TITANIC THREE

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

Purpose: To protect Communist interests in Vietnam

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

Enemies: Avengers (Hawkeye/Clint Barton, Iron Man/Tony Stark, Mantis, Thor Odinson, Vision/"Victor Shade"), Libra, 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. The trio 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) - In Vietnam, the Avengers had just finished holding a funeral for their fallen ally, the Swordsman; when they heard a scream, they investigated and saw the Titanic Three chasing Sen Fa, 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 trio of Communists explained to the Avengers how they came together, and that in the land of Vietnam, they were not criminals, but the authority, and thus they could not be attacked by Americans without undue political complications. The Avengers hesitantly went on their way.

   Later, a villain known as the Slasher had stolen a fortune in diamonds from the Saigon Diamond Exchange, and when he spotted the Avengers, he mistakenly figured they were after him. Then the Slasher saw the Titanic Three, so he lied to them, claiming that the Avengers had falsely accused him of stealing the diamonds. The Titanic Three then attacked the Avengers, and a battle 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 crime. 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: Crimson Dynamo) - 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 Engelhart, Sal Buscema, and Joe Staton.

All three members of the Titanic Three have had handfuls of their own adventures, tons of appearances, and several profiles elsewhere on the internet, as well as (I think) in the OHotMU.

For a discussion on the Vietnam war in the Marvel Universe, click this link. Vietnam "War" in the Marvel Universe
The bottom line is that VIRTUALLY all references, including those from the above story, are topical.

New and additional images by Ron Fredricks.

Profile by Stunner and Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Titanic Three have no known connection to:


images: (without ads)
Avengers I#130, p7, pan4 (Titanic Three pursuing Sen Fa)
Avengers I#130, p9
, pan5 (Titanic Three)


Appearances:
Avengers I#130 (December, 1974) - Steve Engelhart (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), Joe Staton (inks), Bill Mantlo (colors) Joe Rosen (letters), Roy Thomas (editor)
Iron Man I#74 (May, 1975) - Mike Friedrich (writer), Arvell Jones & Keith Pollard (pencils), Dick Ayers (inks), Len Wein (editor)
Giant-Size Avengers#4 (June, 1975) - Steve Engelhart (writer), Don Heck (pencils), John Tartaglione (inks), Len Wein (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe#3 (March, 1983)


First Posted: 09/27/2004
Last updated: 07/31/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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