Captain America Comics #61
The Red Skull Strikes Back
A villain posing as the Red Skull arrives in the swamp outside the state prison where he tampers with the electricity on the evening that a number of death row inmates are to be executed. With the power out, the warden of the prison calls for an electrician. The electrician who arrives is really the Red Skull in disguise who passes a note to the inmates. When in the execution room, the Skull reveals himself and shackles the warden to the electric chair after restoring the power. He then gets the warden to order the guards to release the inmates and turn them over to him. The escaped convicts then make a clean getaway.
Freed from the electric chair, the warden then calls for Captain America and Bucky who are surprised to find out that the Red Skull is still alive. Soon the warden gets a call to advise him that the escaped convicts had stolen a truck full of medicine. Captain America and Bucky rush to the scene of the robbery in town. When they question the driver who was shot, he confirms that the Red Skull and his new gang was responsible. Three days later, Cap and Bucky meet with medical officials who inform the heroes that there have been three medical hijackings and that the Red Skull is likely reselling the medication at a high cost. Captain America then begins planning a trap for the Red Skull.
The next morning the Red Skull reads the newspaper and learns about a shipment of penicillin that is scheduled that day. The Red Skull and his gang then board his pontoon and rush to the highway where they intend to hijack the shipment. They jump in front of the truck and force it to stop at gunpoint. However, when they open the back they are jumped by Captain America and Bucky. With most of the gang defeated the Red Skull and one of his goons makes a run for the pontoon and try to get away. Roping the boat, Captain America and Bucky use Cap's shield as an aquaplane to follow after them. Wrecking the rudder of the boat, Cap forces the boat to crash into a nearby dam.
As the Red Skull and his accomplice scape up the side of the dam, Captain America and Bucky follow after them. Following them into a water release pipe, the Skull manages to trap them inside and knock them out with a powerful dumping of water. He and his man then carry the two heroes and shackle them to arc poles, so that they are electrocuted when the power is started up again. However, while the Red Skull goes to try and throw the switch, Captain America breaks free and attacks him. While Cap is busy, Bucky also manages to free himself and join the fight. Greatly outnumbered, the Red Skull flees to the top of the dam with Captain America in pursuit. They begin fighting until Cap ultimately wins when a single punch sends his foe falling off the dam to his death. However, back in their civilian guises and retiring for the night, Jeff Mace wonders if the Red Skull is truly dead or not.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Bucky, Red Skull
Continuity Notes
Based on Marvel continuity, the Red Skull in this story appears after Johann Shmidt was placed in suspended animation in Tales of Suspense #66 and prior to Albert Malik taking up the mantle in Young Men #24, this Red Skull is obviously an impostor or imitator. The Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe suggests that this character could possibly be George Maxon, however there is no conclusive identity provided. Until such an identity has been provided a profile for this Red Skull has been created. This is likely the same Red Skull that Captain America battled in Hell in Captain America's Weird Tales #74.
However, Jeff Mace’s assessment that the original Red Skull is somewhat accurate. As Captain America Annual #13, Jeff Mace (as the Patriot) was present when the Red Skull’s bunker collapsed during the war and believes that the Red Skull had died.
Per What If? #4, the appearances of Captain America and Bucky in this issue are attributed to Jeff Mace and Fred Davis.
The Bullfrog Terror
Jeff Mace is teaching his class about the anatomy of a frog. Fred and Snipe are distracted because Fred is showing Snipe a newspaper article about actress Yvone a Hollywood actress is in town. Jeff notices that they are not paying attention and has them kicked out of class. This works out for Fred who decides to use the opportunity to get Yvone's autograph taking Snipe along with him.
Meanwhile, criminal Kelsey Riordan breaks out of state prison and begins plotting his next series of crimes. Spotting a bullfrog hopping by he is inspired by them and later at his hideout he develops a costume with leaping springs, dubbing himself the Bullfrog and bounds off to commit crimes.
At that time, Fred and Snipe have arrived at a swank hotel room. Finding Yvone's room Fred knocks on the door but there is no answer. Snipe decides to just barge in and they walk in as the actress is berating a man about not being able to get frogs legs. Just when Fred attempts to ask the girl for her autograph, the Bullfrog suddenly leaps into the window causing Yvone to faint. Fred tries to fight the Bullfrog, but the villain knocks him aside.
