Captain America Comics #37

The Chambers of Dr. Agony

Steve Rogers and James Barnes are waiting to see their commanding officer when they overhear him discussing with another soldier about how Mr. Morley -- the administrator of all Allied occupied territory in the region -- has gone missing while out on a walk. Believing that finding Morely could get them in less trouble for being out late the night before, Steve and James decide to look around the last place Morely was seen.

Searching around, they spot a panther doing a seemingly impossible feat -- carrying the dead body of a man and dumping it in the area. The creature attacks the two soldiers, but they manage to fight off the beast, despite is apparent superior strength. Checking the body, they find that it is not Morley, but the dead man had been tortured to death and died in agony. Believing that Morley might share this mans fate, they change into Captain America and Bucky and follow after the panther.

As they follow the panthers trail they fall through a trap door into the secret torture chamber of Dr. Agony, a Nazi agent. Agony explains that he had captured Mr. Morley to torture him and that he is able to do so without resistance due to the fact that his panthers purr makes men his willing slaves. To their surprise, Captain America and Bucky find themselves under the panthers control and are led into the torture chamber where Mr. Morley is strapped to a spiked table. Agony explains that he has been developing a formula that makes living creatures immune to pain. He goes on to explain that while he has been successful in treating his panther, human tests are still on going -- hence his torturing Mr. Morley.

Finding Captain America a more fitting subjects, and begins tying Bucky to another table. Trying to break free of the creature control, Captain America manages to stomp on the panthers tail, breaking its constant purr long enough for Captain America to break free from its control and attack Dr. Agony. However, Cap is too slow in subduing his foe, allowing Dr. Agony to drop a cage around the hero that radiates extreme heat to test Captain America's endurance. While Agony is distracted, Bucky manages to break free from his bonds and turn off the heat element on the bars.

As Agony struggles with Bucky, Captain America breaks free from the cell but is attacked by the panther. During the struggle, Captain America turns on a light switch that blinds the large cat and confuses it enough to attack its master. Due to the creatures resistance to pain, Agony is forced to kill his beloved pet to try and save himself. However, this proves to be for naught as he died of his wounds as well. Changing back into their civilian identities they free Mr. Morley and return him to base.

Ironically, even though they saved the day, Steve and James are ordered to go on trash picking duty for leaving base without authorization.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Bucky, General Haywood, Nazis

The Seven Sons of Satan

Steve Rogers and James Barnes are taking a stroll while off duty in India while waiting for an Allied drive into Burma. They spot a snake charmer sending his cobra to attack General Montbatten. Steve saves the generals life by kicking the snake out of the way and he and James pursue the snake charmer. Catching him taking off his disguise they are surprised to see that he is a Japanese man with the mark of a cloven hoof on his forehead. When the man attacks with a knife, he is tripped up and falls on the blade. As he died, he tells them that he is the Son of Satan and that he will return from the dead stronger than before.

Suspecting that something might be up, that night they go into action as Captain America and Bucky. Patrolling the area, the two heroes prevent a miniature rocket from being launched into an ammo dump at the American base. They catch a man who looks like the Son of Satan they clashed with earlier. They find that he is stronger than before, but once more defeat him in combat. Failing in his mission, the Son of Satan stabs himself, swearing that he will come back three times stronger than before. As he dies, Captain America and Bucky are shocked to witness his soul rise from his body and disappear. Changing back into their civilian identities they report the body to their commanding officer who tells the troops that they are going to push into Burma ahead of schedule and attack that night.

When the troop stops to rest, Steve and James spots a tower nearby with its light on and suspects that the Son of Satan might attack them from there. Changing into their costumes again Captain America and Bucky find the Son of Satan preparing to set off an explosive that will cause the canyon to collapse on the troops below. This time when they attack, the Son of Satan causes the switch to short circuit, killing him with a lethal jolt of electricity.

Leaving the tower, Captain America is convinced they are not dealing with one man who can cheat death, but many men posing as the same man. They then spot a herd of elephants being scared toward the troops by a man with a flame thrower. Bucky scares the elephants off on another direction by throwing mice in their path. They attack the man who is apparently the Son of Satan, reborn again. However, as they knock him out, they are ambushed my more men who look identical to the Son of Satan. Taken prisoner Captain America and Bucky are told that they are all brothers, who vowed by their fathers death bed to fight enemies of Japan. As a Satan worshiper, the seven sons were told by their father the best way to attack their enemies before he died.

