This was an interesting romp through several tales of the Cold War. I could have lived without the Cobra Kid, but I really enjoyed the rest. Of course, one wonders why the Cobra's speedster has left-hand drive on p. 9 of the first story and right-hand drive on p. 30 of the last story [PDF #'s, not original page numbers]. I didn't know Czech autos were right-hand drive.
Of course, I was sneering at the idea of plastic stopping bullets, too. Then, I discovered that kevlar is made of a poly-para-phenylene terephthalamide-based plastic material. Doh!
And I always thought those upper thigh "wings" to old-fashioned jodhpurs were ornamental. So, I checked out the original design and realized it was so that horse riders had more flexibiity in the waist and hips while still having skintight pants below. Newer materials make them unnecessary, but I guess they make sense even for a "kevlar" superhero costume.
I don't remember this book from my childhood, but I remember the Korean Conflict and the Cold War. Except in fiction and film, I don't want to go back. I do like the fact that this "hero" is willing to allow for some necessary deaths. The Cold War was not a bloodless epoch even though it didn't have front lines, strategic theaters, and formal declarations of war.
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Black Cobra 1