Searching for the emerald necklace that Yvone wears, Bullfrog does not see it around her neck, unaware that Snipe palmed it before being knocked out. As the Bullfrog searches for the necklace, Fred revives and changes into Bucky and attacks again. The attack forces the Bullfrog to leave and Bucky changes out of his costume as Yvone revives. When she panics about her necklace, Fred points out that Snipe had protected it during the fight, Yvone then kisses the dumbfounded Snipe, much to Fred's chagrin. When the police arrive everything is explained, and Yvone then invites Snipe to come to a party on her producers yacht.
Fred returns home and that night Jeff notes that the boy is upset that Snipe managed to win Yvone's favour over him. When Fred tells him about the masquerade ball at the yacht, Jeff believes that the Bullfrog might try to strike there and decides to go as Captain America. Fred meanwhile believes that he can still impress Yvone, and recalling how she wanted frogs legs decides to go out and catch some frogs. When Captain America arrives at the party, it appears to be attacked by the Bullfrog, but Cap easily defeats the party crasher and quickly removes his costume revealing him to be Yvone's publicist Dan who was trying to bring extra publicity to the party. However, before Captain America can leave the real Bullfrog attacks, and Cap fights him off. When the villain jumps off the boat and tries to swim away, Captain America dives in after him.
Meanwhile, Fred has constructed a net to catch frogs and has gone to a nearby well to catch them. Coincidently, the Bullfrog slips away from Captain America and is spotted by the boy. Before Fred can raise the alarm, Bullfrog pulls the boy into the well and attempts to drown him. Swimming past the exterior of the well, Cap hears the muffled cries of Fred and breaks through the wall. He then surprises the Bullfrog and knocks him out. They rush back to the party where they find Yvone cussing out her agent. When Fred tries to give her the frogs he caught she is frightened by them and they learn that Yvone is not really from France at all, but Brooklyn. Learning this, Snipe instantly becomes smitten.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Bucky, Snipe Gooligan
The Green Mask Killer
At a brownstone rooming home in New York, landlady Ellabella Wilkins brings lunch to her tenant Hillary King who is working on a crime story called the "Green Mask Killer". When Ella wonders why he doesn't write the novel he's been planning on the financial support of his rich lawyer uncle. However, King replies that he uncle refuses to give him a penny of his money and plots to get revenge. That night, Ellabella spots a man she believes is Hillary King and believes that he is going to murder his rich uncle and phones the police for help.
At the police station are the Human Torch and Toro who are informed by the desk sergeant about the call and the two flaming heroes decide to check it out by visiting the home of Hillary's uncle Roger Hatch. They arrive just as as killer in a green mask shoots Hatch dead with a poison dart. When the Torch and Toro attempt to apprehend the Green Mask Killer, the villain -- having prepared for their potential arrival -- activates a water tank he placed on the roof and dumps water on the two heroes, dousing their flames. When the Torch and Toro come around they find the police have arrived on the scene.
Going to the boarding house, the Torch and Toro then begin to question the locals, including Silas Stevens who profess that King was a nice man who couldn't possibly be capable for murder. However, when they go into talk to Ellabella she paints a different story. Searching King's room, the Torch and Toro find an overturned typewriter and pages of of the story the Green Mask Killer. They soon realize that the murder of Roger Hatch mirrors part of the story and realize that they can possibly catch the killer by following the story. When they read the story they find out that he killer next targeted the partner of the lawyer. Talking to Ellabella again they learn that Roger Hatch's partner is Richard Alton and rush to his residence. However, they arrive too late and find Alton dead as well. The Torch and Toro return to police headquarters and the Sargent wonders how someone could be so sick as King, however the Torch is not convinced that King is the killer.
He and Toro then return to Roger Hatch's apartment and begin searching for clues. When they arrive they find pieces of a letter that agree to paying Roger a sum of $5000. Before they can investigate this further they are ambushed by the Green Mask Killer who uses knock out gas on them and flees with the evidence. However, when the Torch and Toro revive, the Torch is certain who the killer is.
