Featuring: Captain America
Release: August 4, 1941
Cover: October 1941
10 cents
Art and editorial by: Joe Simon and Jack Kirby
13 pages
| Previous | Next | |
|---|---|---|
| Young Allies #1 | Prelude | Captain America Comics #16, Story D |
| Sgt. Fury #16 | Reading order | Tales of Suspense #65 |
We’re well into Captain America’s adventures, but it’s worth noting this still predates America’s entry into World War II.
The Red Skull’s modus operandi has all been variations on a theme so far. Originally, he had a death gaze; he killed you by looking you. (It turned out he was also injecting you with a poison while he looked at you.) Then, the death touch; he killed you by touching you. (It turned out his glove was electrified and shocked his victims to death.)
Now… the tune he plays on his flute is deadly.
This time, the explanation is simpler. Red Skull whistles Chopin’s Funeral March, but then just shoots the guy.
We recall the Red Skull is industrialist George Maxon, who betrayed America to Hitler. He seemed to be killed in his first appearance by his own poison, but he survived. He seemed to die in an explosion in his second appearance, but he seems to have survived that too.
Or is he George Maxon? The Red Skull’s history will become convoluted fast, and it will be hard to reconcile the 60s stories we are about to read with these 40s stories. But oh have writers tried. In an attempt to make sense of a sea of contradictions, some posit that this Red Skull is the real Red Skull, and George Maxon was a fake Red Skull. There is no hint in this comic that this might not be the same character we’ve seen three times. It’s the 60s comics that will create the confusion.
For now, I want not to focus on the confusion, and just get a coherent sense of his early history. Just keep it in the back of our mind the possibility that this might not be the same Red Skull from issues 1 and 3. For example, notice that his real name has not been mentioned since his first appearance.
There is some continuity to these early comics, but they don’t seem to acknowledge the Young Allies story we just read. Steve notes the Red Skull was killed in a blast, presumably referring to the end of issue 3. This ignores that the Red Skull was taken prisoner at the end of Young Allies #1. Perhaps that story takes place after this issue, or perhaps Rogers thought that wasn’t the real Red Skull. (There were hints that Skull might be German, rather than American.)
I am a bit weirded out by Rogers using the word “nineties” to refer to the 1890s.
Steve and Betty are both in a play. Betty is the leading lady and will have to rehearse a kissing scene with Steve.
“When are you going to stay dead?” asks Cap.
“He must have drowned.” Sure he did, Cap. Sure he did.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 56/100
I read this story in Golden Age Captain America Omnibus vol. 1. You can also find it on Kindle.
Characters:
- Red Skull
- Captain America/Private Steve Rogers
- Bucky/Bucky Barnes
- Kroft
- Van Raat
- Sgt. Duffy
- Betty Ross
- Captain Craig
- General King
Story notes:
- Former henchmen of Red Skull make plans to make off with his money after his death. One is killed by Chopin’s Funeral March.
- Camp Lehigh show; Betty leading lady; Craig runs orchestra.
- Captain Craig killed after the March plays; baton coated with poison.
- Red Skull disguised as British stagehand hired by General King.
- Betty plays Clementine; Steve– Harold.
- Captain America accused of being in league with Red Skull.
- Skull kidnaps General King.
| Previous | Next | |
|---|---|---|
| Young Allies #1 | Prelude | Captain America Comics #16, Story D |
| Sgt. Fury #16 | Reading order | Tales of Suspense #65 |
