TITANIC THREE

Membership: Crimson Dynamo (Alex Nevsky), Radioactive Man, Titanium Man (Bullski)

Purpose: To protect Communist interests in Vietnam

Affiliations: Formerly the Slasher, the Vietcong, including Colonel Sin-Li

Enemies: The Avengers (Hawkeye, Iron Man, Mantis, Thor, Vision), Libra, The Slasher 

Base of Operations: Vietnam

First Appearance: Avengers I#130 (December, 1974)

History: (Avengers I#130 (fb)) - After several defeats by the Avengers and other heroes while serving on behalf of Communist nations, the Crimson Dynamo and Titanium Man grew tired of servitude and decided to become independent agents. Hearing rumors of this from prison, the Radioactive Man escaped his confinement and joined with Titanium Man and Crimson Dynamo. The three of them traveled to Vietnam, which had fallen under control of the Communists, and allied themselves with the Vietcong. They dubbed themselves the Titanic Three. Because they were allied with the Vietcong, the only popular front in that beleaguered land, nobody could touch them without political complications. They were no longer considered villains, and acted instead as the heroes of the Communist Vietnamese.

(Avengers I#130) - The Avengers had just finished holding a funeral for their fallen ally, the Swordsman, when they heard a scream. Investigating the scream, the Avengers saw the Titanic Three chasing a man who had struck and killed his own wife. The Crimson Dynamo and Titanium Man caught the Vietnamese man and fired energy blasts at him, not killing him, but causing him excruciating pain. The Avengers prepared to fight the Titanic Three, but the three Communists explained to the Avengers how they came together and that in the land of Vietnam, they were not criminals, but authority, nor could they be attacked by Americans without undue complications. The Avengers hesitantly went on their way. 

Later, a villain known as the Slasher, who had stolen several diamonds from the Saigon Diamond Exchange, spotted the Avengers, and lied to the Titanic Three, claiming that the Avengers had falsely accused him of stealing the diamonds and attacked him. The Titanic Three then attacked the Avengers and a fight between the two teams ensued. The fight was stopped early when the Vision made the Slasher drop the diamonds he stole, proving he was actually guilty of his crimes. The Titanic Three then left the Slasher to the Avengers and went on their way.

(Giant-size Avengers#4 (fb)) - The Titanic Three went looking for the Avengers after their disappearance from Saigon caused quite a stir. However, Kang was also looking for them. Kang found the Titanic Three and beat the snot out of them. 

(Giant-size Avengers#4) - Iron Man, Thor, and Hawkeye found the Titanic Three laying helpless after Kang's assault. They explained to Iron Man what had happened to them.

(Iron Man I#74)- The Crimson Dynamo returned to the the Titanic Three in Vietnam following a battle with Iron Man, and was immediately mocked by the Titanium Man for being defeated. Before the three villains could come to blows, they were confronted by Colonel Sin-Li, who placed them all under house arrest due to damages the Crimson Dynamo caused during his fight with Iron Man. The Titanic Three were effectively over.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe#3)- The Crimson Dynamo was assassinated by the Soviets, who turned his armor over to other men in the years that followed.

Comments: Created by Steve Englhart, Sal Buscema, and Joe Staton