Appearing in "The Return of the Red Skull"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Nazis
- ⏴ Red Skull (George Maxon) (Main story and flashback) (Death)
- Red Skull's Henchmen
- Numerous unnamed members
- Coney Island Con Men
- Duffer (First appearance; dies) (Impersonates Captain America)
- Midge (First appearance; dies) (Impersonates Bucky)
- Unnamed Promoter (First appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- United States Army
- Major Douglas (First appearance; dies)
- ⏴ Sgt. Michael Duffy (Unnamed)
- Numerous unnamed military personnel
- Adolf Hitler (Mentioned)
- News-Post (Named only)
- Bill
- NYPD
- Numerous unnamed police officers
- Larry
- Sandy
Races and Species:
- Humans (Main story and flashback)
- Pigs (Mentioned)
- Rats (Mentioned)
- Birds (Mentioned)
- Weasels (Mentioned)
- Worms (Mentioned)
- Ghosts (Invoked)
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earthspace
- Earth
- United States of America
- General Manor's Home
- Virginia
- New York
- New York City
- Brooklyn
- Crown Heights (First appearance)
- Flatbush Avenue (First appearance)
- Ebbets Field (First appearance)
- Flatbush Avenue (First appearance)
- Coney Island
- Crown Heights (First appearance)
- Brooklyn
- Long Island
- New York City
- United States of America
- Earth
- Heaven (Invoked)
- Earthspace
Items:
Vehicles:
- Red Skull's Power Drill (Destroyed)
Synopsis for "The Return of the Red Skull"
Having survived his previous encounter with Captain America and Bucky, the Red Skull vows to get revenge on the two heroes and continue his reign of terror against the United States of America for the Nazi cause. To this end he targets Major Douglas who is guarding plans for a new power drill device that the military plans to develop. He murders Douglas and steals the plan. His actions alert the attention of Steve Rogers and Bucky who had just finished dropping off the plans and they arrive to find the Red Skull's calling card: a box containing a miniature red skull. Changing into Captain America and Bucky, the duo chase after the Skull but lose him when they are attacked by his goons.
The Red Skull soon develops a working model of the drill and uses it to terrorize New York City. Captain America and Bucky clash with the Red Skull at Wrigley Stadium, however the villain retreats when the authorities arrive on the scene. Meanwhile, a bunch of shady businessmen attempt to make some extra money by having two thugs dress up as Captain America and Bucky and charge people 10 cents to see them. When the real Steve Rogers and Bucky come across the two, they rough them up for being phonies. Later in their dressing room, the two posers are confronted by the Red Skull who presumes them to be the real Captain America and Bucky and takes them captive and has them hanged.
Meanwhile, the real Captain America and Bucky are out on patrol looking for the Red Skull. Realizing that the Skull must be using the subway as a hideout, the two track them down and clash with the Red Skull there. When the Red Skull attempts to escape in the drill he tosses a bomb at the two heroes. Cap picks up the bomb and throws it back at the Skull and he is killed in an explosion and the drill is destroyed.
Appearing in "The Hunchback of Hollywood and the Movie Murder"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- German American Bund (First appearance)
- Hunchback (Craig Talbot) (First appearance)
- Unnamed Assassin (First appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Super Star Pictures (First appearance)
- Parks (First appearance)
- Mark Carstine (Producer) (First appearance; dies)
- Carol Young (Actress) (First appearance)
- McAllister (Director) (First appearance)
- Hannah
- Hawkshaw Brogan (Studio Detective) (First appearance)
- Goris Barloff (Actor) (First appearance)
- Unnamed Watchman (First appearance; dies)
- Numerous unnamed cast and crew members
- ACPD (Behind the scenes)
- Fort Lehigh News (Named only)
- United States Army
- Sgt. Michael Duffy ⏵ (Unnamed)
- Numerous unnamed soldiers
- Clark Gable (Mentioned) (Topical Reference)
- Barrymore (Mentioned) (Topical Reference)
- William Tell (Mentioned) (Topical Reference)
- Lon Chaney (Mentioned) (Topical Reference)
- Frankenstein (Mentioned)
- Nazis (Mentioned)
- Fuehrer (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Dogs (Mentioned)
- Horses
- Rats (Mentioned)
- Flies (Mentioned)
- Pigs (Mentioned)
- Birds (Mentioned)
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earth
- North America
- United States of America
- Virginia
- Ebony Castle (First appearance)
- Arlington County
- Hollywood, Los Angeles, California (Mentioned)
- Virginia
- United States of America
- London, England (Mentioned)
- North America
- Earth
Items:
Synopsis for "The Hunchback of Hollywood and the Movie Murder"
American film maker Mark Carstine decides to make his next picture a medieval tale that is in reality an anti-Nazi picture using the backdrop as a metaphor for a democracy battling a dictatorship. Overheard by a Nazi sympathizer, the man disguises himself as the Hunchback and murders Carstine. Despite Carstine's murder, the film goes on and begins production near Camp Lehigh, recruiting the local soldiers as extras in the film -- including Steve Rogers and James Barnes.
