Featuring: Captain America
Release: December 20, 1940
Cover: March 1941
10 cents
By: Joe Simon and Jack Kirby
14 pages
| Previous | Next | |
|---|---|---|
| Prelude | Captain America Comics #3 | |
| Sgt. Fury #16 | Reading order | Tales of Suspense #65 |
When Captain America returned to the present in Avengers #4, we preceded that with a large read-through of a swath of his history from 1941-54. But we intentionally left out some pretty key issues. In particular, we neglected his battles against his nemesis, the Red Skull.
The last two issues of Tales of Suspense have both retold stories from Captain America Comics #1. This next one will do the same, retelling the first battle of Captain America and the Red Skull. We will then see some previously untold encounters between Captain America and the Red Skull in World War II. Eventually, the Red Skull will return in the present day to menace Captain America again.
In anticipation of all this, now seems like a good time to read through the early history of the Red Skull, starting with his introduction here in Captain America Comics #1.
Major Croy has received a card from the Red Skull indicating he will be the next victim. Indeed, Red Skull murders the Major with his “gaze of death”.
There’s a lot to like here. Red Skull has a genuinely scary visage, and his outfit is a simple jumpsuit with a swastika. There’s something chilling about the murder scene above.
We’ve mentioned it before, but it must be recalled that this comic was produced in 1940 and finally released in December of 1940, a year before Peal Harbor. American policy and sentiment was neutrality toward the war. As recently as January of 1940, polling suggested 88% of Americans were opposed to war with Germany. There’s a strong political statement in having your villain wear Germany’s symbol, while he battles a hero adorned in American symbols.
“I’ll be back– with more murder!” Favorite line.
George Maxon is an industrialist supplying aircraft to the military. His latest prototype fighter plane fails. Private Rogers is not impressed with his lack of empathy for human life.
It’s a bit interesting to compare the introduction of Red Skull to the introduction of Joker just 8 months earlier in Batman #1. Joker also committed a series of murders, always alerting the victim ahead of time.
In the end, we learn the secrets of the Red Skull. Spoilers follow, but I think 80 years is enough time to make spoilers socially acceptable. Sled.
The skull is a false face which shatters. His death gaze was for dramatic effect. He’d really been killing victims with a hypodermic needle. Unmasked, he turns out to be the traitorous industrialist, Maxon.
Captain America lets the Red Skull die, rather coldly.
In the next story we’ll read, it will be important to note the details of the ending. Red Skull is dead. Captain America phones the FBI, then leaves the scene. The FBI find his body.
Word balloon placement is awful in this story. Here’s four examples of the dialogue out of order.
Now that I’ve read this story, I realize most of what I said at the beginning must be false. I suggested we were about to read a whole bunch of Red Skull adventures in preparation of his Marvel Age return. But since Red Skull is dead, I guess we won’t ever be seeing him again.
Red Skull in the movies!
Rating: ★★★½, 60/100
A bit of trouble rating this one. Obviously Red Skull is a significant villain, and the story is pretty solid with striking imagery, but the production is shoddy in so many places. Dialogue balloons repeatedly out of order, etcetera.
We’ll soon read the 60s retelling of this story, which will make this version seem like a masterpiece.
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:
- Red Skull/George Maxon
- Captain America/Private Steve Rogers
- Bucky/Bucky Barnes
- Major Croy
- Ft. Lehigh Sergeant
- General Charles Manor
- Mildred Manor
Story notes:
- Rogers and Bucky escorting Major Croy, who had received a card from the Red Skull, but dismissed it. He didn’t believe the Red Skull was real.
- When Croy looks at Red Skull, he dies.
- Dialogue out of order at least four times.
- Captain America goes after the Skull alone, so Bucky decides to also hunt him on his own.
- Red Skull will kill military officials; his henchmen will loot the First National Bank; goal is to overthrow the US government.
- Maxon of the Maxon Aircraft Corporation observes failed test of new plane.
- Captain America and Bucky are next on the Skull’s list.
- Skull a false face.
- Skull actually murdered victims with a hypodermic needle.
- Captain America let Red Skull die.
- Hitler offered Maxon the post of Minister of all American industry when America was controlled by the Reich.
| Previous | Next | |
|---|---|---|
| Prelude | Captain America Comics #3 | |
| Sgt. Fury #16 | Reading order | Tales of Suspense #65 |
