Captain America #248
Dragon Man!
Captain America, Nick Fury, and Dum Dum Dugan have just discovered that the Baron Strucker that has been locked up in prison for months has actually been a robot.[1] They have the robot examined by Gaffer, SHIELD’s resident inventor, to find out who created the robot and why.[2] This whole scene is being observed through hidden cameras by the Strucker robot’s creator, the Machinesmith. When Captain America notices that the robot’s eyes are still moving he orders everyone to hit the deck. Moments later, the Machinesmith activates the robots self-destruct causing the robot to totally explode allowing a gold sphere that was collecting data to fly off.
With their investigation a bust, Fury decides to leave but not before Captain America can question him about SHIELD’s recent attempt to take control of Stark International. Fury admits that they tried to force Stark back into the munitions business but the plan backfired and that he wasn’t happy about having to do it, telling Steve that sometimes being the director of SHIELD is a dirty job.[3]
By this time, the sphere that escaped arrives at the Machinesmith’s hideout just as his robotic minions are returning with the Dragon Man. The master robotocist intends to use the android to destroy Captain America once and for all for interfering with his plans.[4]
Meanwhile, Steve Rogers has returned to New York and the grind of working as a freelance artist. After a long day of work, Steve returns home and where his neighbors Josh Cooper and Mike Farrel introduce him to the new tenant in the building, Bernadette Rosenthal. Bernie is an old friend of Mike’s and is immediately interested in Steve, noting that he has a cleft chin just like her.
As Steve gets to know he new neighbor, the Machinesmith succeeds in reactivating Dragon Man and using one of his robotic spheres, lures the simplistic android creature out into the city where it can attack Captain America and kill him.[5] The sphere has been programmed to locate Cap’s bio-signature and soon sightings of the Dragon Man are reported on the radio. Spotting the creature flying toward their building, Steve abruptly excuses himself and rushes up to his room so he can change into Captain America. That’s when Josh remembers that he was supposed to deliver an important letter to Steve and runs up to deliver it.[6] However, when he knocks on Steve’s door, he gets no answer.
When Captain America intercepts Dragon Man on the rooftops, the creature is compelled to attack him by the sphere it has been following.[7] Even though the massive android is much more powerful than he is, Cap is determined to stop it before it can harm any innocent people. When Cap hurls his shield at the monster, Dragon Man catches the weapon in its mouth. Unable to chew through the indestructible weapon, the creature tosses it into the air, prompting Cap to race for it when it finally imbeds itself on a nearby rooftop. Unfortunately, turning his back on the Dragon Man proves to be a mistake as the android manages to grab the Avenger in the crushing grip of its massive hands.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Machinesmith, Dragon Man, Bernie Rosenthal, Josh Cooper, Mike Farrel, SHIELD ( Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, The Gaffer)
Continuity Notes
The real Baron Strucker, at the time of this story, died by way of his own Death Spore Virus in Strange Tales #158. This robot version of Strucker showed up out of the blue in Captain America #130-131. However, it’s true nature wasn’t revealed until last issue. The real Baron Strucker will be resurrected in Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD (vol. 3) #20-21.
Nick Fury mentions how both he and Captain America recently dealt with other robots: Cap fought the Manipulator in Captain America #242. Fury fought five LMDs of himself in Defenders #54.
SHIELD bought controlling stock in Stark International in order to force the company back into the weapons making business. However, Stark organized a plant wide strike that would have left the company unable to function, forcing Fury to relinquish control. See Iron Man #119-129 for all the details.
Dragon Man has been inert since it was defeated by the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four #134-135.
Here, the Machinesmith states that his motivation for wanting to kill Captain America is because he is incapable of feeling. It’s revealed next issue that the Machinesmith is a prisoner inside a robot body after the death of his physical body. Prior to become the Machinesmith, he was a criminal named Saxton Starr who terrorized Daredevil for some time until he fell to his death. See Daredevil #49-56.
Josh was supposed to give Steve this letter last issue. They make it sound like its a big deal but Captain America #250 reveals that it is just an army questionnaire.
Cap recounts how the Avengers once clashed with Dragon Man. This was way back in Avengers #40-41.
Topical References
The radio in Mike’s apartment is depicted as having a physical dial to change frequencies. This should be considered topical since modern radios now have digital receivers.