Steve plays the role of a knight in a jousting scene which is abruptly ended when the other actor is killed by an arrow. Changing into Captain America and Bucky the two heroes catch up with the murderous archer but he is killed by another before he can reveal anything. Chasing after the killers accomplice they are attacked by the Hunchback before the set crumbles. Pulling themselves from the rubble they run into famous actor Craig Talbot who tells them that the Hunchback escaped in the direction of Goris Barloff's dressing room. Because Barloff, a popular horror movie actor, was made popular for playing the role of a hunch back he becomes the lead suspect even though he angrily denies anything to do with the murders on set. When the authorities attempt to arrest Barloff, his direct helps facilitate his escape.
Investigating things further as Captain America and Bucky, the two heroes catch the Hunchback attempting to strangle actress Carol Young. Saving her life, they chase the Hunchback to the prop castle that has been constructed on the set. Searching for him there, Captain America runs into Talbot who he correctly deduces is really the killer. Captain America easily defeats Talbot in a duel and turns him over to the authorities. To everyone's surprise they learn that Talbot was a member of a pro Nazi bund and was seeking to stop production on the film.
Appearing in "Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Bucky (Bucky Barnes)
- United States Army
- Colonel Stevens (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Lou Haines (First appearance)
- Two unnamed assassins
Races and Species:
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for "Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge"
After Lou Haines is dishonorably discharged by Colonel Stevens, He attempts to kill the Colonel in his sleep. Captain America hears Haines and his two thugs outside of the Colonel's tent and intervenes with Bucky at his side. The two stop the attempted murder and tell the Colonel they slept through the ordeal when questioned the next day.
Appearing in "The Queer Case of the Murdering Butterfly and the Ancient Mummies"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Butterfly's Henchman
- Lenny (Apparent death)
- Numerous unnamed members
- Butterfly (Dr. Vitrioli) (First appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Numerous unnamed museum watchman (First appearance; dies)
- Lord (Invoked)
- King Tut (Mentioned)
- NYPD
- Unnamed Sergeant
- Commissioner Collins (Mentioned)
- Numerous unnamed police officers
- Cleopatra (Mentioned)
- Unnamed News Reporter
- Bucky's Class
- Unnamed Teacher
- Numerous unnamed classmates
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Demons (Invoked)
- Butterflies (Mentioned)
- Bats
- Mosquitos (Mentioned)
- Gorillas (Corpse, skeleton or other remains)
- Tigers (Corpse, skeleton or other remains)
- Dinosaurs (Corpse, skeleton or other remains)
- Oxen (Mentioned)
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earth
- North America
- United States of America
- New York
- New York City
- State Museum (First appearance)
- City Bank (First appearance)
- United States Military Academy (Mentioned) (Unnamed)
- New York City
- Virginia
- New York
- United States of America
- Africa (Named only)
- Egypt (Mentioned in narration)
- South America (Mentioned)
- North America
- Earth
Items:
- Captain America's Uniform and Shield
- Cleopatra's Diamond
Events:
- Halloween (Mentioned)
Synopsis for "The Queer Case of the Murdering Butterfly and the Ancient Mummies"
The local Egyptian museum is plagued by a series of robberies committed by a villain known as the Butterfly, who scoffs at the law and gloats over his successes. The press his daring robberies make attract the attention of Steve Rogers and James Barnes who decide to investigate the case further. Meanwhile, the museum is being delivered a new shipment of ancient Egyptian artifacts being overseen by Dr. Vitrioli who cautions the men moving them to be careful. Two of the following nights the Butterfly returns, each time killing the guard on duty and stealing a treasure on site.
When James Barnes goes on a field trip to the museum with his class he breaks off from the group to explore on his own and comes across a secret passageway where he finds the Butterfly's costume and the stolen loot. He runs into Lenny, Dr. Vitrioli's strong assistant and is knocked out and taken prisoner. When Bucky doesn't return to Camp Lehigh, Steve decides to investigate but gets no help. He decides to hide out in the museum until after it closes and explore as Captain America. That night Captain America clashes with both Lenny and the Butterfly in the museum. The battle ends when Cap causes the Butterfly to fall cracking open his head. As he dies, he is unmasked as Dr. Vitrioli and he tells Cap that Bucky is locked up in a sarcophagus in his secret room. Captain America hears the police as they enter the room, and dashes out to find Bucky. Bucky is still okay thanks to some air holes in the sarcophagus, and they change into their normal clothes and escape through a secret back door. Bucky laughs at Captain America for explaining to a passerby that he is a very nervous person and is glad the Butterfly was brought to justice.
