Story #2Chapter Eight
Writer:
Fred Van Lente. Penciler/Inker:
Richard Elson. Colorist:
Soto Color.
Synopsis
As Captain America comes face-to-face with his nemesis the Red Skull, we flash back to 1942, when Professor Erskine was showing the apparatus for Operation: Rebirth to Colonel Phillips and Howard Stark. Erksine stunned Phillips by rejecting all twenty of his candidates for the test. And since Erskine held the only copy of the serum formula in his head, the choice of a subject was entirely up to him….
The Red Skull turns out to be an illusion and Cap and the Howling Commandos discover they are in a room with an ancient Norse artifact, set to explode. The Skull explains that only Cap has the speed to escape the blast. Cap hurls his shield, destroying the runestone and this gives the entire team the opportunity to escape the room. Captain America vows to learn the Red Skull’s master plan and make sure he fails….
At the World Exposition of Tomorrow, Erskine overheard a young 4-F, Steve Rogers, arguing about his determination to join the war effort with his pal Bucky. When the young man was once again rejected, Erskine approached him with a proposal….
CharactersGood (or All)Plus: General Chester Phillips, Howard Stark, Howling Commandos, Professor Erskine (
Reinstein).