This was an interesting glimpse into how comics handled the cold war. The Soviet Super Soldiers were not portrayed as bad guys but as heroes (except Dynamo, who’s just a jerk) doing what they think as best for the state. This is probably reflective of the time books featuring communists in the 50s and 60s would be much more judgmental of ‘commies” than we would be in the 80s as the cold war was starting to wind down.

The Afghan soldiers were portrayed as the good guys in the story, which was odd perspective from a modern reader, knowing that many of those that fought the Soviets would radicalize and become enemies of the US. Mantlo mentioning that this group had blue eyes thought be traced back to the Soldiers of Alexander the Great was a bit of odd propaganda.