Synopsis
Before retuning to America after the adventure with Baron Blood (issues #253-254), Captain America visits Greymoor Castle, scene of a wartime mission. Bucky Barnes had been captured to lure Cap to the castle by Cedric Rawlings, British scientist working for the Nazis. Rawlings had discovered the Z-Ray, which would shrink anything and he was planning to offer it to the Nazis as a weapon. Cedric’s loyal sister Celia gave her life to stop him and Cedric was supposedly killed and the castle destroyed in the launch of a V-2 rocket. Cap arrives and learns that the castle was not as seriously damaged as he thought. He is attacked by an axe-wielding knight in armor and pushed toward the open Z-Ray pit. Cap manages to grab a rope and swing to safety but hits his head against a wall and is knocked unconscious…. When he awakens he finds himself…being served wine by the knight. The armored enemy is Cedric Rawlings who survived the blast all those years ago, though with his face horribly burned; the explanation for his actions: the castle is haunted and he thought Cap was one of the ghosts. The hero investigates and a huge stone gargoyle is toppled over on him. Cap pursues a shadowy figure and comes face-to-face with the Demon Druid, a former foe who is now searching for a book of magic supposed to be hidden in the castle. The villain launches a chemical-filled egg which melts the floor beneath Cap’s feet, leaving him clinging to the edge of the Z-Ray pool. Cedric Rawlings tackles the gloating Druid, toppling them both into the pit; Cap manages to grab Rawlings but the Demon Druid shrinks out of sight. The magic book was uncovered in the fight and Rawlings, passing up the opportunity to use its powers to restore himself and the castle, asks Cap to take it far away….