More Monster Than Man!

Captain America pays a visit to SHIELD headquarters so he can introduce his new partner, the Falcon, to Nick Fury and the rest of his agents. Both Fury and Dum Dum Dugan are pleased to meet Falcon and decide to take him down to the training room to see how good he is in a fight. Their arrival interrupts the work of a SHIELD scientist named Doctor Eric Garbo. Unknown to Fury, Garbo is working on a secret formula and he offers no protest when they arrive. As Doctor Garbo retreats back to his lab, Dum Dum and Falcon have sparring match. Falcon proves his fighting prowess by taking down Dugan in less than sixty-seconds.

While back in his lab, Doctor Garbo — who resents everyone — continues to work on a formula that will make him more powerful than Captain America himself. He is doing this because he believes everyone thinks he is a weakling and longs for a female SHIELD agent named Julia. In another part of the SHIELD facility, Julia is working on some files when she is checked on by Sharon Carter. Julia wishes she could be a field agent like Sharon. Julia is aware that Doctor Garbo is infatuated with her and feels sorry for how lonely he appears. At Sharon’s recommendation, she decides to stop by Eric’s lab and leave him the file on SHIELD’s new Earth-Dig project. Moments later, Captain America and Falcon are briefed on World-Dig, which is a plan to bore a massive hole into the Earth where radioactive waste can be safely disposed of. During this time, Steve tries to reconcile things with Sharon, but she tells Cap that now isn’t the time.[1]

Meanwhile, Doctor Garbo has finished his formula and drinks it. This causes him to transform into a massive ape due to the fact that his serum was developed using ape blood cells. Retaining his human intelligence, Eric is horrified by what he has become and quickly drinks the antidote that he also developed. When he reverts back to human form, Garbo is relieved but also thrilled by the power he can wield whenever he transforms himself into his ape form. Moments later, Julia comes to drop off the World-Dig file for Eric and thinking she has disturbed important work excuses herself, even though Garbo wishes her to stay. Furious at this last rejection, Eric decides to use his new formula to teach the world a lesson for feeling sorry for Doctor Eric Gorbo.

That evening, the mad scientist breaks into the local zoo so he can take another blood sample from one of the apes. Returning to his lab, Garbo makes another batch of his serum and transforms into the Monster Ape again. Heading out into the city, Garbo then robs a bank, using his titanic strength to rip open the vault. While leaving with bags of stolen money, Garbo also discovers that he can telepathically command other animals to do his bidding. When the police arrive, he orders all of the neighborhood dogs to come to his defense, covering his escape. The news of the massive simian terrorizing the city soon hits the news, prompting Captain America and the Falcon to investigate. Although they catch up with the Monster Ape, their opponent summons another army of dogs to cover his escape.

Returning to human form, Doctor Garbo makes an attempt to ask Julia out on a date. She turns him down, saying that she is going to be at the Earth-Dig project that day. Furious at this rejection, Eric decides to become the Monster Ape again and wreck the massive drill being used in Earth-Dig. However, when he attacks, Captain America is on the scene to defend Earth-Dig. In the ensuing battle, the pair are sent falling down the massive shaft drilled into the Earth’s crust.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Falcon, Monster Ape, SHIELD (Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, Sharon Carter)

Continuity Notes

1. Captain America broke up with Sharon in Captain America #124 when she broke her promise to not put herself in danger while working with SHIELD.