Captain America #185
Scream the Scarlet Skull
Steve Rogers has a nightmare where all of his enemies are closing in on him. The climax of which is when a massive Red Skull grabs Captain America and tells him that they need each other, that one cannot exist without the other. Rogers wakes up screaming and realizes it is just a dream. This has come after the Red Skull has been actively murdering members of the Federal Reserve in an attempt to destroy the United States economy. Rogers, still can’t figure out how the Red Skull managed to kill Lawton Sargent in a locked room surrounded by Captain America, the Falcon, as well as SHIELD agents Gabe Jones and Peggy Carter.
Elsewhere, the Red Skull gloats over his most recent victory and how easy it was to commit murder under then nose of his greatest enemy. However, the Skull has become fixated on the apparent romance growing between Gabe Jones and Peggy Carter, the old Nazi finding a mixed race relationship aberrant. When the Skull begins plotting against the pair, one of his subordinates suggests they stick with the plan. The Red Skull is angered by this, reminding this minion how he managed to cheat death the last time he battle Captain America, when the hero destroyed his Sleeper robot in Las Vegas.[1] He then throws his Dust of Death in the face of this subordinate for having the audacity to question his plan as Chopin’s Funeral March plays in the background.[2]
Later, Captain America, Falcon, Peggy, and Gabe are now protecting the next target on the Red Skull’s list, Oscar Brenner. Brenner however doesn’t believe that he could be the next target. This angers Cap, who is tired of hearing people trying to downplay the danger they are really in. The Falcon pulls Cap aside because it’s clear to him that his partner is still upset about the murder of Roscoe, the man who tried to replace him as Captain America.[3] While they have a moment to themselves, Gabe Jones asks Peggy if she still has feelings for Captain America.[4] She tells him it’s all in the past but before she can ask why he’s interested in knowing a gang of armed men come crashing through the front door. The heroes fight off the Red Skull’s men who try to escape via jetpack, taking Gabe and Peggy prisoner. The Falcon tries to follow after him but he is still learning to use his new mechanical wings and is unable to catch up. In the aftermath of the battle, Oscar Brenner lights up his pipe it blows up in his face exposing him to the Red Skull’s Dust of Death, killing him and turning his face into a grisly representation of his killer. When the grandfather clock goes off it starts playing Chopin’s Funeral March. This further frustrates Captain America because the Red Skull has managed to outsmart him for the second time.
Meanwhile, at the Carter family mansion in Virginia, Sharon Carter tries to explain her romantic troubles with Steve Rogers, however she can’t get into too many details due to the secretive nature of her work with SHIELD and Captain America’s identity being secret. As Sharon pours her heart out, Dave begins to realize that he is developing feelings for Sharon and realizes that this is going to complicate their friendship.
While at the Red Skull’s hideout, the Nazi tries to learn more about the relationship between Jones and Peggy and uses the opportunity to gloat over kickstarting a new Nazi Reich. Despite the fact that they are prisoners, the two SHIELD agents treat the Skull with utter contempt. The Skull’s patience with them comes to a quick end when Jones spits in his face, prompting the villain to send his prisoners off to be tortured.
By this time, the police have come to Oscar Brenner’s home to collect the body and their questions annoy Captain America who is eager to try and track down the Red Skull. As he and the Falcon search Washington, DC for clues they are called over to a limo carrying Hugh Jones, the CEO of the Roxxon Oil Company. Cap is surprised when Jones knows that he was briefly Nomad and also provides him information on the Red Skull’s location. Jones evades Captain America’s questions on how he could know all this information and drives off.[5]
With this information, Captain America and the Falcon interrupt the Red Skull’s attempts to torture Gabe and Peggy. However, when it appears that Cap is going to win the battle, the Red Skull orders the Falcon to attack. Suddenly, Sam Wilson enters a trance and knocks out Captain America from behind. The Red Skull then makes the shocking revelation that the Falcon has been his secret weapon ever since he first became partners with Captain America.[6]
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Falcon, Red Skull, SHIELD (Sharon Carter, Peggy Carter, Gabe Jones), Dave Cox, Roxxon Oil (Hugh Jones),
Continuity Notes
Captain America’s battle with the Red Skull in Nevada took place in Captain America #148. They assumed the Red Skull fell to his death after being tossed out of the Sleeper robot because super-heroes never look down in these situations apparently.
The Red Skull has revived this modus operandai for his murders starting last issue. It was a practice he last used when murdering members of the American military back in World War II as seen in Captain America Comics #7.
Steve Rogers quit being Captain America after discovering the leader of the Secret Empire was a former President of the United States in Captain America #169-175. Roscoe Simmons tried to fill the gap from issues #181-183. He was murdered by the Red Skull, prompting Steve to reprise the mantle. Roscoe’s last name is not given here. It’s revealed to be Simmons in Captain America #615.1.
Peggy and Cap used to be lovers back in World War II, per Tales of Suspense #75 but were separated following the Liberation of France. They reconnected in Captain America #161-162 when Steve rescued her from Doctor Faustus. Peggy assumed that their romance would pick up where it left off but Steve had to let her down in issue #179 because he is currently dating Sharon Carter, one of Peggy’s relatives.
There is a lot to unpack here about Captain America and his encounter with Hugh Jones:
During the time Steve Rogers had quit being Captain America, he took on the identity of Nomad in Captain America #180.
Hugh Jones was kidnapped by the Serpent Squad in the same issue and Captain America rescued him, but not before Jones was forced to wear the Serpent Crown.
Avengers #143-149 reveals that Jones is still under the influence of the Serpent Crown even though he is no longer wearing it. Presumably, Jones divined information about Captain America/Nomad and the Red Skull’s location due to his connection to the Serpent Crown.
Needless to say, this is all detailed next issue.
Topical References
When the Red Skull murders one of his own men, Chopin’s Funeral March is depicted as being played on a pocket tape recorder. This should be considered a topical reference as this technology is considered obsolete.
Here, Peggy states that she is in her 40s. This should be considered a topical reference because her age will be in a constant state of change due to the Sliding Timescale. This is because the gulf of time between World War II and the Modern Age will continue to grow larger due to the Sliding Timescale. Further, there are complex issues regarding Peggy’s age that have yet to be properly addressed. Click here for more info.
Dave Cox states here that he fought in Vietnam. This should be considered a topical reference. Per History of the Marvel Universe #2, one could presume that Cox instead fought in the Sin-Cong Conflict.
Likewise, should reference to World War II as happening thirty years prior to this story should be considered for the same reasons mentioned above.
