing Dum Dum Dugan, Nick Fury’s right hand man in the World War II Howling Commandos. This Dugan, though, is an AI personality implanted in one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s life model decoys sculpted to resemble Dugan. That being the case, he fits right into what Ewing gives the tongue in cheek acronym S.T.A.K.E., a group of monsters fighting on our behalf. It’s Marvel’s modern day version of DC’s Creature Commandos, but more fun.

A few others have been added to the team by the time Frank J. Barbiere takes over for the main story, pulled from the more esoteric caves of the Marvel universe, although sadly Hit Monkey doesn’t appear in every story. Dead S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jasper Sitwell is back as a zombie (apparently not worth AI reconstruction as an LMD) providing dark comedy, and a clever aspect is the team incorporating threats from Marvel’s 1950s monster comics. Orrgo is surprisingly sympathetic for an alien whose original intention was to conquer the planet, while Barbiere provides a running sinister presence in S.H.I.E.L.D. mad scientist Dr. Kraye for whom every being is an experiment.

Brent Schoonover takes Barbiere’s schlock movie scenarios and maxes the hell out of them. He’s patently having fun with the monsters, and draws them in a way that homages the lurching stiffness of their 1950s inspiration.

Howling Commandos never deals in subtlety as loud and bombastic is the intended mood, and minor quibbles such as Barbiere overplaying jokes like the communications supposedly cutting out don’t greatly impair on the sheer fun. In other circumstances a villain monologuing about “you insignificant flesh puppets” or gasping “what devilry is this?” and simpering dialogue from the team’s newest member would elicit a groan at the lack of originality, but here it’s all part of the cultivated self-aware mood. Well, we’d hope so anyway.