Captain America #195
1984!
Captain America and the Falcon have been captured by the Royalist Forces of America and tossed in their slave labor pens. Changing into their costumes the pair break out and overpower the guards. They then rush into the lab where scientist are transforming innocent men into deformed freaks to be used as mindless laborers. There they meet Cheer Chadwick the daughter of “Poppa” Chadwick, one of the members of the Elite.[1]
Cheer is intrigued by the costumed men and when the guards enter the room to recapture the escapees she orders them to stand down. She then takes Captain America and the Falcon on a guided tour of the Royalist compound, making a stop on the fifth floor. What the pair see there is shocking.
Meanwhile, the military has been informed that Cap and Falcon have gone missing in action. General Argyle Fist is sent out with a military unit to search for trace of the missing heroes and locate the Royalist’s secret base. When they find no trace on the surface, they begin using a sophisticated ground-penetrating radar to scan underground.
Back in the compound, Captain America and Falcon witness as those loyal to the Royalists are being indoctrinated to their cause by propaganda videos produced by Cheer’s father. They are taught to hate those who believe in democracy and are encouraged to beat up an effigy of what Poppa Chadwick calls “Freedom Freaks”. They ask Cheer how she can live like this and she tells them that she is part of the Elite who live above the rabble below. Suddenly, the two heroes are attacked from behind by a massive woman in armor named Tinkerbell. Tinkerbell knocks them out and wants to eliminate them. Cheer on the other hand insists that they are good fighters and orders them taken down to the arena for battle.
After Tinkerbell takes Cap and Falcon away, Cheer contacts her father and tells him that the two intruders asked her about the Madbomb. He is unconcerned as the two heroes will soon be dead and nothing will stop them from detonating their doomsday weapon.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, Falcon, Elite (Cheer Chadwick, Poppa), Royalist Forces (Tinkerbell), Argyle Fist
Continuity Notes
Poppa Chadwick’s full name is not given here. His first name is identified as Hesperus in Thunderbolts #31.
Topical References
The title of this story is not the year this story takes place but a reference to the George Orwell story of the same name. Kirby’s story is “inspired” (spelled S-T-O-L-E-N) from Orwell’s tale much in the same way the Eternals were inspired by Erich Von Daniken’s book Chariot of the Gods?
This story states that it takes place prior to the American Bicentennial. This should be considered a topical reference. Modern readers should interpret the event as a 4th of July celebration, but not one tied to any specific milestone.
