Captain America Annual #11
Citizen Kang Part 1 of 4: An Epic Adventure
When running a diagnostic on his internal components, the Vision discovers a piece of vintage technology that appears to be decades ahead of anything that could have come out of that era.[1] Since the part was manufactured in the town of Timely, Illinois, the synethzoid informs Captain America that he is going there to investigate.
When the Vision doesn’t report back a few days later, Captain America decides to head to Timely to try and figure out what happened. There he finds a town that is an idealic small American town, to the point where something feels off. Nobody in town claims to have seen the Vision and it is recommended that he check out the Timely Industries factory, since it is the only manufacturer in town.[2]
Inside, a man at the front desk is there to greet Captain America. When Cap inquires about the Vision, the man says the only person who might have seen him is the boss, Mister Johnson. However, when Cap asks to meet with Johnson, he is told that he will be busy all day and can’t meet with anyone. Naturally, Steve finds this suspicious and decides to sneak into the factory from the skylight. Once back inside, he notes that the man at the front desk is still standing there completely motionless, as though he is a machine that has been turned off. When he opens the door to Mister Johnson’s office, Captain America finds himself instantly transported to a rocky shore in some other place.
Hearing someone scream in agony, Cap turns around and sees a man being attacked by aliens made of stone. Cap recognizes them from Thor’s description of the Kornans, aliens he repelled form Earth on one of his earliest modern day adventures.[3] He is also surprised to see that the man they are fighting is none other than Gilgamesh of the Eternals, a former Avenger himself.[4] After Captain America helps Gilgamesh drive off the alien invaders, who escape in their ship, Cap discovers the Eternal is speaking some strange language.[5] When he picks up the name Ekidu from Gilgamesh’s speech, Cap recalls it is the name of a king who ruled Mesopotamia some 5000 years ago. This confirms his suspicions that he was somehow transported back in time.
Although there is a huge language barrier between the two, Captain America figures out that Gilgamesh is trying to cross the nearby sea to find a man named Utnapishtim. While the waters are acidic luckily a boatman named Urshanabi is there to ferry them across the water. This is when Captain America can see some kind of futuristic domed city off in the distance and decides to hitch a ride.
In the present day Boston, Doctor Druid’s meditations are interrupted by Nebula, the woman who had seduced him into doing great evil in the past.[6] She tells him that she needs him to stop a great threat, insisting that the last time they fought she was driven mad by the energies of a time storm. Druid, however, is unconvinced and tells her to leave him alone.[7]
While back in the year 2700 BC, Captain America notices that something is troubling Gilgamesh. Recounting Mesopotamian myths of this era, he recalls that the legends say Gilgamesh grew to fear his own mortality and was seeking out Utnapishtim to attain immortality. Cap wishes that they could communicate with Gilgamesh so he could educate him on the fact that he is an Eternal and has nothing to worry about. When they finally meet with Urshanabi, they discover that he is with a little girl. As Gilgamesh and Urashanabi speak to each other of the past, Cap figures they must be discussing the Great Cataclysm and the creation of the great Ark, which he knows the Eternal Ikaris had a part in.[8] The fact that Gilgamesh doesn’t seem to remember his people or his own immortality, Cap wonders if this might not be the Eternal at all.[9]
Gilgamesh asks Utnapishtim how to attain immortality and is told that he can get it from a special plant that grows just off the shore. Gilgamesh dives in to get it and when he does he attracts the attention of a massive sea monster that swims up to try and eat him. Seeing this threat, Captain America leaps into the waters after his future friend. The two men fight off the monster and return to the shore. Gilgamesh thanks Cap for his help and he soon leaves on a boat with Urashanabi. They leave behind the little girl who gives Captain America a bouquet of flowers to thank him for helping Gilgamesh and introduces herself as Sersi. Cap realizes that this is the younger version of the Eternal who will one day fight alongside him in the Avengers.
Captain America decides to press on to find out the secrets of the citadel in the distance, and Sersi follows in tow. However, the further Captain America goes the distance between him and the citadel remain unchanged and he fears that he might never reach his destination.
This far off citadel is ruled over by the time traveler known as Kang the Conquerer. Who is the one responsible for kidnapping the Vision. After showing the android the full extent of his new empire, he has the unimpressed Vision brought back to him to be his prisoner.
… This story is continued in Thor Annual #17.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Gilgamesh, Vision, Kronans, Doctor Druid, Nebula, Sersi, Kang
Continuity Notes
The Vision’s body was constructed out of the remains of the original android Human Torch, as explained in Avengers #134-135. The original Torch was way ahead of his time, an android created in 1939 by Professor Phineas Horton as seen in Marvel Comics #1. It’s later revealed in Avengers Annual #21 that Horton was unknowingly able to access future technology while working in Timely as it was secretly run by Kang the Conqueror. The whole idea was to pepper the 20th and 21st Century with future tech that Kang could usurp in one of his conquest schemes, hence why the Marvel Universe is slightly more technologically advanced than the real world.
