The Avengers and the Bay of Pigs

After kidnapping Janet van Dyne – aka the Wasp – the Living Laser retreats to the Latin American country of Costa Verde in Avengers #35, where he meets with two revolutionaries named Valdez and Carlos. In return for his assistance in overthrowing the current government, the pair consent to pay him ten million dollars in gold. “Then it is agreed,” one of revolutionaries says. “You will help our rebel forces wrest control of strife-torn Costa Verde from its present dictator.”  The other then adds, “And turn it over to us. You will be performing a great service for democracy.”

“Democracy?” the Living Laser scoffs. “Don’t attempt to lie to me, you ignorant clown. To help your forces gain the victory in Costa Verde is merely to exchange one dictator for two. Still, that is no concern of mine. I am only interested in the money and the fame such a venture would bring me.”

Shortly before his inauguration, John F. Kennedy was informed that the Central Intelligence Agency – under the direction of President Dwight Eisenhower – had trained and armed a number of Cuban exiles in Guatemala for a secret invasion of Cuba. “Cuba is now for practical purposes a Communist-controlled state,” CIA Director Allen Dulles told Kennedy, and it was only a matter of time before Castro began actively exporting his revolution to other countries. An invasion by the Cuban exiles, covertly supported by the U.S., was the most viable solution.

According to Peter Wyden in his 1979 book Bay of Pigs: The Untold Story, the original invasion plan called for the Cuban exiles to land at Trinidad, located along the southern coast of Cuba. There was only one access road, which the blowing up of a single bridge would render useless, and the exiles could take cover in the nearby Escambray Mountains if faced with overwhelming opposition. Kennedy, however, thought the plan looked “too much like a World War Two invasion” and the location was subsequently changed to the Bay Pigs.

The new site had only one thing in its favor – a runway capable of handling the B-26 planes that the Cuban exiles would be flying. It was later discovered that the runway had yet to be completed. While the Trinidad site involved landing the Cuban exiles on two adjoining beaches separated by a creek, the Bay of Pigs called for the invasion of three beaches located over a sixteen-mile stretch. Despite the change in locale, the CIA still insisted that the guerillas could “melt into the mountains” if anything went wrong, even though the nearest mountains were forty miles away and separated from the beach by virtually impassable swampland.

President Kennedy eventually approved the plan but instructed the CIA to inform the Cuban exiles that “U.S. strike forces would not be allowed to participate in or support the invasion in any way,” and to make sure that the exiles were still willing to undertake the mission under those conditions. The reply back was “yes,” although the CIA also told the Cubans, “If you fail we will go in.”

Shortly after meeting with the revolutionaries Valdez and Carlos, the Living Laser begins his attack against the forces of Costa Verde. “Hah!” he exclaims. “Tanks… bazookas… jets… nothing can resist my heavily concentrated laser ray! I shall give those foolhardy pilots a chance to bail out so that they may live to tell others of the Laser’s power!”

Back in New York City, news of the Living Laser’s exploits has reached the ears of Captain America. He immediately gathers his fellow Avengers – Hawkeye and Goliath – and the trio head to Latin America in a plane specially built by Tony Stark. Once they reach the impregnable fortress that serves as the royal castle of Costa Verde, the Living Laser fires his laser at them, causing their plane to spiral out of control and crash into the ocean.

Fortunately the aircraft can be converted into a submersible and the Avengers are able to find their way onshore by sea rather than sky. They then attempt to infiltrate the castle but are attacked by rebel forces. The battle is fierce, and Captain America and Hawkeye soon find themselves overwhelmed and captured. Goliath has better luck, making his way to the Living Laser’s lair and the trapped Wasp. Before he can free her, however, the Living Laser finds the Avenger and incapacitates him as well.

The beaches along the Bay of Pigs were supposed to be deserted. A resort was being built nearby, which meant that only construction workers would be in the area and it was assumed that they would be asleep at the time of the invasion. In actuality, they were working around the clock. One of the crewmen noticed a light emanating from the bay and immediately radioed the nearest militia post.

Photographs taken earlier by U-2 reconnaissance planes showed a dark mass offshore of the landing spot. Although many suspected the blotches were coral reefs that would prevent ships from getting through, official analysis of the photos concluded that the dark mass was seaweed. When the rubber rafts transporting the guerillas were eighty miles offshore, they hit reefs instead of seaweed, and the Cubans had to slug through the water to reach land. A jeep suddenly appeared on the beach and its headlights spotted the invasion party. The first shots were fired a few seconds later.

At noon on April 18, 1961 – the day after the invasion officially started – President Kennedy was told, “The situation in Cuba is not a bit good. The Cuban armed forces are stronger, the popular response is weaker, and our tactical position is feebler than we had hoped.” The only option was direct U.S. intervention, including the use of American aircrafts to shoot down Castro’s planes. Kennedy refused to take such overt military action, which would have amounted to a full-fledge invasion. Without the needed air support, the operation turned into a route. By the time the fighting ended, fourteen hundred Cuban exiles were dead, with the remaining 1,189 captured by Castro’s forces.

A six-month secret review of the Bay of Pigs conducted immediately afterwards placed the blame squarely on the CIA, noting poor “planning, organization, staffing and management,” the false assumption the invasion would “trigger an uprising,” and “multiple security leaks” that alerted Fidel Castro of the pending attack. Furthermore, President Kennedy had not been adequately informed that the entire operation hinged on direct American military intervention in support of the exile forces.

Publicly, President Kennedy took full blame for the failure, telling the media, “There’s an old saying that victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan.” Privately, however, JFK rhetorically asked, “How could I be so stupid as to let them go ahead?”

Giant Man is aware that any further use of the Pym Particles that allow him to change size could be fatal but shrinks to his old Ant-Man persona nonetheless. He then escapes from his cell and frees the Wasp. The Living Laser, meanwhile, is ready to fire his laser cannon and destroy the Avengers once and for all. Giant Man uses his smaller size to slip into the device and redirect the wires, causing it to explode when the supervillain activates it.

“Without his mighty beams, we are helpless against even the few government troops which have not yet surrendered,” the rebel soldiers realize. “We must flee before it is too late.”

Valdez and Carlos are equipped with wrist-lasers and decide to stay and fight. “The nation will yet remain ours,” Valdez announces before suddenly finding himself surrounded by not only Goliath – once again giant-sized – but Captain America and Hawkeye as well. Just as a final showdown is about to commence, the doors burst open and a new group of revolutionaries rush in. “Up with your hands, Valdez,” one of them shouts. “We claim control of the government in the name of a democratic republic and free elections.”

“Hear me!” Captain America tells the newcomers. “We wish in no way to interfere in your country’s private matters. We only want to take the unconscious Living Laser back to the United States with us.” The leader of the pro-democratic forces replies, “You shall have him. He did us a favor, ridding us of a dictator, only to try to become one himself. Do with him as you will.” On that note, the Avenger safely return home.

Anthony Letizia