Cross Fire

The National Front, a Neo-Nazi organization, has marched on Harlem to stoke racial tensions in the city. Seeking to stop them before there is any bloodshed, Captain America is shocked to see that Sharon Carter is one of their members.[1] Before he can do anything about this, Morgan and his mob show up to kill the members of the National Front. This forces Captain America to fight both sides of this conflict. When members of the National Guard arrive, Morgan and his men split and the members of National Front are taken into custody.

When the leader of the National Guard begins demanding answers from Captain America, the hero has little patience. Suddenly, the captured members of National Front activate their suicide belts, immolating themselves. Cap is too late to stop it. He also doesn’t see any trace of Sharon Carter and can’t tell if she killed herself or got away.[2] Not allowing himself to dwell on the possibility that Sharon is dead, Captain America leaves the scene as the authorities have everything under control. As he leaps across the rooftops, Captain America tries to figure out his next move against the National Front and their leader, the Grand Director. Little does he know that he is being observed by a mysterious man who has been stalking him. Having gone through a list of names, this man has determined that Captain America is really Steve Rogers and looks forward to meeting him very soon.[3]

Cap eventually goes to the hospital to check on Peggy Carter, who was injured during a National Front assassination attempt. He learns from the duty nurse that Peggy was released from the hospital and into the care of her a Doctor Steve Rogers.[4] Meanwhile, the Grand Director paces an office wondering why Captain America hasn’t come for them yet. His puppet master, Doctor Faustus, encourages the Director to be patient. By this time, Captain America has arrived at the office of “Doctor Steve Rogers” which turns out to be the hideout of Doctor Faustus. At the reception desk he is attacked by a nurse who looks like Sharon Carter, but turns out to be a robot. Taking an elevator to the top floor, Cap is exposed to gas that causes him to hallucinate being attacked by the Red Skull and MODOK. He sees through this illusion but the gas he is exposed is beginning to weaken him.

When Steve finally confronts Doctor Faustus, the mad psychologist is able to knock Captain America out with a single blow. When the Grand Director enters the room, Doctor Faustus assures him that the hero will be obedient to his every whim when he wakes up. This pleases the Grand Director who removes his mask revealing that he is none other than the 1950s Captain America.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, National Force (Doctor Faustus, Grand Director, Sharon Carter), Peggy Carter, Boss Morgan, Karl Janacek

Continuity Notes

1. Sharon Carter was brainwashed into joining the National Front in Captain America #231.

2. Captain America #237 seems to confirm that Sharon did kill herself here. However, Captain America #446 reveals that Sharon faked her death so she could go into deep cover on a mission for SHIELD.

3. This man has been following Captain America since issue #231. The identity of this stalker and who the Brotherhood is are, unfortunately, never revealed as this plotline was dropped following the stalker’s last appearance in Captain America #237.

4. This is a clue that the Grand Director is William Burnside, the Captain America of the 1950s, as we see later this issue. As explained in Captain America #155, this man was so obsessed with replacing Captain America he underwent plastic surgery and legally changed his name to Steve Rogers. Burnside’s real name is not revealed until Captain America #602.