Appearing in "Atlantis and the False King"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Soothsayer (First appearance)
- Acidal (First appearance) (Unnamed)
Other Characters:
- Numerous unnamed Atlantean soldiers
- Jupiter (Invoked)
Races and Species:
- Early Humans
- Cro-Magnon
- Inhumans
Locations:
Items:
- Soothsayer's Crystal Ball
Events and Eras:
Synopsis for "Atlantis and the False King"
Continued from last issue...
Tuk and Tanir have agreed to help Princess Eve free her kingdom of Atlantis from the evil rule of her uncle. However their arrival in the area does not go unnoticed as the kings Soothsayer has detected their presence through his crystal ball. The king confronts them as they enter the kingdom through a secret passage way and battles Tuk and Tanir. When the duo appear to be too strong for him he calls the guards to attack them.
However, when Princess Eve reveals herself to them they stand down and the evil king is taken off to the dungeon while Eve retakes her rightful role as ruler of Atlantis. She offers the two heroes to stay in her kingdom, however the decline telling her that they must travel onward to seek out the "island of the gods" known as Attilan.
Appearing in "The True Story of the Bald Head Message"
Featured Characters:
- Istiaeus (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Unnamed Messenger
Antagonists:
- Persian Empire (First appearance)
- King Darius (First appearance)
- Numerous unnamed soldiers
Other Characters:
- Greek Council of Chiefs
- Unnamed Ionian Chief
- Unnamed Dorian Chief
- Unnamed Aeolian Chief
- Unnamed Achaean Chief
Races and Species:
Locations:
Synopsis for "The True Story of the Bald Head Message"
The use of a young servant boy to provide a message to the Ionians completely fools the Persians.
Appearing in "Satan and the Subway Disasters"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- GCPD
- Commissioner Holt
- Detective Bronson
Antagonists:
- Pluto's Henchmen
- Jerry (First appearance)
- Scarface Rispoli (First appearance)
- Numerous unnamed henchmen
- Mr. S. Devile (Pluto)
Other Characters:
- Unnamed Groton City Mayor
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earthspace
- Earth
- United States of America
- Connecticut (First appearance)
- Groton City (First appearance)
- Rexal Hotel (First appearance)
- Groton City (First appearance)
- Connecticut (First appearance)
- United States of America
- Earth
- Heaven (Mentioned in narration)
- Earthspace
Items:
- Infernal Death Boxes
- Hurricane's Wings
Synopsis for "Satan and the Subway Disasters"
Groton City is plagued by a series of lethal subway crashes attracting the attention of Hurricane who suspects that his nemesis Pluto is behind the disasters using some secret devilish device. Sure enough going to the scene of the most recent crash scene he overhears investigators as they recover a mysterious black box from the rubble of the wreck.
Spotting a crook fleeing the scene, Hurricane changes out of his civilian guise and follows after him. He trails the crook back to the hideout of Scarface Rispoli and learns that they are using specially constructed "death-boxes" to cause the wrecks so that they can rob all the people who are killed in the subway crashes. Although he is spotted, Hurricane easily rounds up all the crooks and learns from Scarface that the man who put them up to this scheme is staying in the penthouse at the Rexal Hotel.
After dumping off Scarface and his goons at the police station, Hurricane would rush off and confirm his suspicions: that the man who put Scarface up to the job was none other than Pluto himself. Before he can capture his old foe, Pluto knocks out Hurricane with some gas and rushes off to plant another black box of death along the subway. Hurricane revives and stops Pluto before he can put his plan into action, beating him into submission and throwing him off into the sky. Hurricane then decides that although his foe Pluto is defeated for the time being, there is still much that he can do on Earth.
Notes
Continuity Notes[]
- The Red Skull that appears in this issue is not the same villain that most readers associate with Captain America. The more infamous Red Skull is actually Johann Schmidt, who does not make his actual first appearance until Captain America Comics #7.
- Final in-continuity appearance of the Red Skull (George Maxon); dies in this issue. He appeared last in Captain America Comics #1. His identity as the first Red Skull is revealed in Tales of Suspense #65.
Publication Notes[]
- This issue includes a two-page Captain America text story entitled, "Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge". It is reprinted in Captain America Sentinel of Liberty.
- The recap in Tuk's story seemingly mistakenly named Attilan (Tuk's goal) "Atlantis, Island of the Gods", Atlantis being the goal of Princess Eve.
- "The Hunchback of Hollywood and the Movie Murder" is reprinted in Fantasy Masterpieces #3.
- "The Queer Case of the Murdering Butterfly and the Ancient Mummies" is reprinted in Fantasy Masterpieces #3 as "The Weird Case of the Plundering Butterfly and the Ancient Mummies!".