Captain America (1968 series) #133

Review: Cap and Falcon team-up against a giant android terrorizing Harlem but this time there’s an attempt at social significance. But first we learn the origin of MODOK, an AIM scientist forced into a fiendish device that turned him into the gruesome Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing, a super-brain with murderous intent—and then the idiots were surprised that it turned on them. Hadn’t they read Frankenstein, or the millions of sci-fi tales stealing its thunder? But despite that pathetic origin tale, MODOK has never garnered any sympathy (unlike the Frankenstein Monster) no matter how he tries, even as he envies Cap so he creates another monster, a yellow giant with graffiti all over it, that speaks in left-wing slogans, to terrorize Harlem. Up till now this has just been a Good Guys versus a Monster tale but then we learn that the inhabitants of Harlem see the monster as a hero, which was MODOK’s intent, demonstrating that this Mental Organism has taken a basic college course in sociology and has read some newspapers while also following the more radical socialists. All this to explain how the locals are being duped into supporting the bad guys. Well at least the bad guys are faking change on a systemic level while Cap and the Falcon seem interested only in dealing with occasional problems, so that the Harlemites can work out the bigger issues for themselves. And this will be the template for the future teaming: Cap and Sam will take on anyone who tries to victimize or terrorize Harlem; anything else is up to the politicians. Not good enough? It’s only a comic book, this much is a big surprise.

Comments: Part four of four parts. The origin of MODOK, whose real name is later revealed to be George Tarleton. MODOK returns in SUB-MARINER #47-48. Sole appearance of the Bulldozer android, no relation to the member of the Wrecking Crew with that name.