Howling Commandos

[Joe Acro]

I just finished reading this series tonight. The story and art got better per issue. I seriously think that this comic could have become quite good had it continued.

Anyways, to the point of the thread. I was wondering how, if at all, this story fits into continuity. The fact that England is overrun with mythical creatures and that previously unknown monsters kept appearing early on, my inclination is to say no. Can anyone help?

[drwho]

I wish I could help, but couldnt stand the horrid art. My one question is isnt the Living Mummy part of that team? If so then why in frontline is he being held hostage for not wanting to register when he already works for the govt.

[Alan2099]

While I really liked the idea, the previews they showed of it had horrible art so I never picked any of it up.

[Madison Carter]

Howling Commandos is absolutely in-continuity. I'm not sure how one village in England being overrun by mythical creatures could cause doubt. Much larger events have occured on a larger scale (Maximum Security, or even Planet X, for instance). Most of the Commandos used are previously-seen Marvel characters, though the various artists did throw a few new ones in, mostly as background material.

[Madison Carter]

I wish I could help, but couldnt stand the horrid art. My one question is isnt the Living Mummy part of that team? If so then why in frontline is he being held hostage for not wanting to register when he already works for the govt.

N'Kantu was definitely a part of the team, but no longer is. Why and how have yet to be revealed.

[Cthulhudrew]

Did Giffen ever reveal who the Zombie was supposed to have been in life? His interviews on the topic seemed to suggest there was something more to it than just "joe dead guy" (and he specifically said it wasn't Simon Garth).

[Joe Acro]

Howling Commandos is absolutely in-continuity. I'm not sure how one village in England being overrun by mythical creatures could cause doubt. Much larger events have occured on a larger scale (Maximum Security, or even Planet X, for instance). Most of the Commandos used are previously-seen Marvel characters, though the various artists did throw a few new ones in, mostly as background material.
Maximum Security crossed titles though. And Planet X offered the terrible explanation that all the other heroes were tracking a fake space threat (a story never told from their point of view). I found it hard to believe that Planet X was in continuity when it happened. The fact that no one really mentioned it after the fact sort of makes me think that, in reality, it's not, or at least not all of it.

The only characters I know from the established universe are Brother Voodoo, Damion Hellstrom, Sasquatch, Werewolf-by-night, Dugan, Fury, and Mole Man. (I automatically assumed the other members of the team were previously established characters that I'd never seen.) I figured Lilith had been seen before, given her association to Hellstrom. I'm just a little confused where the giant creatures and Merlin came from.

[Madison Carter]

Of the main characters, only Warwolf, Zombie and Clone of Frankenstein were new characters (and even CoF was cloned from an existing Marvel character). Glob is an old Hulk foe, Nina Price is Jack "Werewolf" Russell's niece from the Amazing Fantasy issues, Lilith has been around for quite a while.

Of the giant monsters, Groot, Goom and It the Living Colossus (the giant rock creature that defeated Groot in issue #2) have been part of the MU for years, and were originally created during the 1950s and early 60s.

Dozens of pre-existing MU characters received cameos in the series, from Manphibian to Dimensional Man to the Golden Gator.

[Joe Acro]

So I take it that Wikipedia is wrong since it says that Zombie is Simon Garth?

I've learned that Gorilla-Man is in Agents of Atlas. Does he makes any references to the Howling Commandos?

[Soundrave]

So I take it that Wikipedia is wrong since it says that Zombie is Simon Garth?

I've learned that Gorilla-Man is in Agents of Atlas. Does he makes any references to the Howling Commandos?

Yes to both questions. Gorilla-Man's status as a SHIELD agent is basically the whole set-up at the start of the first issue.

And Wikipedia sucks. That's why I trust the Official Handbooks. There was an informative Howling Commandos profile in the Horror 2005 issue, and Zombie was not listed as Simon Garth.

EDIT: In fact, Marvel Dot Com has a profile on the Commandos (http://www.marvel.com/universe/Howling_Commandos)that matches the Official Handbook version nearly word-for-word. Zombie is named as "John Doe."

[Cthulhudrew]

EDIT: In fact, Marvel Dot Com has a profile on the Commandos (http://www.marvel.com/universe/Howling_Commandos)that matches the Official Handbook version nearly word-for-word. Zombie is named as "John Doe."

Moreover, here's Keith Giffen's own statement on the matter:


"There's the Zombie. It's not Simon Garth. It's John Doe right now. I know who the Zombie is, you're going to find out," Giffen explained.

It's from this interview (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=5837) about Howling Commandos that came out before the book was released.

I don't think it was ever confirmed, but I believe the Sasquatch in the series was not Walter Langkowski, but instead just one of the race of Sasquatches that the Alpha Flight v.2 Sasquatch came from (although he does say that he is "the" Sasquatch, so it could have been Langkowski).

[protege]

Of the main characters, only Warwolf, Zombie and Clone of Frankenstein were new characters (and even CoF was cloned from an existing Marvel character). Glob is an old Hulk foe, Nina Price is Jack "Werewolf" Russell's niece from the Amazing Fantasy issues, Lilith has been around for quite a while.

Of the giant monsters, Groot, Goom and It the Living Colossus (the giant rock creature that defeated Groot in issue #2) have been part of the MU for years, and were originally created during the 1950s and early 60s.

Dozens of pre-existing MU characters received cameos in the series, from Manphibian to Dimensional Man to the Golden Gator.
I don't remember those last characters you mentioned- guess i should have read the book a bit more closely.

[protege]

Moreover, here's Keith Giffen's own statement on the matter:



It's from this interview (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=5837) about Howling Commandos that came out before the book was released.

I don't think it was ever confirmed, but I believe the Sasquatch in the series was not Walter Langkowski, but instead just one of the race of Sasquatches that the Alpha Flight v.2 Sasquatch came from (although he does say that he is "the" Sasquatch, so it could have been Langkowski).
I thought the vol II Sasquatch was more bestial and couldn't talk.

[Soundrave]

I don't think it was ever confirmed, but I believe the Sasquatch in the series was not Walter Langkowski, but instead just one of the race of Sasquatches that the Alpha Flight v.2 Sasquatch came from (although he does say that he is "the" Sasquatch, so it could have been Langkowski).

This week's Handbook (#9) profiles Langkowski and says it was him in the Howling Commandos.

[protege]

he probably should have stayed there- he might still be alive...

[Madison Carter]

Moreover, here's Keith Giffen's own statement on the matter:



It's from this interview (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=5837) about Howling Commandos that came out before the book was released.

I don't think it was ever confirmed, but I believe the Sasquatch in the series was not Walter Langkowski, but instead just one of the race of Sasquatches that the Alpha Flight v.2 Sasquatch came from (although he does say that he is "the" Sasquatch, so it could have been Langkowski).

When we checked with Giffen, he confirmed it was Langkowski.

[Cthulhudrew]

When we checked with Giffen, he confirmed it was Langkowski.

Gotcha. Don't suppose he spilled the beans about the Zombie's identity? :)