One of the businesses in this story is a restaurant called Burgos’ . This is a reference to Carl Burgos, the writer/artist who created the original Human Torch back in Marvel Comics #1. Timely is obviously named after Timely Comics, the name of Marvel went by from 1939 to 1951.
The Kronans first fought Thor back in Journey into Mystery #83.
Gilgamesh has a short lived stint on the Avengers that lasted from Avengers #300 to 310.
Here, Captain America makes an offhand comment wondering if Gilgamesh was ever mistaken for Hercules. He actually was, as revealed in Thor #291. In the Marvel Universe Gilgamesh was once confused with Hercules when he helped clean out the Aegean Stables. For more clarification on this, check the Hercules entry in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #5.
Doctor Druid was manipulated by Nebula into usurping control of the Avengers and sending them some 20 years into the future where a Time Bubble existed in the hopes of extracting some powerful weapon. The pair ended up lost in the time stream for a while. When they escaped, Nebula attempted to roll time back to the year 1961, but Druid defeated her. See Avengers #291-297 and Avengers Spotlight #37.
This threat we’ll learn is Kang the Conqueror (obviously), but also we find out that “Nebula” is actually his long lost lover, Ravonna Renslayer. See Avengers Annual #21.
The Great Cataclym was an ancient event that saw the island nations of Atlantis and Lemuria sink into the ocean, first told in Strange Worlds #2. There were multiple events that led to this happening, the one directly related to the Eternals was that the Celestials sunk Leumria to punish the Deviants for enslaving the world as explained in Eternals #2. That same story told the tale about how Ikaris help build Noah’s Ark.
Editions of the Official Handbook and the entry for this issue in Official Index to the Marvel Universe: Captain America confirm that this is the Eternal Gilgamesh. What’s not explained is why he doesn’t remember his Eternal origins here. A possible explanation can be found in Eternals (vol. 3) #1-7, which shows that Zuras has technology to hide his people in mortal guise. Perhaps that is what’s going on with Gilgamesh and Sersi in this story.
Topical References
The opening narrative states that this story takes place in the year 1990, which is odd because it was published in 1992. Regardless, the date listed should be considered a topical reference as the Modern Age of the Marvel Universe operates on a Sliding Timescale which constantly bumps the era forward in time so as not to prematurely age its characters.
Captain America likens his trek to Kang’s citadel to the hero in the Franz Kafka novel “The Castle”, noting that the story was never finished. After Kafka died in 1924 the book was published posthumously in 1928. It’s reference here is not topical as Captain America is referring to classic literature.
Captain America’s Top Ten Villains
Steve Rogers and his girlfriend Rachel Leighton are out on a date at a bar on West 46th Street. There, Rachel presses Steve to give her a list of his top 10 villains. If they are to share a life together, she believes that this is important information to know.[1]
The first on the list for Steve is the Serpent Society, which Rachel knows all about since, as Diamondback, Rachel was a founding member and this is how she and Steve met.[2] Following them is the Flag-Smasher and his terrorist group ULTIMATUM, who seek to form a one world government through any means possible. Third on the list is the psychologist Doctor Faustus, and Cap tells how Faustus was responsible for the death of one of his former girlfriends, Sharon Cater.[3] Rachel offers her sympathies, but Cap tells her that he has lost many friends in the past and he chooses not to dwell on the bad memories.
Continuing his rundown, the next villain on the list is the Viper due to her insane belief in utter nihilism. This is followed by Batroc the Leaper and his brigade of mercenaries. Nazi geneticist Arnim Zola is next on the list, noting that Zola may have been responsible for the Red Skull’s recent resurrection.[4] Next come both Heinrich and Helmut Zemo, as Baron Zemo Heinrich killed Cap’s first partner Bucky. After Heinrich’s death, his son Helmut took up the mantle to avenge his father ever since.[5] Rounding off the list are the Skeleton Crew, their leader Crossbones,[6] and lastly the Red Skull himself.
Listing off these foes and noting how many of them have cheated death countless time, Steve begins to worry that Rachel may somehow get hurt sometime down the road. Rachel tells him not to worry and hugs him, telling him as long as he holds her close she’ll always feel safe.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Diamondback
Continuity Notes
Chronologically, this story takes place between Captain America #394 and 395, just before Rachel is kidnapped by Crossbones.
Rachel, as Diamondback, was a founding member of the Serpent Society in Captain America #310. However, she later left the group following the events of Captain America #342-344 as she was attracted to Captain America and wanted to go straight. She and Steve started officially dating in issue #371.
