Captain America #204
The Unburied One
… This story continues from Marvel Team-Up #52.
Following their escape from another dimension, the Night People of Zero Street have been turned over by SHIELD doctors for treatment. Among them are the Falcon and his girlfriend Leila Taylor, who were captured and brainwashed by the insane group. Their leader, Brother Inquisitor and Abner Doolittle — the man who built the dimensional portal that brought the Night People to another dimension — are unhappy that Captain America betrayed them, but they are convinced to undergo treatment anyway.
While Falcon and Leila are undergoing treatment, Doctor Hartman decides to show Captain America another one of their bizarre patients. Locked in a room is a strange man with glowing red eyes. He has no pulse and by all science should be dead. The man moves in strange ways and appears to be mute, almost as though he is an animated corpse being moved around like a puppet. Getting a closer look both men notice that the stranger is actually mouthing words. Lipreading, they learn that this man calls himself Agron and claims to be a native from the distant future.[1] While Captain America dismisses this as science fiction, Doctor Hartman considers the possibility and theorized that such a being could be made entirely of energy and is in fact animating a corpse to interact with the world. They then go to check on the Falcon who has had to be restrained because of the Night People’s brainwashing.
After Captain America leaves to meet up with his girlfriend, Sharon Carter, a pair of orderlies arrive in Agron’s room to give him food. Frustrated by the patient’s lack of compliance one of them tries to force feed Agron, prompting the strange man to attack them with unexpectedly titanic strength.
Meanwhile, Captain America and Sharon Carter drive out to the wilderness to enjoy some time alone. Sharon once again tries to convince Steve to devote more time to their relationship, saying that others can take his place. When Steve can’t bring himself to do this — especially since Sam is institutionalized — Sharon becomes upset and storms off, telling him that she won’t be waiting by the phone the next time he decides to call her.
Back at the SHIELD facility, Agron goes on a rampage and the guards are forced to use lethal force to take him down. When the bullet riddled body is brought to a lab for autopsy, Doctor Hartman calls Captain America to inform him what happened. By this time, Steve Rogers has returned home and is waiting for Sharon to call him so they can patch things up. Although Doctor Hartman fears that Agron isn’t really dead, Steve refuses to come unless there is any immediate danger, as he doesn’t want to miss Sharon’s call.
As Hartman hangs up the phone, Agron’s body begins to crackle with energy and suddenly increases muscle mass before sitting up and renewing his rampage. With no other choice, the scientist races to the Falcon’s room. Although he is still under the Night People’s mental conditioning, Hartman convinces the Falcon to fight Agron. Sam’s first blow hardly staggers Agron, who suddenly becomes able to speak. Calling the Falcon a fool, Agron’s eyes begin to glow and what happens next causes the Falcon to scream.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Falcon, Argon, Sharon Carter, Night People (Brother Wonderful, Brother Inquisitor), SHIELD
Continuity Notes
The possible future that Agron hails from is indexed as Reality-76216, as revealed in the Falcon entry of Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #4.
Topical References
The Falcon is depicted being restrained in a straitjacket in this story. This should be considered topical due to the fact that this is an outdated device and more humane methods of restraint has long been adopted by mental health facilities.
