Featuring: Captain America
Release: December 20, 1940
Cover: March 1941
10 cents
By: Joe Simon and Jack Kirby
7 pages
The issue’s Table of Contents lists each chapter as a “Case”. The first was “Case No. 1”. This story is “Case No. 2”. Cases 3 and 4 seem to have actual titles, but this one does not.
We read the first “Case” in this comic a little while ago, because I thought Captain America was returning in Strange Tales #114. I was mistaken. I was fooled by the Acrobat in disguise, just like the whole town of Glenville. But I just peeked at the cover of Avengers #4, and it looks like this time Captain America is really going to return.
Yes, I know the old saying. “Fool me once, shame on… shame on you. Fool me… can’t get fooled again.”
But I have a really good feeling that this actually is Captain America. Hence, I would like to review a smattering of his 1940s and 1950s appearances to get a sense of who this fella is and what’s he’s about.
This story is notable for being the first mission of Captain America and Bucky. We learned their origin in “Case No. 1”. Now it’s time for them to go into action.
It’s 1940. Europe is at war. America has stubbornly remained neutral. But there are Axis spies and saboteurs on the homefront, and Captain America and Bucky are ready to deal with them.
Aside from being Captain America’s first adventure, this story is most notable for introducing the government agent Betty Ross, who has been investigating a Nazi saboteur ring. Ross will be a regular ally of Captain America, and eventually take Bucky’s place as his partner after the war ends.
She shares a name with Bruce Banner’s romantic interest, Betty Ross. Perhaps there is some relation between them. It may also be a coincidence.
I think this story is pretty clearly Betty’s first appearance. We see her. They tell us her name. She introduces herself to Captain America. However, some sources identify her as Agent X-13, seen in the previous story. The comic gives no hint of that. They don’t look alike (though X-13 was shown to be a master of disguise). And she doesn’t mention to Captain America she was present for his transformation. Cap and Betty both act like they are meeting for the first time here.
The story of the comic doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. I can’t begin to try to explain it and I’m not sure it’s worth considering all the many ways in which it makes no sense. Suffice it to say they stop the bad guys.
But do they really just straight attack the performers in the middle of a performance based on no particular evidence of anything?
There are three other Captain America stories in this comic, including the introduction of Red Skull. We will come back to that story at a later date. I’m purposely skipping the Red Skull stories in this initial survey of Cap’s history.
Rating: ★★½, 47/100
I read this story in Golden Age Captain America Omnibus vol. 1. You can also find it in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Captain America vol. 1. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Captain America/Private Rogers
- Bucky
- Sando/Von Krantz
- Omar
- Betty Ross
Story notes:
- Wave of sabotage sweeping U.S. Defense Industries; a “strange little man” predicts them. The act is “Sando and Omar”.
- Sando should not be confused with Sandu, who fought Thor.
- Omar predicts accident at Fort Bix; an explosion at Fort Bix happens seconds later.
- Omar predicts Hilltown Bridge will collapse.
- Gestapo behind explosions.
Next post: PRELUDE: Captain America Comics #2
Next in order: Avengers #4
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