Sharon was believed to have been brainwashed by Faustus and while loyal to him committed suicide via self-immolation, as seen in Captain America #231-237. In reality, Sharon faked her own death to go on a deep cover mission for SHIELD. She will turn up alive again in Captain America #444.
Arnim Zola indeed helped the Red Skull cheat death. When his original body died of old age in Captain America #300, the Skull had his mind downloaded into a body that Zola cloned from Captain America’s DNA. See Captain America #350.
At the time of this story, Captain America believes his partner Bucky died at the hands of Baron Zemo when he was caught in a drone plane explosion as seen in Avengers #4. Bucky actually survived and would live on as the Russian assassin known as the Winter Soldier, something Cap won’t learn until many years later as seen in Captain America (vol. 5) #14. The original Zemo died in battle against Captain America in Avengers #13. His son Helmut came after Steve in Captain America #168, but did not adopt the Baron Zemo identity until issue #275.
Cap notices that Rachel wants to say something, but she chooses to keep silent. This is because she and Crossbones, aka Brock Rumlow, go way back. Brock was the leader of the Savage Crims street gang, which Rachel’s brothers Ricky and Danny were members of. Wanting to join the gang as well, Rachel was instead brutally beaten and raped by Rumlow. When her brothers tried to retaliate it destroyed their family. See Captain America #400.
Test Flight
At the Offices of Social Services in Harlem, a young man bursts in with a gun and demands to see Sam Wilson. When Sam comes out of his office he quickly subdues and disarms the gunman before he recognizes the youth as Tyrone McQuaid, whose mother is well known by the staff. Sam drags the boy into his office and demands to know what the hell is going on. Tyrone explains that he needs the help of Sam’s alter-ego, the Falcon, otherwise he is is in serious trouble. Sam learns how Tyrone that shortly after his mother died he was convinced to join the Taskmaster’s school, seeing it as his ticket out of Harlem. However, after a while he came to realize that he didn’t have what it took to become a career criminal and snuck out. Naturally, the Taskmaster doesn’t take too kindly to runaways and has sent men after Tyrone to silence him.
Agreeing to help, Sam takes Tyrone to his sister’s place. Along the way they are met by a young boy named Dwayne who warns Sam that there are some white people in costumes and guns lurking around the area looking for something. After dropping Tyrone off, Sam calls his friend Desmond Burrell at the local Stark Enterprises branch to see if modifications on his new costume have been completed.[1] Although the suit still needs some systems checks, Sam insists on wearing it that evening even though it may put his life at risk.
A half-hour before sunset, the Falcon takes to the air with his trusty avian friend, Redwing. Using the new computerized lenses in his cowl, Sam is able to zoom in on the neighborhood in infrared while he flies in the air. He is able to single out the mercenaries out looking for Tyrone and ambushed them. After taking the assassins out, Falcon is attacked by the Taskmaster himself. Although the Taskmaster is well versed in Falcon’s fighting skills, he is not prepared for the new gadgets built into his costume. As the police are arriving on the the ground below, Tyron also shows up and tries to threaten the Taskmaster with a gun. Seeing this as his opening to get away, the Taskmaster rushes Tyron and knocks him over the side of the building, forcing Falcon to save his life. This allows the Taskmaster to escape, which Tyron is still unhappy about. Sam tries to calm the boy by pointing out the attention created by his failed assassination will probably dissuade him from trying again. Tyrone isn’t so convinced, but Falcon tells him that if there is trouble in the future he’ll always be there to defend him.
Recurring Characters
Falcon, Taskmaster, Sarah Wilson, Redwing
Continuity Notes
Chronologically, this story takes place prior to Captain America #408.
Birth of a Warlord
About to begin the latest phase of his plan to reign over all time and space, Kang the Conqueror decides to sit down to create a record of his past accomplishments and failures for the sake of posperity.
He recounts that he was born in a parallel Earth in the 30th Century.[1] He notes that same have suggested that he is descended from Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four, while others believe he is descended from Doctor Doom. This, and his real name don’t really matter for the sake of the story he is going to tell.[2] His war-torn world eventually became a paradise where violence was a thing of the past. Born to this peaceful ear, the man who would become Kang the Conqueror lived a dull and boring existence until he discovered recordings about the Age of Heroes. He reveled in their adventures and conflicts and took particular interest in the exploits of both the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. Seeking to find adventure of his own, the young man went to the shrine to of the Benefactor. There he found designs for the Benefactor’s time machine and constructed his own.
