The Coming of the Man-Brute

Ever since he was arrested by Captain America, Professor Silas X. Cragg has become obsessed with defeating the famed Avenger. Going to the local library he studies newspaper articles about the origins of Captain America. He reads about the secret wartime experiment that saw a frail man injected with the super-soldier serum. However, the scientist behind the serum was killed by a Nazi spy and the formula lost.[1] However, a brilliant scientist himself, Cragg has developed a serum of his own. He has decided that the way to defeat Captain America is by injecting his serum into someone who is already very strong.

Silas goes down to the Bowery where he finds a heavy set man who is down on his luck and venting his rage.[2] The shifty scientist manages to convince this man to undergo experimentation by telling him he would gain strength that rivals that of Captain America. After a battery of tests, Cragg’s Man-Brute is enhanced to his physical peak and enhanced strength. With his experiment a success, Silas then goes about luring Captain America into a trap.

To this end, the scientist pays a visit to Avengers Mansion where he leaves a message asking for Captain America to participate for a charity show at a nearby orphanage. Captain America, always looking to help those in need, goes to the orphanage and is ambushed by the Man-Brute. While the Star-Spangled Avenger fights for his life, the gathered media snaps photos thinking it is all part of the show. The battle takes them inside the orphanage where Cap orders the nuns to get the children to safety.

Although Captain America is the more skilled fighter, the Man-Brute is much stronger and has the advantage of fighting in closed quarters. Watching from the sidelines, one of the children wants to help Captain America and rushes out to aid his hero. When the kid starts hitting the Man-Brute, the villain abruptly stops once getting a good look of the kid and takes off while Captain America is still dazed. Returning to Cragg’s lab, the Man-Brute is furious because he was sent to kill a brave man in front of a group of children and one of them happened to be his own son. The Man-Brute then angrily shoves Professor Cragg into one of his machines, electrocuting the scientist to death.

The next day, Captain America is at SHIELD headquarters looking through some files when Nick Fury informs him of Cragg’s death and his connection with the Man-Brute. Coming across photos of Sharon Carter and Bucky, Captain America becomes depressed and decides to wander around the Bowery. He briefly considers picking up the search for the Man-Brute and decides against it. As he turns to walk away he just misses crossing paths with his foe who, upon seeing Captain America, wisely turns and goes the other way.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Man-Brute, Avengers (Yellowjacket, the Wasp, Black Panther, the Vision), Edwin Jarvis, Nick Fury

Continuity Notes

1. Yeah, they’re recapping Captain America’s origins, again, see Captain America Comics #1.

2. The man Cragg selects for his serum is unnamed in this story. Avengers: Most Wanted Files #1 identifies him as Bart Dietzel.

Topical References

• Cragg is depicted going through old newspapers that are bound in thick volumes. This was the method of archiving old newspapers around the time this comic was published. This should be considered topical since many newspapers and libraries have digitized their archives.

• The reporters are depicted using cameras that were commonly used in the 60s and 70s.

• Captain America states here that he sent Cragg to prison 15 years earlier. This should be considered a topical reference as it denotes the length of time by publication. Presumably, Stan Lee meant that Cragg was arrested sometime during the 1965 year of publication. Per the Sliding Timecale, his encounter with Cragg would have happened no more than 2 years earlier to this story.