Marvel 1975.05 - Captain America #185

Captain America and the Falcon #185

Title: Scream the Scarlet Skull!

Writer: Steve Englehart

Artist: Frank Robbins, Sal Buscema

Villain: Red Skull

Regulars: Sharon Carter, Peggy Carter

Guests: Gabe Jones

Captain America lies dreaming about his past enemies. When he wakes up he remembers that his greatest enemy is the Red Skull.

Together with the Falcon, Gabe Jones and Peggy Carter, Captain America visits Oscar Brenner, the Red Skull's next target. Soldiers loyal to the Red Skull break in. They overpower Gabe and Peggy and fly away with jet packs. The Falcon pursues them, but he isn't fast enough to catch them. Cap is surprised that they didn't attempt to kill Oscar Brenner, but when Oscar lights his pipe it sprays dust in his face that burns away his skin and leaves him with a red skull.

Captain America and the Falcon search for the Red Skull in vain. Then a car pulls up. it's Hugh Jones, head of the Roxxon  Corporation. He recognises that Captain America is the same person who freed him from the Serpent Squad as Nomad. He tells Cap where the Red Skull is hiding. Cap doesn't understand how Hugh Jones has this information, but it's correct.

The Red Skull is torturing Peggy Carter when Captain America and the Falcon arrive. Cap knocks the Red Skull to the ground, and then the Falcon attacks Cap from behind. The Skull proclaims victoriously that the Falcon is a creation of the Red Skull.

That's a stunning conclusion to this issue. It's the first time I've read this comic, so I wasn't expecting it. I can hardly wait to read the next issue.

I almost forget to mention that various conversations in this issue suggest that Peggy Carter and Gabe Jones are lovers. That's a surprise, although it was suspicious that they've been hanging out together for the last few issues. That means that Cap doen't have to keep his relationship with Peggy's niece Sharon secret any more.