They rush to his hideout where the Torch knocks the Green Mask Killer out before he can eliminate Hillary King and unmasks him to reveal him to be Silas Stevens. Stevens explains that he was being blackmailed by his victims, and as an expert lip reader read King's mumblings from across the street and took up the Green Masked Killer identity to frame King. With a confession made, the Torch and Toro turn the killer over to the police.
Recurring Characters
Human Torch, Toro
Stop that Swindle!
An American soldier has returned to the United States from Europe and goes to the Acme Garage to pick up his car that he left in storage. There the owners, Roscoe and Krane, inform him that the soldier had sold them the car and show him a bill of sale. Certain that he did not sell the car to them, he pays a visit to Detective Mike Trapp and asks for his help in exposing the owners of the garage as thieves.
They go to the garage where Mike asks to see the paperwork. The garage owners hand over a bill of sale that was supposedly mailed to them by the soldier. After discussing the issue further with the owners in private, Trapp returns with $2000.00 for the soldier. The soldier is shocked, but Mike explains that the soldier was tricked into signing a bill of sale, the letter that was "mailed" was a forgery, as it had postage paid, when soldiers who were fighting in the war were exempt from paying postage.
Recurring Characters
Detective Mike Trapp
Death Enters--Laughing
Many years ago a mother is taking her baby out for a stroll when they witness a car accident, the baby, to her mothers horror laughs at the accident. As a young boy, this child continued to get amusement out of seeing others hurt and pushed one of his classmates out of a window. He was witnessed by Susan Dane who tells the teacher. Earning the name Laughing Boy, the youth was eventually sent to reform school where he beat a fellow student to death with a hammer.
Eventually, Laughing Boy grew up to be a gang leader. In the present day he is reading the newspaper and learns about a young student that is attending Lee School who has a remarkable collection of celebrity autographs and prepares to steal it. At Lee School, Jeff Mace is teaching his class about psychology. When class is dismissed, Fred goes to Jeff to express his excitement that actress Susan Dane is coming to visit their school and hopes to get her autograph. When they go to get Fred's autograph book they spot a man walking out with it. They change into Captain America and Bucky and give the man chase, getting in a fight with Laughing Boy and his men. Despite their efforts, Captain America is seemingly shot and Bucky is knocked out, while Laughing Boy and his men get away with the autograph book.
Outside Lee School, Susan Day and her friend Betsy Ross arrive and are spotted by Laughing Boy. Remembering how as as child Susan tattled on him, Laughing Boy attacks her. However Betsy manages to fight him off with her shoe, and Laughing Boy and his men flee the scene when the cops begin showing up. Inside the school Captain America recovers, having only been grazed by the bullet fire at him. With Laughing Boy and his men gone, the two heroes wonder why the crook would steal an autograph book.
Several days later as Jeff Mace is reading the newspaper, he sees a story about a series of check forgeries of visiting celebrities. He and Fred realize why Laughing Boy stole Fred's autograph book: To forge celebrity signatures and defraud them out of money. Jeff deduces that Laughing Boy will likely relocate to Hollywood where it would be easier to carry on his scheme. They then go to meet with Betsy Ross to cancel their vacation plans with her only to learn that she is also going to Hollywood to be the stand in for Susan on the set of her film about Marie Antoinette.
Jeff and Fred decide to tag along to keep an eye on the jewels that are being used in the film, priceless pieces that were actually worn by the real Marie Antoinette. In her dressing room, Susan Dane is confronted by Laughing Boy who chokes her into unconsciousness and then makes off with her and the jewels. Spotting Laughing Boy making his escape, Jeff and Fred change into Captain America and Bucky and give him chase. They find him trying to chop off Susan's head with a guillotine and save her from being decapitated. Cap then manages to beat Laughing Boy into submission and turns him over to the authorities. On their way back to New York, Betsy, Jeff and Fred all remark about how much fun they had. Fred is happy to have gotten his autograph book back and gotten Susan's autograph while Jeff is convinced that with Laughing Boy, they got the last laugh.
Recurring Characters
Captain American, Bucky, Betsy Ross
Continuity Notes
This story marks the return of Betty Ross, who was last seen in Captain America Comics #44. This story marks the first time she begins answering to Betsy Ross rather than Betty Ross. She is referred to Betsy in all future appearances, particularly during the Marvel Age so she is not confused with the modern day Betty Ross who is a relative (as implied in Captain America: Patriot #4)
