The group's official name was never established in the series' six issues, but was called the S.H.I.E.L.D. Paranormal Containment Unit in its single other appearance, in Blade vol. 3, #1 (Nov. 2006). The same issue established its nickname as the Howling Commandos.
Marvel returned to the concept in 2015 with Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D., a series canceled after six issues where that version featured a spiritual successor to the team that is established by S.H.I.E.L.D. subsidiary
S.T.A.K.E.
Publication history
Written by
Keith Giffen[1] for its entire run, the series was launched with
penciller Eduardo Francisco for its first two issues, followed by Dan Norton for issues #3, Derec Aucoin for #4-5 and
Mike Norton for #6.
Plot synopsis
This section needs expansion. You can help by
adding to it. (March 2017)
A powerful
magician claiming to be the one true
Merlin (one of many characters in the
Marvel Universe to make this claim) escapes from a
S.H.I.E.L.D. containment facility dubbed the Warehouse. He journeys to the
United Kingdom where he transforms the entire country into a
fantasy realm. The Howling Commandos are charged with stopping him.
The team is headquartered in Area 13, a classified base run by S.H.I.E.L.D. for its supernatural
black op program. It also serves as a
research and development facility, specializing in the supernatural.
Frank - Frank is an intelligent clone of the original
Frankenstein's Monster. He has super strength and durability, as well as a healing factor.
Gorilla-Man (Kenneth Hale) - Hale is a man trapped in a
gorilla's body, granting him superhuman strength, stamina and dexterity as well as immortality. He is a member of the
Agents of Atlas.
The Living Mummy (N'Kantu) - N'Kantu is a human who is injected with a fluid causing him to be immortal, although he resembles a rotting corpse. He has super strength and durability.
Brother Voodoo (Jericho Drumm) - Drumm is a master of voodoo magic. He is later killed when the
Eye of Agamotto is destroyed.[3]
Glob (Joseph "Joe" Timms) - Timms is a swamp monster that has superhuman strength, stamina and durability.
Grogg - Grogg is a winged dragon that can shoot flames from his nostrils. He is used as the team's transportation.
Groot - Groot is a sentient tree. He has super strength and durability and he is able to animate and control plant life. He later became a member of the
Guardians of the Galaxy.
Hellstorm (Daimon Hellstrom) - Hellstorm has mystical powers due to being a human-demon hybrid. He is currently a member of
HYDRA's Department of Occult Armaments and is one of the
Hell-Lords.
Lilith - Lilith is the daughter of
Dracula and possesses vampire powers. However, she is immune to sunlight and can not be permanently killed while her father is alive.
Werewolf by Night (Jacob Russoff/Jack Russell) - Russell's lycanthropy gives him superhuman speed, strength and agility as well as sharpened senses and a healing factor. He only appears in issue #1, the Director's Cut.
Other characters include:
Abominable Snowman - This Abominable Snowman is described as the actual folkloric
Abominable Snowman and not specifically connected to the other versions of the Abominable Snowman that were seen in Marvel Comics.
Goom - Goom is an alien from Planet X first appearing in "
pre-superhero Marvel". He is seen briefly at the beginning of issue #3.
Gorgolla - Gorgolla's body is made of living granite, giving him super strength and near-invulnerability. He also has wings that allow him to fly.
It the Living Colossus - It is a living statue, capable of flight and is nearly invulnerable.
Manphibian - Manphibian is a member of an amphibious race, with superhuman strength and razor-sharp claws.
Joshua Pryce - Pryce has magical abilities. He joins the team in issue #6.
Sasquatch - This Sasquatch is described in issue #2 as the actual
folkloricSasquatch and not specifically connected to the superhero
Sasquatch of Alpha Flight vol. 1 or to the race of Sasquatches revealed in the series Alpha Flight vol. 2.
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos appear in Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., consisting of Blade, Frankenstein's Monster, Werewolf by Night, N'Kantu the Living Mummy, and the Man-Thing.