Showdown Day!

Captured by the mad geneticist named Arnim Zola, Captain America and Donna Maria defend themselves against his creation, Primus.[1] However, as they arrive at Zola’s castle in Switzerland, the geneticist uses his control device to make Doughboy — a creature who they have been using as a flying ship — to restrain his visitors. There, Cap and Donna Maria are placed in a cell that feels organic and impossible to break out of.

Meanwhile, the Falcon has been looking for Captain America since he went missing recently. This search has put him on the trail of one of the monsters named in SHIELD’s File 116, a massive avian creature.

While in the United States, Sharon Carter has reenlisted with SHIELD and meets with the head of the regional office for her mission.[2][3] She is being assigned to File 116, an investigation into bio-engineered creatures that have been appearing all over the world. While they don’t know who is responsible, SHIELD is aware that the mastermind might be receiving funding from a wealthy investor named Cyrus Fenton, who has been known to finance scientific experiments that are outside of the mainstream. With her orders, Sharon takes a SHIELD jet-copter to meet with Fenton.

Back in Switzerland, Primus rails against his master as he wants to claim Donna Maria as his mate, pointing out that he is as intelligent as man. Zola, however, only sees Primus as a tool to be used and forces him to merge with Doughboy. Expecting more intruders, Zola then has Doughboy break off two pieces of his body that are formed into grotesque guards to patrol the castle. He then uses Doughboy as a communicator to contact his backer, the Nazi war criminal known as the Red Skull. The villain is amazed to hear that Zola has his arch-nemesis, Captain America, as a prisoner. When someone rings his doorbell, the Skull tells Zola to stand by. He then disguises himself as Cyrus Fenton and answers the door. Pretending to be a busy millionaire, “Cyrus Fenton” tells Sharon Carter that time is money and invites her in, telling her to be quick about whatever it is she has come calling for.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Falcon, Sharon Carter, Red Skull, Arnim Zola, Primus, Doughboy, SHIELD, Donna Maria Puentes

Continuity Notes

1. Donna Maria’s full name is not given here. Her last name is revealed to be Puentes in Captain America #350.

2. Sharon had taken a leave of absence from SHIELD in Captain America #153. She was convinced to return to work for the spy agency last issue.

3. The SHIELD regional director is unnamed here. The SHIELD profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #10 identifies him as Kurt Jacobson.

Topical References

• This story refers to bio-engineering as a “new science”, that should be considered topical as what was considered almost science fiction back then is now very real today, albeit not as fantastic as what is displayed here.