Disguising the time travel device as the sphinx, he travelled back in time to ancient Egypt. Although blinded in the process, he quickly took over the region with his advanced technology. Restoring his lost sight, the man reinvented himself as Emperor Rama-Tut and reigned over Egypt for quite some time. Little did he suspect that his conquest did not please the Egptian moon god Khonshu, who began setting events in motion that would lead to his downfall. Shortly thereafter, Rama-Tut’s empire was beset by a number of time travelers including the Fantastic Four, Doctor Strange, and the West Coast Avengers. Although each group worked independently of the other, they helped overthrow Rama-Tut’s empire, forcing the time traveler to flee that era in his time machine.[3][4]
Arriving in the present day, Rama-Tut rescued Doctor Doom from the void of space.[5] The brief meeting between the two inspired Rama to reinvent himself.[6] He took on the identity of the Scarlet Centurion, pitting the then current line up of the Avengers with the original team from another reality.[7] This scheme failed, and while one variant of the Centurion went on to another reality to clash with the Squadron Supreme,[8] another version returned to his Rama-Tut role and resumed his attempt to return to the 30th century. A time storm caused Rama-Tut to overshoot his destination, landing him in the year 4000 instead.[9] Tut found himself in a world consumed by war where the barbaric people of this era had no knowledge of the powerful weapons they used. Reinventing himself as Kang the Conqueror, Rama-Tut used his knowledge of technology to dominate this era.
From here, Kang took another crack at defeating the Avengers, traveling back in time to the era shortly after the team formed. There, Kang quickly defeated and captured the Avengers, but they were soon freed by their young allies the Teen Brigade. Thor then used the magic of Mjolnir to drive Kang back to his own era.[10] Concluding this part of his recollection, Kang remarks that he could have used his time travel technology to take over this era before the Avengers existed, or attacked them at their weakest moments, but finds no sport in doing so. He wants to utterly crush the Avengers under his heel when they are at their best and he has all of time to accomplish these goals.
… This story continues in Thor Annual #17.
Recurring Characters
Kang
Continuity Notes
Kang’s reality, aka Other-Earth, has been designated Reality-6311 in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Realities 2005 #1.
Kang’s real name is later revealed to be Nathaniel Richards in What If? (vol. 2) #39. Fantastic Four #273 was the first to suggest that Kang was related to Reed Richards, descending from the Richards family line by his father, Nathaniel, who helped liberate war torn Other-Earth centuries earlier. This has since been confirmed thanks to a DNA link made in Fantastic Four (vol. 6) #35.
Rama-Tut’s rise and fall was chronicled in Fantastic Four #19, Doctor Strange (vol. 2) #53, and West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #20-21. What’s left unmentioned here is that Rama-Tut was also dealing with a slave uprising that was led by En Sabah Nur, the mutant who would later become Apocalypse, as seen in Rise of Apocalypse #1-4.
Unmentioned here are other incidents that Rama-Tut was involved in at prior to the arrival of the time traveling heroes from the modern age. Namely the imprisoning of vampire Amenhotep in Avengers #129, the siring of Ramades in Marvel Knights: 4 #16, and encountering the time traveler Killpower in Killpower: The Early Years #1-2. Nor does he mention fighting his younger self, Iron Lad and and forcing him to fight off one of Apocalypse’s invasion forces as seen in Kang the Conqueror #1-2. These stories (and many others below) were published years after this one, hence their omissions. One could assume that Kang is omitting them for a cleaner narrative.
Rama-Tut’s encounter with Doctor Doom happened in Fantastic Four Annual #2.
What Kang doesn’t mention here is that he actually ended up back in ancient Egypt briefly, as explained in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #6, thus explaining Rama-Tut’s villainous appearances in Fantastic Four: Foes #1, Iron Man (vol. 2) #11, and Cable #57, his trip to the year 1013 AD in Uncanny Avengers #6, and encounter with his future selves in Fantastic Four (vol. 6) #35.
The Scarlet Centurion’s battle with the Avengers took place in Avengers Annual #2. Also omitted here is the Scarlet Centurion’s encounter with his future selves in Fantastic Four (vol. 6) #35.
It was revealed in Avengers #269 that Immortus, Kang’s future self, was responsible for the time storm in order to ensure that Kang would eventually become Immortus.
Kang’s first battle with the Avengers was chronicled in Avengers #8 and has since been expanded upon in Avengers Forever #8, Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes #4 and Captain America: Man out of Time #4-5.
Topical References
References to the Modern Age of the Marvel Universe taking place in the 20th century should be considered topical. This is due to the fact that the present day Marvel Universe operates on a Sliding Timescale that bumps it forward in time so as not to prematurely age the characters that exist therein. As such, the Modern Age has been pushed forward in such as way that it does not begin until after the start of the 21st century.
Supplementary Material
This issue features the following:
Schematics of Captain America’s shield.
Blueprints and technical specifications for Captain America’s jet the Freedom’s Light.