The two heroes are then tied to a pillar and one of the brothers attempts to behead them with a sword. As the pillar they are tied to is rotten, they are able to break it and free themselves by snapping the pillar. The two heroes then knock out their captors and found out that they simulated the spirits by biting into specially made pills. With the battle over, Captain America and Bucky head back to the troop to help in the Burma push.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Bucky, Imperial Japan

The Blackout Murder Case

Mike Trapp deduces that landlord Charley Dane murdered his tenant Moe Barton.

Recurring Characters

Mike Trapp, Officer Ryan

Frozen Death

An American ship yard has been plagued by a series of apparent accidents in which torches explode has the workers demanding the owner Mr. Clark to do something lest his entire workforce walk off the job. Clark calls the Human Torch and Toro to assist in discovering the source of all these accidents may be acts of sabotage.

Taking the case, the Human Torch and Toro tell the welders that they will solve the mystery of all the explosions. The workers, clearly upset about the series of accidents tell the two flaming heroes that they better do a good job or they are leaving. However, during their investigation another explosion goes off, and the workers leave the job. With an unfinished ship that needs to get finished, the Human Torch and Toro lend their flame powers to finish the ship.

They learn that the man in charge of filling the torches with propane is a German-American immigrant named Pop Kunz. Mr. Clark explains that Kunz has been working for the company for 30 years and that 10 years ago a propane tank exploded in his face horribly scarring him, but he still continued to work faithfully for the company. After meeting pop and allowing him to accompany them on the job, the Torch and Toro are convinced that he is not a Nazi spy. However, this proves to be their undoing as Pop tricks the Torch to check into checking the welding job on one of the ships boilers. When the Torch goes inside to investigate, Pop closes and seals the door to the boiler and begin pumping propane gas inside preventing the Torch from using his flame powers without causing a massive explosion.

Pop then pulls out a gun and attempts to shoot Toro, who uses his flame powers to disarm his foe. Rushing to free the Human Torch, the two heroes manage to stop Pop before he can use a welding torch to break the master seam to destroy the entire ship. With the culprit captured, the welders return to work.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Bucky, Sgt. Duffy, Nazis (Red Skull)

Continuity Notes

Captain America and Bucky state that they thought that the Red Skull was dead, even though this does not match with established continuity. The Red Skull last encountered Captain America and Bucky (chronologically) in a flashback seen in Captain America #600, an (publication wise) in All-Winners Comics #12, so there’s no real reason for them to believe that he is dead. This could be chalked up to a continuity error.
Also, the Red Skull seems to have forgotten that Steve Rogers and Captain America are the same person, a fact he learned in Captain America Comics #16.

Flaming Steel

An American ship yard has been plagued by a series of apparent accidents in which torches explode has the workers demanding the owner Mr. Clark to do something lest his entire workforce walk off the job. Clark calls the Human Torch and Toro to assist in discovering the source of all these accidents may be acts of sabotage.

Taking the case, the Human Torch and Toro tell the welders that they will solve the mystery of all the explosions. The workers, clearly upset about the series of accidents tell the two flaming heroes that they better do a good job or they are leaving. However, during their investigation another explosion goes off, and the workers leave the job. With an unfinished ship that needs to get finished, the Human Torch and Toro lend their flame powers to finish the ship.

They learn that the man in charge of filling the torches with propane is a German-American immigrant named Pop Kunz. Mr. Clark explains that Kunz has been working for the company for 30 years and that 10 years ago a propane tank exploded in his face horribly scarring him, but he still continued to work faithfully for the company. After meeting pop and allowing him to accompany them on the job, the Torch and Toro are convinced that he is not a Nazi spy. However, this proves to be their undoing as Pop tricks the Torch to check into checking the welding job on one of the ships boilers. When the Torch goes inside to investigate, Pop closes and seals the door to the boiler and begin pumping propane gas inside preventing the Torch from using his flame powers without causing a massive explosion.

Pop then pulls out a gun and attempts to shoot Toro, who uses his flame powers to disarm his foe. Rushing to free the Human Torch, the two heroes manage to stop Pop before he can use a welding torch to break the master seam to destroy the entire ship. With the culprit captured, the welders return to work.