Issue(s): Strange Tales #148, Strange Tales #149 (Nick Fury stories only)
Published Date: Sep-Oct 66
Title: "Death before dishonor!" / "The end of A.I.M.!"
Credits:
Jack Kirby / Denny O'Neil - Writer
Jack Kirby - Breakdowns
Don Heck / Jack Kirby - Finishes
Don Heck / Ogden Whitney - Inker
Roy Thomas - Editor

Review/plot:
SHIELD tests out a Nick Fury Life Model Decoy, those great inventions that solve up to 94% of all Nick Fury continuity problems. AIM is jealous of SHIELD's LMDs and they decide to steal one.

Meanwhile, Fury is brought to trial to see if he is still fit to run SHIELD. He proves his ability by throwing a temper tantrum and then jumping out a window off of the Helicarrier. Somehow, Fury manages to swap himself with the LMD so when AIM steals it they wind up with him instead. He basically takes out an entire squadrom of AIM flunkies himself (hey, they're just scientists) while waiting for Dum Dum to show up with the a SHIELD unit (for some reason, Dugan mistimed the unit's deployment, an interesting subplot that isn't followed up on). They go on to capture the rest of AIM.

Fury's handling of AIM for some reason convinces everyone that it's OK to run SHIELD, even though last time his personal involvement demonstrated a lack of leadership skills.

Gabriel Jones returns from his mission infiltrating the Secret Empire and he, Fury, and Dugan put their heads together and figure out that AIM, Them, Hydra, and the Secret Empire are all part of the same organization. The evidence leads them to believe that Hydra is once again operative.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 4 - revelation that AIM, Hydra, and the Secret Empire are all part of the same uber-organization.

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• Gabriel Jones' Secret Empire mission was chronicled in the Hulk story in Tales To Astonish #83

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? N

Reprinted In: Nick Fury and his Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #2