The Howling Commandos

Before Nick Fury became director of S.H.I.E.L.D, he was a no nonsense Sgt. of an elite squadron of soldiers during WWII. The Howling Commandos were often assigned dangerous, and seemingly impossible missions. The group consisted of Sgt. Nick Fury, Corporal Dum Dum Dugan, Private Gabriel Jones, Private Rob "Rebel" Ralston, Private Dino Manelli, Private Isadore "Izzy" Cohen, Private Johnathan "Junior" Juniper who died in issue #8, Private Percival "Pinky" Pinkerton a British soldier who took Junior's place after his death and Private Eric Koening, a defector from Germany. These men fought against both real and fictional war foes, including Erwin Rommel, the Red Skull, Baron Zemo, Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker who would later on become head of the terrorist organization HYDRA as well as other Axis villains, and they also dealt with inter-squad bigotry. Even after the book ended, several of the characters made the transition to being members of S.H.I.E.L.D alongside Fury. The group will be featured in the upcoming Captain America film, so be excited true believers, cause the Marvel move Universe is getting a lot bigger!