Captain America #148
The Big Sleep
Captain America and the Falcon had just uncovered that the Kingpin was the man financing the most recent incarnation of Hydra. However, they are shocked by the sudden appearance of the Red Skull, who tells the trio that he was actually the driving force behind Hydra’s resurrection the whole time. When the Kingpin tries to attack the Skull, he discovers that the fascist isn’t really there, but actually appearing via a holographic projection. The Red Skull then explains that Hydra just isn’t a terrorist organization bent on world domination, but was intended to bring about the rebirth of Nazism and create the Fourth Reich.[1] This revelation also angers the Kingpin who scolds his son for allowing himself to be manipulated by Nazis.
Continuing his revelations, the Red Skull explains that this most recent resurrection of Hydra was to help the Skull locate a fifth Sleeper robot that was hidden in the Nevada Desert during the war.[2] With that, the massive Fifth Sleeper emerges from the ground. As it makes its way to Las Vegas, the Red Skull reveals that the robot can mass produce a supply of a lethal nerve gas. Unless Captain America surrenders to him, the Red Skull will wipe out all life in Vegas. Captain America, realizing that there are a million lives on the line struggles to figure out their next move. The Falcon insists they keep on fighting since Cap always found a way to defeat the Skull in the past. Surprisingly, the pair have a newfound ally in the Kingpin who offers his own resources to help fight off the Red Skull and his Sleeper. Captain America then heads off to surrender to the Red Skull in order to stall for time while the Falcon alerts SHIELD and the Kingpin calls in markers across the criminal underworld.
As everyone begins to mobilize, Nick Fury orders Femme Force to lead the charge. Since Sharon Carter was injured in their recent battle with Hydra, Countessa Valentina is put in charge. However, Sharon refuses to stay on the sideline and pulls rank despite the fact that she is still recovering from her injuries.
By this time, Captain America has arrived on the outskirts of town and is shocked by the sheer size of the Sleeper robot. That’s when Femme Force arrives via their jetpacks and begin attacking the robot despite Cap’s orders for them to stop. They are soon joined by mobsters rallied by the Kingpin. However, the crooks fare poorly against the massive robot, who blasts away their armored cars. Air Force jets are also equally as ineffective. In retaliation, the Red Skull has the Sleeper unleash its gas attack. By this time, Captain America and Falcon have forced their way inside the Sleeper and fight through the operators to get to the control room. There, a brief battle with the Red Skull is tossed out of the Sleeper and Cap uses his shield to smash the controls.[3] This causes a short circuit that triggers a chain reaction causing the Sleeper to explode as the two heroes make their escape.
After a round of congratulations, the Falcon admits it was great working with Cap again but still wants to return to Harlem and be a champion to his people.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Falcon, SHIELD (Nick Fury, Sharon Carter, Countess de la Fontaine), Red Skull, Hydra (Kingpin, Richard Fisk), Fifth Sleeper, Redwing
Continuity Notes
Hydra’s origins are a lot more complex than the Red Skull lets on here:
Deep cut: Hydra’s origins have their beginnings after a failed Brood invasion of Earth in 2620 BC. Scholar Imenhotep developed a special shield and spear to fend off this invasion. The spear eventually ended up in the hands of Imperial Japan during World War II. This Spear was also used by Nazi Germany and has some nebulous connection to Hydra. See S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, 4 and Secret Warriors #25.
The first incarnation of Hydra was created by Baron Strucker sometime prior to 1941 his motivations was creating a separate organization to pursue his ends in the event that the Nazis lost the war. See Wolverine: Origins #17-19.
Sidebar: The Nazi Thule Society has also been identified as another alias for Hydra, per Captain America: Hail Hydra #1-5.
These early versions of Hydra were defeated and later the Red Skull formed his own sub-organization that operated out of Japan post 1943. This organization was later usurped by Strucker who renamed it Hydra. See Fury #1, Marvel Universe #1, Secret Warriors #1, and 12.
While this story presents Hydra as only existing relatively early in the Modern Age, per Strange Tales #135, the organization has actually been regularly active throughout the years since the end of World War II in 1945, see Uncanny X-Men #161, 268, Daredevil #295, Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders #1-4, Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #112, 114, Wolverine (vol. 3) #26, Captain America (vol. 6) #1-5, and Secret Warriors #1-25.
This story also has Captain America reacting as though Hydra’s Nazi ties were a brand new revelation to him here. However, many of the above referenced stories show Captain America encountering and clashing with Hydra during World War II. A specific explanation is not forthcoming, however an explanation is provided from Captain America #253: It states that when Cap was revived in Avengers #4, he suffered from memory problems as a result of memory implants, possibly explaining why he doesn’t remember any of this. See Captain America #247 for more details.
The Red Skull recaps the activation of the four previous sleepers here. See Tales of Suspense #72-74 and Captain America #101.
In Captain America #162, Falcon states that the Red Skull died here, because superheroes never looked out a window after a villain seemingly fell to his death back in the day. Needless to say, the Skull did survive and will return to terrorize Cap and the Falcon again in Captain America #182-186.
Topical References
Here the Falcon refers to Harlem as a ghetto. While this was the case when this comic was published in 1972, this should be considered a topical reference because the area has undergone a great deal of gentrification over the years.