Synopsis / Summary / Plot
April, 1944: Captain America and Bucky join Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos on a mission behind enemy lines. Parachuting to the border between Germany, Austria, and Latveria, they are spotted by an enemy patrol. In the ensuing fracas, Bucky is seriously wounded. As the only doctor they know of in the area is the father of their contact, Cap races into town bearing his fallen comrade. He arrives at the home of Gretchen and her father, Richard and learns they are the last surviving members of the Resistance. As Bucky is resting after treatment, Gretchen and her father lay out the situation: the Red Skull has his men excavating the ruins of nearby Eisen Castle and are holding scientist Herman Dexx a prisoner. Cap returns to the Commando base and fills Fury in on the mission; that night they sneak into the Nazi camp and steal some ancient documents which may be a clue to the Skull’s mysterious objective. Meanwhile, Gretchen and the recovering Bucky search the town archives for a similar lead. They learn that the Baron who ruled the area in medieval times was said to control a giant fire-breathing robot. Realizing the Red Skull must be after this mechanical monster, the Howling Commandos provide a diversion while Cap enters and searches for the Red Skull in the castle. In town, Bucky and Gretchen free the captive Dexx, who confirms the legend of the giant robot. Cap comes face-to-face with his archenemy and the massive monster and battles the beast. Following Dexx’s advice, Cap smashes the robot’s living heart, destroying it and causing a massive explosion that destroys the castle. Red Skull escapes with some documents and the Americans get out with their lives. As they leave for home, Bucky kisses Gretchen goodbye and promises to see her after the war. In a modern epilogue, we see Cap recounting this story to Sharon Carter and revealing his belief that Gretchen was Bucky’s great love—who grew old without him. Back at the site of Eisen Castle, Aleksander Lukin has his men excavating the castle again at the behest of the Red Skull; his reason? Look at the etching of the medieval Baron on the ancient parchment…it’s Doctor Doom.