Captain America Comics #15

Aug 2

Aug 2 Captain America Comics #15

The Tunnel of Terror

Fifth columnist Fritz Krone sends his men to spread fear as part of his plan to evacuate Manhattan. Steve, Bucky, and Betty Ross encounter several such defeatists. In Times Square, a fifth columnist uses smoke bombs to spread fear of a Nazi gas attack until Steve reveals the smoke is harmless. While Betty pursues the fleeing bomber, Bucky chases another columnist. Meanwhile, construction under the East River destroys a tunnel wall. Armored figures emerge and attack, causing a panic. The mayor appeals for Cap to investigate. Cap battles the "Earthmen," but is captured and taken underground to a Nazi torture chamber. Betty and Bucky chase their separate quarries, converging at a waterfront warehouse where they find mines, grenades, and a secret entrance to a Nazi arsenal and shooting gallery. The Nazis overpower them and take them underground to join Cap in a dungeon. Krone tells them that the underground construction broke into their underwater "mine chamber," and that his operatives, dressed as "Earthmen," emerged to scare the authorities away from investigating. He releases mines to explode in the East River, but Cap, Bucky, and Betty escape. In Manhattan, Krone's commanding officer spreads further destruction with grenades, but Cap and Bucky storm his office where a ricocheting bomb blasts him out his window to his death. A US destroyer arrives in the East River. Cap and Bucky help them target the Nazis' underground chamber with depth bombs. The Nazis are forced to the surface, where Manhattan citizens fight them. Cap tights Krone, who surrenders. Cap reminds the crowd not to believe planted rumors.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Bucky, Betsy Ross, Nazis (Fritz Krone), Sgt. Duffy

Continuity Notes

Unlike most Nazi villains who appear in Captain America Comics, Kritz Krone returns again, making an appearance in Avengers: 1959 #4-5.

The Invasion From Mars

In Gotham City, a policeman pulls over a car driven by a 10-foot-tall Martian who runs over two people. On leave, Bucky tackles the Martian who quickly knocks him away. Bucky returns to Camp Lehigh, but neither Duffy nor Steve believe him until a Martian raids the camp. Martians appear throughout the city. One man, recalling Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds," scoffs at radio reports, but a Martian breaks in and kills him and his family. Cap and Bucky arrive but the Martian escapes, dropping a German luger disguised as a "Martian Gun." Cap sends Bucky to summon the army. Gool, the Martian Warlord and his men raid City Hall and force the mayor to order an evacuation. Cap intervenes, but the Martians overcome him. Gool kills the mayor, intending to use Cap to broadcast a surrender order. Leaving Cap bound, the Martians activate their "red death ray machine" on the roof, aiming it at army-commandeered ferries in the river. Some ferries explode but Bucky finds a time-bomb on his ferry and throws it out a porthole, saving the ship. Bucky fights his way to City Hall and rescues Cap. They knock out the "death ray" operators, discovering the machine is a fake to make people believe its "ray," not time-bombs, destroyed the ferries. Remembering the luger, Cap unmasks one Martian as a human on stilts and realizes the "invasion" is a Nazi plot. Re-entering City Hall, Cap and Bucky defeat the Martians. Cap broadcasts to US naval forces, who sank the Nazi ships, then announces the invasion's true nature to the relieved city.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Bucky, Nazis, Sgt. Duffy, General Haywood

The Substitute Secret Stamp

Spud Sickles decides that he should be as heroic as the Secret Stamp — by making his own costume and posing as the local hero himself — borrowing sewing supplies from his sister Mary to complete the task. Meanwhile, Roddy Colt, the real Secret Stamp is out selling his papers as usual when he notices that someone has recently purchased the old Wasley house. Attempting to bring up some business he overhears Grandma, a Nazi spy instructing her minions to capture the Secret Stamp, as Hitler has personally ordered her to eliminate the young hero has he is fast becoming a youth icon in the United States. Roddy rushes off to change into his guise of the Secret Stamp and smash the operation.

When the thugs are out looking for the Secret Stamp, they instead find and easily knock out Spud Sickles who was out in his Secret Stamp costume. Spotting the men carrying his impostor, the real Secret Stamp follows the spies back to their hideout where he confronts Grandma, but is also captured.

Taking both boys into their basement, Grandma has her men prepare to whip Spud. His cries for help are overheard by newspaper reporter Jerry Dash and Mary Sickles who burst into the house. Jerry helps free the true Secret Stamp who helps easily subdue the crooks. Jerry carries off Grandma to the FBI and Spud is unmasked as the false Secret Stamp.

Later, Roddy amusingly listens to Spud brag about how the Secret Stamp invited him to be his partner. When Roddy asks when he can meet the Stamp, Spud tells him that he and the Stamp are busy these days.