After a month of spotlighting the strange (if endearingly strange) history of comic books (and especially the Silver Age), I think it is worthwhile to show the comic books of the Silver Age that are simply great stories period. Here is an archive of all the Silver Age comics features so far!

Today we look at the classic 1968 Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD tale, "Today Earth Died!" from Strange Tales #168, the final issue of Strange Tales to feature the characters. Written and drawn by Jim Steranko (with Joe Sinnott), it is terrific!

Enjoy!

First off, check out the opening page alone...



Nick is moping due to the events of the previous storyline, where he thought he stopped the evil Yellow Claw, only to discover that it was a fake Claw. At the same time, Fury spent time trapped in another dimension. So this is definitely not the typical self-confident Nick Fury.

As you will see as reports of an alien surface...











Amazing stuff, right?

I'll let you find the resolution/cliffhanger yourself (Steranko's Nick Fury stories have been reprinted many different times) as it is sure a doozy. It is more like an episode of the Twilight Zone than anything.

And wow, does Steranko draw Contessa well or what?!? One of the defining Steranko Fury issues (in a run FILLED with them).