Captain America has been
challenged in the street by the Emissary, the demon-powered serial killer Henry
Cavanaugh. Cap employs what he calls his “Ham Sandwich,” a method of quickly
assessing an unknown opponent. As they fight, Cap decides the man is an
experienced killer but as yet unfamiliar with his powers. Cap breaks his foe’s
leg; the Emissary then marshals his demonic powers, taking Cap by surprise and
totally changing the situation. Emissary unleashes several fiery blasts. Cap
leaps through a hole in a brick wall and seals it with his shield. A blast
directly at the shield flips Cap into the river, sinking out of sight….
1939: At the harbor, Baron Zemo
and Baron Strucker go over their big plan. At the upcoming big Bundist rally in
Madison Square Garden, a bomb will be detonated, killing 20,000 faithful Nazis.
The Barons will place the blame on the Communists and the Jews, leading the USA
to come to the aid of the Germans, making an unbeatable combination for the
upcoming war. But the Barons don’t know that their plan has been overheard by a
dockworker….
1939: A weak young Steve Rogers
works hauling bricks at a construction site. He has been offered a phony job by
Meyer Lansky but refuses to take it; his foreman tells him to take it easy but
he declines. On his way home, he passes out. He awakens in his apartment;
visiting nurse Emily Kostner examines him; he reveals his bad medical history.
She orders him to take it easy, promising to look in on him later. He goes to
sleep….
The present: Cap wakes up in a
hospital bed. Sharon Carter tells him that his shield was so hot it raised a
cloud of steam in the river that led investigators to locate and rescue him. He
tells her about the demon and promises to tell her the rest after he makes a
phone call….
1939: A Nazi named Rolf raises the
demon Asmoday; the demon fills us in on Hell’s agenda: jealous that the Creator
blessed the human race, demons are now devoted to destroying the humans. The
Madison Square Garden plan is certain to succeed except for an infinitesimal
aberration that he cannot identify but is likely of no importance. Ha, we know
it’s Steve Rogers….
The present: Unable to reach
Doctor Strange by phone, Steve calls Misty Knight and she reveals that the
murdered man (last issue) was to speak at an upcoming peace conference and it
sounds familiar to him. Then he asks if he can borrow the Doctor Strange doll
he saw last issue….