THE LAST BANZAI (1967-1968)

The Howling Commandos are sent on a mission to the Pacific as World War II rages on. Over 20 years after the end of the war, the racism might be realistic but the chaos of war isn't quite so reflective. Not all of the Howlers will make it out of this one, though.

Plus, the Skipper returns to drop Nick Fury's unit off at Tarawa and we finally find out his real name - Captain Simon Savage - when he leads his own band of Leatherneck Raiders on a separate mission on the same island. Yep, it's time spin-off time!

• Sgt Fury and his Howling Commandos #49-50
• Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders #1

Sgt Fury and his Howling Commandos #49
The Howling Commandos are sent to Tarawa to rescue stranded Australian artillery observer, Rolfe Harrison, who has important information that will help the Allied Forces take down the Japanese outpost. The mission goes awry and Sgt Nick Fury's squad are taken captive. Izzy Cohen is taken away for questioning and torture, only for Harrison to rescue the rest of the Howlers and take them off the island himself. The Howlers live to fight another day, but struggle to leave Izzy in the hands of the Japanese forces...

Sgt Fury and his Howling Commandos #50
Two weeks after leaving Izzy Cohen behind, Nick Fury and his Howling Commandos get a shot at rescuing him when they're ordered back to Tarawa to claim the island. The Howlers make it past the beach, then leave the Allied Forces behind while they carry out their own mission to rescue Izzy. Unfortunately, Izzy Cohen is taken off the island on a plane back to Tokyo as a prisoner of war. The Howlers take over the base and capture the Japanese commandant, but aren't reunited with their team mate.

Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders #1
The Skipper - Captain Simon Savage - gets off his sub and is given his own contingent of marines to lead onto Tarawa, much to the chagrin of Sgt Yakkety Yates who doesn't approve of being a naval man leading a commando unit. Savage proves his worth to the Leatherneck Raiders with an insane move that blows up the Japanese artillery supply and almost kills them all in the process. As the Raiders triumphantly return to the u-boat, they cross paths with the Howling Commandos and a friendly rivalry is born.

Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders #5 (1968)
Rolfe Harrison returns and has to assist the Raiders on a mission to avoid a court-martial.

Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders #6 (1968)
Izzy Cohen is among the prisoners of war rescued by the Leatherneck Raiders during SAVE A HOWLER.

Sgt Fury and his Howling Commandos #59 (1968)
Izzy Cohen is reunited with the Howling Commandos during SAVE A HOWLER.

Captain Savage and his Battlefield Raiders #11 (1969)
Rolfe Harrison joins both the Leatherneck Raiders and Howling Commandos on a mission in the Pacific once again; Pvt Lee Baker is killed on the mission during DEATH OF A LEATHERNECK.

Captain Savage and his Battlefield Raiders #19 (1970)
Captain Savage parts ways with the Raiders.

Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen #1 (1972)
Pvt Jay Little Bear goes on to join the Deadly Dozen during DUGAN'S DEADLY DOZEN.

Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen #9 (1973)
Pvt Jay Little Bear is killed on the Deadly Dozen's final mission.

Fall of the Hulks: Gamma #1 (2010)
Simon Savage is revealed to have survived World War II (having made it to Colonel) and attends the funeral of Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross during FALL OF THE HULKS.

Secret Warriors #17 (2010)
Izzy Cohen is revealed to have survived World War II during THE HEROIC AGE.

Marvel Firsts: The 1960s
Includes Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders #1.