Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #2
Descent into Madness Chapter One: Out of His Element
1942[1]
Early on in their careers together, Captain America figured that he had the original Human Torch all figured out. That was until the day that the Torch suddenly went insane. Captain America witnessed in horror as the android — his powers jacked up to stay aflame in water — used extreme heat to boil a number of Atlantean warriors alive. Neither Cap and the Sub-Mariner could do anything to stop them because they are prisoners of the Nazis, who are now allied with Atlantis. Cap now thinks back to how things got to be this dire….
Earlier
Captain America, the Sub-Mariner, and the Human Torch were all dispatched to a British shipyard that was being attacked by the Luftwaffe. As Cap dealt with soldiers on the ground, it was up to Namor and the Torch to deal with the threat coming from the air. Spotting a Nazi zeppelin heading their way, Namor foolishly flew up to attack it alone and was incapacitated by some kind of stun ray. When the Torch went to help their comrade, he found himself snared in an asbestos lined net. Suddenly, an Atlantean craft detached itself from the zeppelin and took the Torch into the ocean. Namor followed after them but didn’t resurface.
By the end of the week, Cap had not heard anything back from his allies and so he returned state-side to report the situation to his commanding office, General Chester Phillips. Phillips is unhappy with the report and reminds Cap that he a good soldier needs to use the battlefield to their advantage and bring in results.[2] Promising to do better, Rogers is dismissed. As he leaves Phillips’ office he bumps into the Sub-Mariner who is the picture of rage. Namor tells Steve to follow him but refuses to explain where he’s been or what happened to the Torch. Boarding Namor’s submarine, Cap suits up with a breathing harness as he is brought down to Atlantis, the Sub-Mariner’s home. Once they arrive, Steve sees a shocking sight: Nazi flags.
After stashing his sub, Namor and Cap swing the rest of the way to the undersea kingdom. Namor explains that he followed the craft that kidnapped the Human Torch and followed it here. That’s when he discovered that the people of Atlantis have, for some reason unknown to him, allied themselves with the Nazis. As they spy on Nazi soldiers on the march, the pair try to figure out their next move when they are suddenly spotted by a group of soldiers.
Now
This led to the fight that saw the Human Torch appear and boil the Atlanteans alive. Cap and Namor then watch in disbelief as the Nazis drive the Torch away. That’s when an authoritative woman arrives and begins barking orders in the Atlantean tongue. Although he doesn’t understand her words, Cap knows that they are in big trouble as this woman also seems to have authority over Namor as well. The pair are then taken prisoner and as they are being led away, Captain America asks Namor who the woman is. When she tells Namor that what she does is for the good of Atlantis he replies to her in English so Cap can understand. Steve is shocked to learn that this woman is none other than Namor’s mother, Princess Fen.[3]
Recurring Characters
Invaders (Captain America, Sub-Mariner, Human Torch), Nazis, Fen, Chester Phillips
Continuity Notes
According to the Marvel Chronology Project, this story takes place following the events of Young Allies Comics #6 for Captain America, Marvel Mystery Comics #39 for the Sub-Mariner, and Marvel Mystery Comics #40 for the Human Torch.
It is mentioned here that the Invaders are short staffed because Bucky and Toro (sidekicks to Cap and the Torch respectively) are off on a USO tour. At the time this story takes place, the Invaders had just recently formed, as seen in Giant-Size Invaders #1.
The leadership situation in Atlantis is kind of complicated at the time of this story. When Emperor Thakkor was injured, Namor was placed in charge of the kingdom per Sub-Mariner Comics #1/Saga of the Sub-Mariner #5. It’s revealed next issue that Fen took control of the kingdom when the Nazis tricked her into thinking the Human Torch and America were a threat to her people.
